Sonny (reflective post)

"Sonny's Blues" written by James Baldwin could be interpreted in many different ways when it comes to Sonny and the narrator’s relationship.  My thoughts through out the text lined up with what we talked about in class.  In class a few of us explained which character we related to more, either Sonny or the narrator.  I said Sonny even though I am not similar to him when it came to Heroin addiction, but rather, I am similar to him in the way he talks and thinks.  Some others in class related to the narrator perhaps having someone like Sonny in their life to rescue.  The narrator is not a guy I disliked, but I found him not as interesting and alert as Sonny.  In class some of us came to the conclusion that Sonny was a character who was easy to relate to because he was very “real.”  What made him “real” was the way in which he interacted with the world.  When the narrator first picked up Sonny to bring him back home, Sonny was so excited to see his brother.  From the previous letter the narrator received from Sonny, I could tell that Sonny was a very warm and loving person.  He sounded as if he had compassion for others.  His character is shown throughout the story in examples like wanting to drive through the city because he hasn’t seen it in awhile.  He appreciates his past and where he has come from.  Another example of his character is shown when he arrives home with his brother and his brother’s family.  Immediately he talks to Isabel with ease.  “Sonny has never been talkative,” said the narrator (391).  The narrator also addresses how easy it always was for Isabel and Sonny to relate to one another and laugh.  It seems to me that the narrator judges Sonny based on his personal issues with relating to Sonny. 

The text starts to describe Sonny and the narrator’s past.  “Don’t you worry, I won’t forget. I won’t let nothing happen to Sonny,” the narrator said to his mom (pg.395).  This simple statement to his mother explains the reason why the narrator lives with guilt when it comes to his relationship with his brother. 

I want to address Sonny’s character.  Class today enriched my thoughts about Sonny.  I would have never noticed in depth the realness and authentic spirit that Sonny had unless we spoke about it.  I came to the conclusion that both brothers did try to escape their inward suffering.  Sonny used drugs as a means and his brother seemed to harden himself to reality.  This story is a great parallel two different people and two different personalities.  We must recognize that people use different routes to cope with suffering, but we must learn to use good things to cope.  Sonny did not use a good means to cope, we he did work on his inward soul it seems like.