Drug Abuse In James Baldwin's Sonny Blues

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In life, we never know what a person may be challenge with or going through. You may
have those that may know how to handle the challenges or those that uses different things to
cope with. Growing up in an environment such as Harlem where there is poverty, drug addict,
unemployment and crime can be challenging. In the story “Sonny Blues” describes the different
ways on how two black boys attempted to escape the Harlem ghetto during the 50’s; some tried
music and drugs, others attempted to adapt or adjust into middle-class society. Unfortunately,
Sonny chose a dark path in life by being a victim to drug abuse, while his older brother was able
to dodge the same fate by getting an education and moving out of the old neighborhood.
In …show more content…

Music gave Sonny purpose in his life and an optimistic outlook on his future.
Sonny’s brother the narrator had a different opinion; the narrator lacks listening to Sonny’s
desires of becoming a musician, and does not oversee his brother’s drug addiction because he
was too caught up on his career as a mathematics teacher. He thinks Sonny is irresponsible and
doesn’t approve of Sonny love for music. The narrator doesn't really know much about jazz. He
associates it with certain "element" of people, people he doesn't want his brother hanging out
with. He compared jazz together with drugs and Sonny's addiction, blaming the jazz lifestyle for
turning Sonny into a heroin addict because he knows that some musicians have to get high in
order to play. Jazz music makes the narrator angry and bitter.
-"Well, look, Sonny, I'm sorry, don't get mad. I just don't altogether get it, that's all. Name somebody-you know a jazz musician you admire."
-James Baldwin, Sonny’s Blues
But for Sonny, jazz music is like an escape from reality. He loves playing it and listening to it.
Music is the one really positive thing in his life. Jazz music represents passion and escape for …show more content…

It makes sense that he would compare shooting up to music, the language he knows best.
At the end, Sonny brother had the opportunity to see Sonny perform at a nightclub. Ultimately, it
is only after Sonny's brother hears Sonny play that it all seems to make sense. In Sonny's music
there is sorrow born of suffering, but there is also a freedom—freedom born out of Sonny's
music for all those who have suffered. Sonny’s music touches his brother, the narrator,
especially. Their relationship is reborn, just like Sonny is redeemed. With his blues, he saves
himself, his relationship to his brother, and those who truly listen
“It's the only light we've got in all this darkness”
- James Baldwin, Sonny's Blues
From Sonny’s viewpoint, music feeds his brother's soul and helps him to cope with his personal
suffering. He realizes that he's just Sonny's brother in the club – he's not special when he's in
Sonny's world. As he settles in to watch Sonny play, he finally sees what an amazing musician
he is. He finally understands a little better what Sonny has been trying to explain to him about

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