Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin Essay - 775 Words

Sonnys Blues If you were not able to talk to anyone, nor did people want to listen to what you have to say, would that affect you? In the short story, Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin, Baldwin writes about two brothers, Sonny and the narrator, who lose communication between one another because Sonny goes to prison. The narrator, having to make a promise to their mother before her death, was to take care and watch over his young brother Sonny no matter what. This turned out not to be the case and the narrator did not pay much attention to his brothers goals as well as doings. By the end of the story, the audience realizes that the only place where the narrator can understand and feel for his brother is at the place where Sonny†¦show more content†¦This was the way he was able to speak which was not possible when done verbally. Listening is fundamental in communicating with others. The narrator hardly listened to his brother regardless if it was about his goals in life. When Sonny first brought up the idea of becoming a jazz musician, his brother responded by saying, Are you serious (p.90). In addition, Sonnys brother did not take his brothers remark seriously and told him to start thinking about his future. The narrator wanted Sonny to finish school and get a decent job, anything besides playing jazz for a living. I gave up. I decided, if he didnt change his mind, that we could always talk about it later (p.91). This clearly exemplifies that the narrator ignored his brother. He must have looked at Sonny as his younger brother, where he thought Sonny was not able to make the right decisions because of his age at the time and needed guidance. The narrator lacked patience in listening as well as replied with negative responses that demonstrated bad communication. In order to solve this problem, Sonn ys brother should have listened to Sonny more thoroughly and responded in a positive manner so Sonny would not have the sense of loneliness and seclusion. Listening helped the narrator get a glimpse of where his brother was coming from. The narrator finally gives his brother a chance to talk while he listened in page 96. The two brothers were talking to one another while there wasShow MoreRelatedRacism In Sonnys Blues By James Baldwin993 Words   |  4 Pagesamount of people all over the world. Although racial bias has been around for many years, it only seems to be progressing into something that one simply cannot comprehend. In the short story â€Å"Sonny’s Blues,† the author, James Baldwin, emphasizes the lasting effect of racism throughout the story. While Baldwin vaguely expresses the impact of racial bias on the character Sonny, the audience infers the idea the author is trying to convey. In the story, racism is a significant factor of symbolism portrayedRead MoreAnalysis Of Sonnys Blues By James Baldwin956 Words   |  4 PagesJames Baldwin was born on August 2, 1924, to a single mother in Harlem. 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