Two Brothers in James Baldwin's 'Sonny's Blues'

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that through the two brothers' experiences, James Baldwin reflects the experiences of his race, contrasting the experiences of those who were able to assimilate into the broader society with those of African-Americans who chose to remain within their own culture. It explains that despite his loss of faith in Sonny, the narrator's life justifies a continued hope for the future through his success and the respect that he has thereby garnered.

From the Paper:

"James Baldwin is one of the most powerful voices in African-American literature. His short story "Sonny's Blues" explores the relationship between Sonny and his big brother, the narrator. Beginning with the narrator's discovery that Sonny has been arrested for heroin possession, it examines their relationship both before and after that inauspicious beginning. This is a complex work which examines the experiences of African-Americans in the twentieth century, inspects concepts of assimilation and cultural preservation, and communicates both loss of faith and continued hope for the future."

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