What Is The Relationship Between Sonny And His Brother
In the beginning of the story a narrator and the narrator's brother Sonny are introduced. We find out a few details about the narrator but the main focus is on the brother Sonny. The Narrator found out that Sonny had been arrested for drug crimes and he obviously did not take it well. He said “A great block of ice got settled in my belly and kept melting there slowly all day long” (Baldwin, 67). With other comments that he made it makes me think that they have not been close for a few years. When the brothers finally reunite there is a drive for Sonny to change his ways and not disappoint his brother any longer. Sonny is a character that changes throughout the story and I want to analyze the things that caused him to do so throughout the course
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Sonny’s brother represents someone who wants to be associated as a respectable member of society. He went to college, is a husband, father and a algebra teacher. Sonny is caught up in drugs and a prison sentence and nothing seems to be going in his favor. The separation not only in age, but in lifestyle really goes to show why Sonny’s brother wants the best for him in his life. It almost seems like the narrator refuses to accept the struggles that Sonny has gone through and it causes their personalities to clash in a bad way. Sonny’s incline to do jazz music only strengthens as the story progresses. When his brother is wanting him to take life more serious and think about the future, Sonny responds with “I think people ought to do what they want to do, what else are they alive for?” (Baldwin, ). This is the first real time we see the burning desire for Sonny to want to make something of his life. The conversation goes back and forth between his brother wanting him to finish school and really think about the future, and Sonny knowing that his future is jazz. Sonny wants this dream to become a reality and he knows he can play with the best musicians of the time period. Once his brother sees him playing he sees the connection to his family, and why Sonny was so persistent on becoming a jazz musician. Embracing this relieves his nerves and allows him to understand Sonny as a
Sonny’s brother represents someone who wants to be associated as a respectable member of society. He went to college, is a husband, father and a algebra teacher. Sonny is caught up in drugs and a prison sentence and nothing seems to be going in his favor. The separation not only in age, but in lifestyle really goes to show why Sonny’s brother wants the best for him in his life. It almost seems like the narrator refuses to accept the struggles that Sonny has gone through and it causes their personalities to clash in a bad way. Sonny’s incline to do jazz music only strengthens as the story progresses. When his brother is wanting him to take life more serious and think about the future, Sonny responds with “I think people ought to do what they want to do, what else are they alive for?” (Baldwin, ). This is the first real time we see the burning desire for Sonny to want to make something of his life. The conversation goes back and forth between his brother wanting him to finish school and really think about the future, and Sonny knowing that his future is jazz. Sonny wants this dream to become a reality and he knows he can play with the best musicians of the time period. Once his brother sees him playing he sees the connection to his family, and why Sonny was so persistent on becoming a jazz musician. Embracing this relieves his nerves and allows him to understand Sonny as a