Sonny 's Blues By James Baldwin
In the short story "Sonny's Blues", by James Baldwin there is the notion or a reoccurring theme of a conflict between light and dark between the characters. The notion is carried throughout the story of two brothers finding their own lights and trying to work towards a greater life. In the late 50's, after the Harlem Renaissance, adolescents are faced with drug sales everywhere and crime sprees around every corner, this is one example of the darkness in the story. Kids began to form bad habits that revolved around drugs and crime because it was what they became used to seeing in their everyday routine. Later on in life they would find themselves in unthinkable situations and not finding a way out. Sonny's older brother, who is also the narrator of the story finds himself in disbelief because he finds out his brother is incarcerated because of a heroin addiction. Sonny wanted to be a famous pianist but thought that heroin would open his mind up and make his creative thought flow. By using his music, Sonny tries to make a better life for himself and attempts to return to the light after being in the dark for so long. The notion of light and dark reflects the character's personalities and actions as they struggle to live in the ominous city of Harlem. The author expresses the human spirit throughout "Sonny's Blues" to reveal how the characters and ordinary people find their own light within the darkness in which they live.
Baldwin had chosen specifically to use Harlem as the
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