Red Convertible Sonny's Blues

Taneisha Franklin
Fiction Analysis
Dr.Falik
22 October 2012

The bond formed between siblings is often a very strong one, because of the years, the good times, and bad times you share with that person, also the ways you find to overcome what has happen in your sibling relationship. This can be understood in both James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" and Louise Erdrich "The Red Convertible." In the stories both brothers showed how things can be overcame ,and how they can move on from it. Both "The Red Convertible” ,and "Sonny's Blues" revolve round brotherly love or an connection. Both hold an intense bond to their brothers, and take on the baggage that each brother has. The argument is that no matter how much you may dislike a sibling ways or the things they do period you will still are there for them through good, bad and, ugly. In Erdrich’s story she stated that Henry had gone off to training camp for the marines ,and only came home once for Christmas, and in Baldwin’s story Sonny whom was the brother that went to jail never came home for couple of months, but love was being shown at this time in both stories. They wrote each other letters in both stories, although there were different circumstances’ each brother took the time to share a little moment with their brothers through a letter. This only proves that no matter how messed up any situation may seem there is always a way to get along with someone whom is so close to you. These brothers probably couldn’t have got along when they were together, but through letters they did. There was some emotion that moment. Of course the parental figure plays a big role in lots of siblings lives, and also how the child matures. Sibling interaction is just as great as having that mother or even the father that has to be there. In “Sonny’s Blues” neither parents were alive, in ‘The Red Convertible” Lyman and Henry shared the same mother, but different fathers. This didn’t stop the brotherly connection in either one of these stories. Although Sonny had lots of things going on such as drug abuse, and even going to jail, the other brother never gave up on his little brother. When he was in jail of course they never wrote each other, but he cared. The same applies for Lyman, and Henry when people go off in the army, navy or marines for months you never know what goes on, but you’re thinking. Thinking I wonder what he/she is doing? I wonder why I haven’t heard from him/her? It’s all just apart of that bond you share with your sibling. The narrator in “Sonny’s Blues” tried to use instruments to change the ways the way of his brother, and Lyman just wanted the old relationship he and Henry back. He begin to damage the car in hope that it would bring that connection back. In some cases you can feel the pain of the person you love. Sometimes a sibling or love one may be going through something, and you don‘t know what it is. At that time you try to find things that would cheer them up or make the situation better. In ugly situation such as the on with Lyman and Henry, Lyman my have felt that it was the right thing to do. It sure did help. Sonny kind of blew off the idea of playing any instrument, but it led to a conversation between he and his brother.