Reference no: EM133319496

In the short story "Sonny's Blues," James Baldwin tells the tale of the drug-related arrest of a black man, Sonny, from the perspective of his older brother. A poignant piece, "Sonny's Blues" invites us to consider many important themes that still speak to our time.

For this activity, read "Sonny's Blues" and respond to these questions:

1. James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" is not the first story that we read in class told from the first-person point of view (see "The Mark on the Wall"). But it is the first short story in class in which the story is about a character other than the narrator. As we have mentioned, point of view is one of the most important choices an author can make. What does Baldwin's choice to have Sonny's story narrated by a first-person bystander do for the story?
2. Consider the story's narrator, Sonny's brother, a bit more: How does the narrator change/progress throughout the story? Where does he "begin" with regard to Sonny? Where does he "end" with regard to Sonny?
3. The story keeps coming back to the condition of childhood; the narrator frequently references things that children supposedly do. What's the narrator's perspective on childhood? Why might childhood be a recurring point of consideration for "Sonny's
   Blues?"
4. Describe Sonny's relationship to music.  How does he feel about it?  What does it do for him?   Consider this passage, in which Sonny describes some street singers:  ". . .the music seemed to soothe a poison out of them; and time seemed, nearly, to fall away from the sullen, belligerent, battered faces, as though they were fleeing back to their first condition, while dreaming of their last."
5. Make a list of the different types of love that are shown or alluded to in the story. Perhaps think about all of the different types of relationships shown or mentioned in the story where love might be a part of the relationship. With this story, what do you think Baldwin is suggesting about relationships? About love?