Comparison Of Sonny's Blues 'And Hills Like White Elephants'

What’s in a Name?

“Sonny’s Blues” and “Hills Like White Elephants”

These two short stories “Sonny’s Blues” written by James Baldwin and “The Hills Like White Elephants” written by Earnest Hemingway brings us to the question what’s in a name? The title “Sonny’s Blues” may insinuate we are going to read a story based on a character that plays the blues or jazz as we like to refer to it today, but once we have actually read this story the title has a much deeper meaning. The short story “Hills Like White Elephants” setting is in Spain as a couple tours the country side by train. This title is really left to the reader’s discretion. With a title as such we are left to wonder if the characters have been on a safari and have seen albino elephants

or maybe the title is like that pink elephant many say is in a room during an awkward situation.
“Sonny’s Blues” title reference to the trials and tribulations of the character Sonny.

He has a very conflicting relationship with his older brother, for that may be a vast cause of our characters blues. Sonny’s brother doesn’t understand his desire to play music and it does not seem his brother or anyone else in his life ever really engaged in him being a musician, for when Sonny’s brother went to the club with him to hear him play he was amazed at how much the song engulfed Sonny’s soul. “The man who creates the music is hearing something else, for the roar rising from the emptiness within is placed in order by the musician as it hits the air.” (Baldwin 112). ” He wanted Sonny to take the traditional route as he did, such as; becoming educated, getting a job, marrying, and raising a family. For Sonny not having his dreams and desires accepted by someone he love had to be heart breaking. Sonny was hooked on heroin as well as served jail time. ”I’m glad Mama and Daddy are dead and can’t see what’s happened to their son” (Baldwin 96). This surely caused grief or as the title playfully states “Sonny’s Blues.” Drugs and alcohol are a big stereotype in the entertainment industry, so this may be a reason why his brother opposed him living the lifestyle of a musician. Sonny’s disappointment in himself causes him shame and strife, for his failures in his brother’s eyes, makes him bluer than the blues he

plays.
One character in “The Hills Like White Elephants” is a young girl who appears to be going to have an abortion. The title “Hills Like White Elephants” may reference to a creature never seen before, for if the girl goes through with the abortion a growing belly from pregnancy will never be seen.
What do you think of when hearing the words white elephant?

A white elephant sale at a department store, or a white elephant gift exchange which sometime include items we do not want, and white elephant reminds us of the big warehouse sale they held once a year in our communities. That was their title for a big indoor yard sale where people come to purge of all their unwanted junk. There is a saying another man’s junk is another man’s treasure. “Hills Like White Elephants” to the girl could be a treasure to her the child that is growing inside, but to the American the other character in the story who is taking her to have the abortion the pregnancy may be his junk that he does not

want.
A white elephant is untouchable for we cannot touch things that are not seen. The girl’s interpretation of her view of the mountains saying “they look like white elephants” (Hemingway 166) may be her feeling that her baby is untouchable because it is merely growing inside of her and not at all visible to the naked eye. If the girl does go through with the abortion her baby will never be seen as a white elephant has never been seen.
Pondering a decision as such when her partner is not on board makes it very difficult for the girl to come to grips with a decision that will be best for her. She does not seem to be happy with having an abortion. The decision seems to have been made for her by the American. He tells her “you don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I really think it’s the best for us” (Hemingway 167). As supportive as that may sound he follows that statement up with “then we can go back to being happy” (Hemingway 167).
These two titles can be interpreted many different ways by how an individual views them. “Sonny’s Blues” may make us hear the sounds of a trumpet or a saxophone whaling a fine song. “Hills Like White Elephants” may make us believe that the characters has really seen a miraculous creature a white elephants. What’s in a name will make us think a little deeper the next time we pick up a book to read.