Redemption "Sonny"s Blues" By James Baldwin

Final Research Paper

In the story Sonny blues written by James Baldwin he uses this story to portray a theme in which the characters return from the darkness back to the light. The idea of darkness being compared to light really stuck out to me because of the back story of Sonny and the relationship between him and his family and how that affected many of his past decision. Sonny is portrayed as the type of character that gets the task done once he is aware of the right amount of focus, work, and time that needs to put into it, temptations do not hinder his progress as a human being. We see the older brother travel from the dark to a place of light because of how he once viewed Sonny and his mistrust and doubt that he always put in him till the very end when the brother recognizes him for who he really is. As the story goes along, he sees how he should help Sonny find a better path of redemption which is by letting his brother be himself and to be less controlling. Too much expectation was put on Sonny to be just like his brother, Sonny is creative imaginative and vibrant, his brother is factual stern and trustworthy so trying to force sonny to change will not help him but only through his music and personal self-expression can he be saved.   

                          In this story the narrators mother says that sonny reminds her of their father, by this we can assume that he was free spirited, and which would explain the need to control his habits. James Baldwin those an excellent job at showing why learning how to relate to people is affective to how they will behave as a member in society for example sonny was a free spirit so being trapped and forced to live a life he didn’t want is what lead him to his addictions it was as abusers will describe an escape from the pain and that’s what it was for sonny an escape from the pain of being forced to live his older brother’s life and at the time his redemption or his salvation depended on the substances he was taking . Because Sonny was living his life through someone else’s ideals he did not know what was right for him he would skip classes and go play music but then be punished from his family for being disobedient which was hard for sonny to swallow because his passion his saving grace was playing music, but sonny is not all that innocent for Sonny to gain the trust and support he needs from his family he first needs to be honest with them and show that his music and his passion for life is something worth trusting.

 At the beginning of the story Sonny was secretive ad lied to his family about him sneaking off to play music but when he is released from prison it is like he is ready to come out and share with his family who he really is because he tells his brother that he wants to play music. This was significant moment in the story to see that music is what is saving Sonny from losing his way again it was the thing he just couldn’t wait to get back to after he had finished his imprisonment it was the thing he wanted to show his brother that music is the outlet of freedom and enjoyment he is looking for and if his brother just trust him then he will have no need to worry because Sonny is being saved the theme of how music can save to brothers in this story is very strong at this point where we can see the older brother put faith in Sonny he can feel a bit of redemption thanks to his music and his brothers willingness to come watch him play. Also in this story Sonny wasn’t the only one to find redemption through Sonnys music but the older brother did to through the whole story of recapping through his life and his experiences with his brother sonny we see that through his eyes he does not trust sonny he thinks he  is a confused Youngman always making mistakes that affect himself or the family and in the begging in of the story when he sees Sonnys friend , it seems to me that he had given up all hope on redeeming his brother . That’s why being saved from the darkness is such a compelling theme in this story because in life we always think that people who make bad mistakes are the ones who need redemption and those that don’t are good people. But no we all need light we all need to be saved and we can’t be saved if we do not have a clear conscience I believe why the brother failed to forgive Sonny was because he was prideful because he saw that his brother was a lost cause and if sonny had followed in his footsteps then he would be accepted as a decent human being but because of his mistakes his brother feel like it was forced to love him because well a brothers love is a brothers love no matter how much they drive you crazy as a brother it is your responsibility to look after each other but the brother only wanted to look after him if he was willing to conform. But in the climax where the big rother watches sonny perform I believe we see a moment of true human humility at the moment he recognizes Sonny’s talent for music I believe it was made aware to him that me and Sonny are very different people his gifts are his and my gifts are mine and at that very moment the light or redemption had come for the older brother because he had realized himself that music and art is what Sonny needs not rules and properness . When the big brother bought Sonny that drink to me it was a moment that James Baldwin was trying to express through these two characters for a family to redeem itself from its past they need to accept each other individual talents and passions. And at this moment was the very moment were the brother felt at peace because he knew it wasn’t his job to Bring sonny back to the light, but he was capable of doing t on his own through his music. This is why redemption and bringing souls from the dark is such a amazing theme in this story because it shows us humans that we all need redemption it is not such as a simple journey from the depths of darkness to be returned into a place of light.

In a article Written by Suzy Berstein Goldman she talks about how when sonny played his blues he was accepted back into the family as the band was his family and when he played his music again he was able to recreate those bonds ore restore that former trust that used to belong to him and. This is another example of redemption because even though sonny could not find a place among his family he was accepted into another family and that family was his band  this form of retribution is special because he may not be able to find commonality amongst his family he certainly could find people he could call his family this is a different form of forgiveness  because forgiveness is not always being forgiven it is also feeling accepted and because his band accepts him, he can feel that he can move forward and forget about his past . Because on our road back into the light is always easy when you have a supporting cast.

Also, in the story I have mentioned how the older Brother hands Sonny a glass of whiskey and a glass of milk sort of to send a message to Sonny. In this gesture I believe the Older the brother was trying to imply that he recognizes him and sees his true self. In theater 102 we are learning in order to show a true performance we have to have let people see our true selves and the moment when sonny after prison after his drug addiction is up on stage facing everyone’s glare and judgment, And him being all bare and exposed to the judgment of his past present and possible future. But for sonny to be able to accept that to take it upon himself and be prepared to perform in front of people , That was a pure performance of his true self he was able to deliver it them despite his mistakes and other people’s ideas he played his music because it was a true expression of his pain passion and jo and his brother was able to see that and was amazed and shocked at the brother he never knew .  So the shot of whisky and milk was like a sign that his brother is ready to give Sonny that second chance and he knows the path on which he should travel he knows it is not down the same road as him but its his own path not a path designed for him by others but a journey that he discovers for his own .

So as we see the Story “Sonny’s Blues” written by James Baldwin is a story of the characters can be redeemed  , They are redeemed by returning from the dark back into the light . And they are redeemed through the power of brotherhood and the music was the metaphorical symbol of this power because the music is what brings the brothers together and helps them both find their place in the world. Because Sonny always wanted to pursue his life and have a feeling of acceptance and because he was a gifted blues player he was accepted by his Band members and his brother even recognized how Blues music is the proper life for Sonny. Through his music he found the acceptance and love he always longed for when he was and addicted drug abuser using the drugs as a muse to find the joy he receives from the recognition of others. And because Sonny feels accepted and appreciated for who he is now he can be redeemed from his fallen state because he doesn’t need to relieve his pain through substance abuse .And the brother is also redeemed because he was trying to set Sonny’s life up for him but he felt responsible for taking care of Sonny and bringing him into the light , But after the older brother hears his brothers music he is redeemed because he knows he does not need to control his life but sonny needs to find his own path. And therefore this story written by James Baldwin is a compelling story of redemption, because despite what life we live good or bad we all are on a path back to the light. “Sonny’s Blues “ is a great  story that Shows pure talents are significant to our identity’s  and we all live our own life’s despite the troubles we all face seeking redemption is a natural order of life amongst human society because we need a sense of belonging and a sense of acceptance and that only comes through trust  , And “ Sonnys Blues” shows how important it is to display trust in a soul seeking  for a fresh start