James Baldwin’s “Sonny Blues” takes place during the jazz music era of 1957 in Harlem, New York. This story expresses the importance of a well found relationship between an older brother and young brother needing each other. The elements of character and figurative language are the most suitable elements of fiction that best describes the story “Sonny Blues”. In “Sonny Blues”, character is illustrated by the use of minor characters telling the readers of the unique qualities of the major character. The minor characters function as a foil to the major character. Foil meaning a character that helps by way of contrast to reveal the unique qualities of another (especially main) character (124). A key role Sonny helps play in the narrator's outlook
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The narrator didn’t understand what his mother was asking from him until after Sonny’s incarceration. Baldwin shows how the narrator seems to blame himself for not being there for his brother, but instead builds upon their relationship by being openly mind and understanding. The element of figurative language showing symbolism was from music. The importance of music seems to be a key component in this story. Music expresses and resolves the conflict, creating a form of unity between the two brothers. The narrator’s opposing views of jazz music help creates conflict between him and his brother. The deep passion for jazz music Sonny had seemed to be overshadowed by his brother, just not caring to actually try understanding. “I simply couldn’t see why on earth he’d want to spend his time hanging around nightclubs, clowning around on bandstands, while people pushed each other around a dance floor” (86). “I had never thought about it before, had never been forced to, but I suppose I had always put jazz musicians in a class with what Daddy called “good-time people” (86). Music also resolved the conflict between the brothers. The nightclub experience between Sonny and his brother creates the understanding the brothers seem to lack of each
The narrator didn’t understand what his mother was asking from him until after Sonny’s incarceration. Baldwin shows how the narrator seems to blame himself for not being there for his brother, but instead builds upon their relationship by being openly mind and understanding. The element of figurative language showing symbolism was from music. The importance of music seems to be a key component in this story. Music expresses and resolves the conflict, creating a form of unity between the two brothers. The narrator’s opposing views of jazz music help creates conflict between him and his brother. The deep passion for jazz music Sonny had seemed to be overshadowed by his brother, just not caring to actually try understanding. “I simply couldn’t see why on earth he’d want to spend his time hanging around nightclubs, clowning around on bandstands, while people pushed each other around a dance floor” (86). “I had never thought about it before, had never been forced to, but I suppose I had always put jazz musicians in a class with what Daddy called “good-time people” (86). Music also resolved the conflict between the brothers. The nightclub experience between Sonny and his brother creates the understanding the brothers seem to lack of each