Sonny's Brotherhood: A Literary Analysis

Brotherhood is a term whose definition ominous in connotation, thus making it a theme which can reach a wide audience creating relationships between self and text that go beyond words and punctuation. The concept of brotherhood is explored in both a subtle and profound manner throughout literature but most specifically in the short stories: Girl, Sonny’s Blues, and This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona. The three authors employ literary devices including structure, select inclusion of details, imagery and countless other tactics.

The short story, Girl, surrounds women and their gender roles within their designated societal structure. The fact that she has the story centered around females is keen when analyzing the theme attempting

to be portrayed by the author. Her stark use of male absence is in fact a statement on brotherhood. She does not even have to mention a man’s role, yet it is undoubtedly understood, this is her ingenious way of calling the male archetype overbearing. Women are expected to behave a certain way to please men and this becomes evident when the author mentions how to love a man. “This is how you love a man, and if this doesn’t work there are other ways; and if they don’t work don't feel too bad about living up” (Kincaid 580). This can be considered a boldly silent statement on her opinion that brotherhood is dependent upon sisterhood, which can be seen in the select use of details throughout the work.. Atwood, being a female is a major detail that may be overlooked by readers. She is showing the irony of brotherhood and its idiocracy through simply existing as she is.
In Sonny’s Blues, the author defines brotherhood as ever-perplexing, concerning, and all together endearing.

Brotherhood is portrayed as a responsibility rather than a companionship throughout this story. Sonny’s brother feels obligated to be his brother’s keeper throughout his time of incarceration and even after he is released. This is not said in a way of protection but in that he is plagued with a variety of self-deprecating emotions as the success of his brother is a reflection of his own performance as a pillar. Furthermore, Older siblings believe it is their duty to look out for their younger brothers and in this case, it seems to be overwhelming. Sonny’s brother has a hard time accepting that Sonny does not want to go to school; he wants to be a musician. He goes through a great amount of internal turmoil while coming to terms with Sonny’s life aspirations. The structure and length of the short story also provides substantial insight on the author’s perception of brotherhood. The length speaks to the long and treacherous burden which comes with brotherhood. Sonny’s brother believes he is the source of the burden on Isabel’s family by allowing Sonny to reside with them. “Isabel finally confessed that it wasn’t like living with a person at all, it was like living with a sound” (Baldwin 61). Sonny resided with them, but never interacted much. He paid more attention to his aspiration of becoming a musician than to what transpired around him. Although he was never rude, his brother felt as though this was a burden. The author has chosen to write this story from the brother’s perspective which can be used to affirm his belief on brotherhood. The participants in brotherhood lose their sense of self in order to become a collective. If the short story were written from a different point of view, the entirety of the theme would potentially be

altered.
In This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona, Victor bestows to his cousin a portion of his late father's ashes, and the two agree to spread halves at Spokane Falls. Here brotherhood is described as an honor as well as a companionship. Although the two may not get along well, they both come together to accomplish a specific task. They are bonded through mutual societal expectation for respect and consideration. Thomas volunteers his time and money to help Victor travel from the reservation to Phoenix to collect the ashes of his deceased father. Death is the ultimate test of brotherhood, as it measures the amount of religion in the relationship. This is said to mean that death highlights how idolized the counterparts involved are. In this work, Brothers are people who prove themselves worthy of the title. This literary piece serves as a parallel to Sonny’s Blues. Brotherhood is something in which one obtains masculinity by the means of vulnerability and that is evident throughout both works.
Throughout these short stories three authors discuss brotherhood while all having very different conversations. However, there is a common vein in that all of the works feel very intentional; even if the storytelling is casual you recognize the entire time you are there to acquire something. By using select details, structure and imagery Kincaid, Baldwin, and Alexie are all able to take the reader on a journey of relation which goes beyond lineage.