A Common Theme In Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin is full of practical themes and supporting proofs of those themes. A common theme found in “Sonny’s Blues” is: in order to move forward in life, one must understand and forgive past mistakes. Baldwin supports this theme with numerous supporting proofs. A prevalent proof found supporting this theme is anger. Baldwin uses anger in many ways to show the importance of forgiveness in life. He shows how anger affects the characters in “Sonny’s Blues” and restricts them from being able to get along in life. He shows it in the narrator’s dad’s backstory, the narrator’s grudge held against Sonny, and the narrator’s use of anger in order to not seem vulnerable or afraid. “Sonny’s Blues” uses an everyday emotion, anger, to prove that no one can move forward in life without forgiving and understanding prior choices and mishaps.

A powerful scene that is flowing with anger is when the narrator’s dad’s brother dies in a horrific accident. The narrator’s mom told him about his dad’s brother because she wanted him to understand what the world was capable of doing and to show him how his dad’s anger has prevented him from moving forward in

life. It is extremely difficult to find forgiveness and peace after an event like that, but it is necessary in order to live a healthy life. Sadly, the narrator’s dad did not find this forgiveness and did not find this peace. He was anger at every white man he encountered, not knowing if it was the man the crushed his beloved brother under their car. The narrator’s mom says, “Till the day he died he weren’t sure but that every white man he saw was the man that killed his brother.” Due to his anger for his brother’s killer, the narrator’s dad was anger at every white man he saw. It was evident, that the anger the narrator’s dad felt over his brother’s killer prevented him from moving forward in life and letting go of the past.
Throughout the entire story, the narrator always seemed upset or frustrated with Sonny and his decision making. The narrator was anger with Sonny for many of his past choices in life and seemed to never let them go until the end of the story. The story begins with the Sonny’s release from jail for his use of illegal drugs. The narrator was so angry and upset with Sonny that he did not write him for months when he first got assigned to jail. He does eventually write Sonny and their relationship quickly had a future and hope again. The day of Sonny’s release the narrator was there to take him home. It was evident that the narrator was still angry with Sonny for allowing himself to go down the stereotypical Harlem, ghetto path. The ride back to the narrator’s house was full of dreadful silence and awkwardness. The narrator was relieved when they arrived at his house because his wife was happy to see Sonny and sparked up conversation with him. Until the narrator begins to forgive and understand Sonny, their relationship is greatly affected in a negative manner.
Another time when the narrator uses anger is when he feels vulnerable or unfamiliar with something.

This is shown the most when Sonny tries to example to him why he wants and believes he can be a professional pianist. The narrator’s initial reaction was disbelief and anger. He was angry with Sonny for not wanting to have a typical and steady job where he would work nine to five and collect a steady income. The brothers quickly begin to argue over the subject until Sonny comes up with an idea to have the narrator come watch him perform. The narrator goes to watch Sonny perform and is instantly overwhelmed with emotions when he hears him play. It is as if, through Sonny’s music he was able to finally understand Sonny. Due to this realization, the reader is able to learn that anger clouds judgment and

understand.
Overall, it is evident that anger plays a very important, impactful role the theme of “Sonny’s Blues”. It shows that anger prevents someone from moving forward in his or her life. In “Sonny’s Blues”, anger prevents the narrator’s father from forgiving and accepting the awful fact about his brother, anger prohibits the narrator and Sonny from healing their relationship as quickly as possible, and anger hides the true feelings of the narrator. In conclusion, “Sonny’s Blues” clearly shows that in order to move forward in life one has to forgive and understand the past and anger greatly hinders those abilities.