Sonny Brother Returning Home Analysis

The narrator of the story, whose name is unknown, discovers from a newspaper that his younger brother, Sonny, had been arrested for “…peddling and using heroin.” As he is about to teach his class, the narrator remembers Sonny as a young boy. He realizes that someday, some of his students could end up like Sonny because of the trial and tribulations that come with being raised in Harlem. After the school day is over, the narrator starts on his journey home, but he notices that one of Sonny’s old friends, who is constantly high and filthy and is always asking him for money or a cigarette, is waiting for him by the school. The two men walk together, talking about Sonny. The narrator pities and hates Sonny’s friend, who, despite his problems,

After her funeral, the narrator and Sonny sat down and talked about Sonny’s future. Sonny told his brother how he wanted to become a jazz pianist, which the narrator dismissed. The narrator made a deal with Sonny, and it was for Sonny to live with his wife’s family until Sonny graduated from college. Sonny agreed to the deal even though he didn’t really want to. He spent all of his free time playing the piano and he didn’t want to live in the house. Even though Sonny really enjoyed playing the music, the rest of the family couldn’t bear hearing Sonny constantly practicing. Sonny got into trouble for skipping school while living with his sister-in-law. He attempted to hide the truancy letters, but one ended up making it to the house. When his sister-in-law’s mother confronted him, Sonny admitted to spending his time hanging out with musicians in Greenwich Village. The mother and Sonny fought and he realized that he had been a burden to them. Two days after the argument, Sonny joined the Navy. The narrator had no clue as to if Sonny was alive or not, until he received a postcard from Greece. After the war, both of the brothers moved back to New York, but they didn’t see each other for a while. When they finally did meet up again, they fought about the decisions Sonny was making in his life. After one major fight, Sonny told his brother