Sonny's Blues Literary Analysis Essay
Kianna Vinson
Dr. Forrest-Carter
English 1305-06
25 October 2014
A Critical Analysis on Theme
According to Literature: A Portable Anthology theme is “the central idea embodied by or explored by a literary work” (1360). Many times in life humans experience hardships that affect their journey to success. Sometimes these hardships negatively impact how one determines their ability to become successful. This often times leads to one seeking advice from their peers. While some peers may give advice leaving people open to options, others may try to impose their idea of successfulness on them. “Sonny’s Blues” demonstrates that hardships do not deter success.
Although Sonny has a drug addiction, he eventually reconnects with his brother. From …show more content…
After Isabel’s mother found out Sonny had been skipping school she is upset and reveals her true feelings about the situation. “And this scared her and she started to scream at him and what came up, once she began…was what sacrifices they were making to give Sonny a decent home and how little he appreciated it”(265). Hence, stopped playing the piano; the narrator describes Sonny’s reaction to Isabel’s mother’s remarks. “For he had to see his presence, that music, which was life or death to him, had been torture for them and that they had endured it, not at all for his sake, but only for mine”(265-266). One day Isabel goes into Sonny’s room and realizes all of his records were gone and she knew he was too. “He went as far as the Navy could carry him” (266). The narrator was unaware of Sonny’s whereabouts until Sonnyhe sent him a postcard from Greece. Sonny’s decision to go to the Navy not only gives him a voice, it also forces his brother to realize that Sonny will ultimately dictate his own future despite what he (the narrator) or anyone else may think. Sonny’s decision to join the Navy should have forced his brother to realize that Sonny was indeed becoming a man; yet the narrator refuses. Even after Sonny’s return from the Navy the narrator is still in denial. “He was by then, of course, but I wasn’t willing to see it” (266). Sonny’s decision to join the Navy shows his …show more content…
He believed that Sonny was never in touch with reality, nor was he intrigued at all by Sonny’s ludicrous goal to become a jazz musician. It is not until the narrator decides to go watch Sonny play the piano at the nightclub that he realizes why Sonny loves to play and what exactly Sonny has been through. As a result, the narrator was able to experience Sonny’s life story through his music. “Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did”(275). Through Sonny’s music the narrator gains understanding in why Sonny was so determined and passionate towards becoming a jazz
Dr. Forrest-Carter
English 1305-06
25 October 2014
A Critical Analysis on Theme
According to Literature: A Portable Anthology theme is “the central idea embodied by or explored by a literary work” (1360). Many times in life humans experience hardships that affect their journey to success. Sometimes these hardships negatively impact how one determines their ability to become successful. This often times leads to one seeking advice from their peers. While some peers may give advice leaving people open to options, others may try to impose their idea of successfulness on them. “Sonny’s Blues” demonstrates that hardships do not deter success.
Although Sonny has a drug addiction, he eventually reconnects with his brother. From …show more content…
After Isabel’s mother found out Sonny had been skipping school she is upset and reveals her true feelings about the situation. “And this scared her and she started to scream at him and what came up, once she began…was what sacrifices they were making to give Sonny a decent home and how little he appreciated it”(265). Hence, stopped playing the piano; the narrator describes Sonny’s reaction to Isabel’s mother’s remarks. “For he had to see his presence, that music, which was life or death to him, had been torture for them and that they had endured it, not at all for his sake, but only for mine”(265-266). One day Isabel goes into Sonny’s room and realizes all of his records were gone and she knew he was too. “He went as far as the Navy could carry him” (266). The narrator was unaware of Sonny’s whereabouts until Sonnyhe sent him a postcard from Greece. Sonny’s decision to go to the Navy not only gives him a voice, it also forces his brother to realize that Sonny will ultimately dictate his own future despite what he (the narrator) or anyone else may think. Sonny’s decision to join the Navy should have forced his brother to realize that Sonny was indeed becoming a man; yet the narrator refuses. Even after Sonny’s return from the Navy the narrator is still in denial. “He was by then, of course, but I wasn’t willing to see it” (266). Sonny’s decision to join the Navy shows his …show more content…
He believed that Sonny was never in touch with reality, nor was he intrigued at all by Sonny’s ludicrous goal to become a jazz musician. It is not until the narrator decides to go watch Sonny play the piano at the nightclub that he realizes why Sonny loves to play and what exactly Sonny has been through. As a result, the narrator was able to experience Sonny’s life story through his music. “Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did”(275). Through Sonny’s music the narrator gains understanding in why Sonny was so determined and passionate towards becoming a jazz