Symbolism In Sonny's Blues

Family Love A high school algebra teacher and a drug addict brother. Two different personalities who want nothing but a brotherly relationship. The unknown narrator cares about his brother Sonny but blames himself for who his brother has become. He wishes he could have protected his brother more and in doing so, prevent him his brother’s drug addiction. Sonny and his brother’s relationship is nowhere close to perfect but tries to prove that people can change. In Sonny’s Blue’s, Baldwin uses symbols of Jazz and Blues music, and colors of light and darkness to show their brotherly relationship and their capability of having a good relationship. Jazz and Blues music symbolizes differently for Sonny and his brother. After the death of their
In the beginning of the story, Sonny’s brother talks about how his drug use stole the light he saw in him. As a high school teacher, he looks at his students with life and innocence in their eyes and thinks about how his brother once was like that. Living in a tough neighborhood, Harlem, he never thought his brother would be where he is now. I didn’t want to believe that I’d ever see my brother going down, coming to nothing, all that light in his face gone out, in the condition I’d already seen so many others. Yet it had happened and here I was, talking about algebra to a lot of boys who might, every one of them for all I knew, be popping off needles every time they went to the head. Maybe it did more for them than algebra could” (Baldwin, 1957, p. 23). Sonny’s brother suffering from his brother’s drug addiction and behavior tries to remember positive memories but realizes that he has seen this with other people that he may have known. Light symbolizes the truth such as when Sonny’s mother told Sonny’s brother what happened to his uncle. She tells the story of how they had an uncle and how he died. Sonny’s father remembers vividly what happened that night. She talks about the moonlight being bright that night as he crossed the street. Their uncle was struck by a car who had young and immature children drunk and driving. The light catches the attention of Sonny’s brother but also the
Baldwin uses symbolism to demonstrate their relationship on how they are different and how they also share a common goal of getting along and not fighting. You can see the brother’s relationship change quickly in the end of the story. This story gives readers hope that people can change for the better. Through the brother’s trials and tribulations, their relationship was weak but as time passed, their relationship became stronger than they could have ever imagined. Baldwin uses symbolism of blues and jazz music, light and darkness creating an image for the reader of who the characters are. Although both brother’s suffered through the process of regaining their friendship, without a question, love or each other overcame any obstacle. Baldwin leaves us thinking as to what happens after that night. They end a memorable night bonding as brothers should with everything that has happened in the past, in the past. That night was one way of moving forward. The “cup of trembling,” symbolizes how both brothers are forgiven for what they have done. They don’t go out saying that they are sorry to each other but a simple nod, gives confirmation of having a mutual understanding of love and forgiveness. Baldwin believed in change and forgiveness in people no matter what they have done in the past. We are not the ones to judge and the story shows that people should support and accept each