Essay on Literary Analysis of James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues

Fictional writing is generally done just to entertain readers. Some authors create stories with a singular point of view, while others introduce more complex plots and storylines. When it comes to author James Baldwin’s short story Sonny’s Blues, there is much depth given to the storyline and the characters. Sonny’s Blues has been analyzed by many different people throughout time because the story has many elements. From Baldwin’s skillful use of metaphors and similes to his incorporation of religious references, this story is insightfully and complexly written. A simple story about a man and his brother leaves readers with an inside look into family, drug addiction, socioeconomic struggles in the Black community, and the language of Jazz†¦show more content†¦Jazz Fiction is a type of literature that uses jazz music as a language between characters, to illuminate feelings through the use of musical descriptors, and to give the story a jazz-like rh ythm. James Baldwin successfully does each of those things in Sonny’s Blues. One example of how Baldwin uses musical terms to describe something is when Sonny is trying to explain to his brother what it was like being addicted to drugs. He says â€Å"when you finally try to get with it and play it, you realize nobody’s listening†¦Sometimes you’ll do anything to play† (p. 327). He’s using the word â€Å"play† as if he’s talking about an instrument, but really he is talking about his struggle with drugs. The jazz-like rhythm of the story could be felt at different points like during a back and forth dialogue between the brothers: â€Å"All right†¦so it can come again. All right† â€Å"I had to try to tell you† â€Å"Yes, I understand that† â€Å"You’re my brother† â€Å"Yes†¦yes. I understand that† (p. 328) The author also describes Sonny’s walk in a musical way, â€Å"He has a slow, loping walk, something like the Harlem hipsters walk, only hes imposed on this his own half-beat† (p. 325).Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of James Baldwin s Sonny s Blues 916 Words   |  4 PagesJames Baldwin’s story â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† tells the tale of two African-American brothers trying to survive in 1950s America. Both struggle with darkness in their lives, from drugs to bottling up emotions. The following sources were found Literature Research Center’s website. Each of the four sources will be evaluated for the quality of their information, as well as their usefulness on the topic of darkness in â€Å" â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†. Flibbert, Joseph. Sonny s Blues: Overview. Reference Guide to ShortRead More Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis and James Baldwins Sonnys Blues 1819 Words   |  8 Pagesthat lead to the development of an individual’s identity. Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis† illustrates an extreme change in Gregor Samsa’s external identity and the overall outward effect it has on the development of his family. While James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† illustrates a young man struggling to find his identity while being pushed around by what society and his family wants him to be. Both of these characters exhibit an underlying struggle of alienation but both also demonstrate a craving