Theme in Sonnys Blue - Essay Example

Theme in Sonny’s Blue James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blue is the most critically discussed and anthologized short story in NortonIntroduction to Literature, Eleventh Edition. Critical analyses of this story have focused on the unnamed narrator’s identity conflict and the use of music. One of the standout literary aspects of the story is the use of religious teachings. The story leans towards religious themes. Readers can easily compare Sonny to the biblical prodigal son and Abel, and the narrator to the biblical Cain. The author of this story used biblical stories and teachings as the foundation for his story. This should not be surprising since the author was a Christian who confessed to knowing the bible intimately. During the author’s Harlem childhood, the King James Bible became his literary text. This helped the author to color his literary text with an Old Testament poetry and rhetoric. James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blue is based on religious themes. The Religious Theme in Sonny’s Blue Sonny’s blue is a compelling and contemporary retell of the biblical parable of the prodigal son. This parable tells the story of a man who had two sons. One of the sons asked for his promised inheritance from his father. He gets the inheritance and leaves home for a journey to a faraway place where he squandered all his inheritance. The other son, who was older, remained home with his father. Years later, a famine prompted the younger son to return home. He asked for a job as a farm hand. However, his father is happy to see his lost son and orders for celebrations. The elder son returned home and found the family celebrating. He confronted his father because he felt that his younger brother did not deserve to be welcomed back. Like this parable, Sonny’s Blue tells the story of two brothers. The older brother remained in a narrow but straight path while the younger brother chose riotous living (Baldwin 75). The narrator tells the story of Sonny, who is the younger brother. Sonny was a musician who was addicted to heroin. As the story opens, the narrator reads in the newspaper about Sonny’s arrest for drug sale and possession. The narrator did not associate with Sonny because he disapproved of his lifestyle and friends. The narrator “did not like the way he carried himself, loose and dreamlike all the time” (Baldwin 77). This statement shows that Sonny has similar behaviors to the prodigal son. Like the prodigal son, Sonny is considered lost. Like the self-righteous older brother of the prodigal son, the narrator does not show concern or sympathy for his brother’s situation. The narrator is forced to ruminate over his brother’s situation after he was arrested for drug sale and possession. He thinks about his brother’s situation and his obligation to his brother. It is essential to note that after their mother died, the narrator promised to take care of his younger brother. Initially, the narrator ignored Sonny. He did not visit him in jail or even write him a letter (Baldwin 78). The death of the narrator’s daughter forced him to write to Sonny to invite him home once he is released from jail. In this case, the prodigal son is welcomed back home and the two brothers reconcile. The narrator also came to understand Sonny’s music. Sonny’s Blue is similar to the New Testament story of the Prodigal Son because it tells the story of redemption and sin. In the two stories, the Prodigal Son returns home. The event that initiated interactions between the two brothers was the death of the narrator’s daughter. The death of Grace made the narrator realize the troubles that his brother was facing (Baldwin 81). The narrator’s lifestyle protected him from the challenges and problems that Sonny faced in life. Sonny’s brother is intolerant to Sonny’s troubles because of his preoccupation with himself. The mystery and pain of losing his daughter awakened him to the needs of Sonny and the wounds of his wife. The name of the narrator’s daughter is also religious. The loss of his daughter made the narrator identify with the darkness and pain in Sonny’s life. He also realized his loss of grace, which resulted from his broken promises to his mother. By neglecting and ignoring his younger brother, the narrator becomes a contemporary Cain. In the biblical book of Genesis, Cain killed his brother and when God asked him about the whereabouts of Abel, Cain replied that he did not know. The conversation between the narrator and his mother implies that he accepted to become his brother’s keeper. However, he failed in this duty. The opening line of the story shows the narrator’s failure in protecting his brother. The narrator confessed that he read about Sonny’s arrest, “in the paper, in the subway on his way to work” (Baldwin 88). The narrator had to rely on a newspaper story to know about his brother’s whereabouts. This shows that he did not keep his promise to his mother. The feeling was mutual because Sonny did not call his brother to inform him of his arrest. During the day of Sonny’s arrest, the narrator spoke with one of Sonny’s friends. The conversation provides insights into the strenuous relationship between the two brothers. Sonny’s friend had a close resemblance to Sonny that the narrator called him Sonny. According to the narrator, the mere appearance of Sonny’s friend provoked hatred that was motivated by the fact that he resembled Sonny. During this conversation, the narrator gave a response that closely resembles the response that was given by Cain. The narrator told Sonny’s friend that he had not seen Sonny for close to a year. He also said, “I am not sure I am going to do anything” in reference to Sonny’s arrest (Baldwin 83). In other words, the narrator was implying that he was not his brother’s keeper. Towards the end, the narrator conceded that his brother’s business was not of his concern. Unlike Cain in the book of Genesis, the narrator has a chance of redeeming himself. In order to redeem himself, the narrator is required to save his brother. According to the story, the narrator could not free himself from the fact that his brother was his responsibility. The narrator’s comprehension of his sacred responsibility is evident in one of his conversations with Sonny (Baldwin 85). During the conversation, the narrator shows an understanding of his brother. He also understands the vulnerability of his brother, and he is willing to fulfill his promise to his mother. In the last part of the story, the narrator ordered a drink for his brother. According to the narrator, Sonny’s drink was glowing above his head. This signifies that Sonny had managed to overcome his addiction or weakness for drugs. This also implies that Sonny is enlightened and can control his life. It also reinforces the idea that Sonny’s brother would not attempt to control Sonny’s life (Baldwin 95). At this stage, Sonny has attained full freedom. The term “cup of trembling” is derived from the biblical book of Isaiah. According to this book, God pledged to help Jerusalem. After living many years in sin, the people of Jerusalem had to face punishment from God. God pledged to withdraw the hand of the cup of trembling. The withdrawal of the cup means that despite their sins, they would receive God’s protection and favor. Sonny too had sinned and was suffering God’s fury. The glowing glass above Sonny’s head was his personal cup of trembling, which had turned to a shining halo (Baldwin 96). Critical analysis of Sonny’s Blue previously focused on secular issues such as the author’s use of jazz and blues music, and the identity issues that faced the narrator. It is essential to move away from the secular issues in the story and focus on the religious aspects. This will help in acknowledging the complex linkage of biblical literature that acts as the foundation of the story. The story has a biblical foundation because of its reflection of biblical stories such as the parable of the Prodigal Son and the story of Cain and Abel. Unlike the elder brother in the two stories, the narrator had a chance to redeem himself by welcoming back his brother. The death of Grace, the narrator’s daughter, and the narrator’s reflection on Sonny’s situation helped in bringing the two brothers to an understanding. Work Cited Baldwin, James. Sonny’s Blues. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Eleventh Edition. New York, New York. W.W. Norton & Company (2013): 73-101. Print. Read More