Symbolism In Sonny's Blues

At the end of the story, the narrator describes a glass of milk and scotch that he had ordered for his brother as shaking above his head on the piano “like the very cup of trembling” (p. 61) and bathed in blue light to illustrate the difficult position Sonny is in. This phrase is originally form the bible, where it is used as a symbol to depict the suffering that his people has gone through and God tells his people that they will no longer have to drink from that cup. So, the imagery of this cup brings with it a promise of release from suffering. When Sonny drinks from this cup after performing, it is a reminder of the suffering he has endured, while showing that he has a chance for salvation, like he has begun to find through his music. All the while, this cup is bathed in blue light, a mixture of light and dark, of salvation and desolation. Likewise, Sonny’s drink is composed of milk and Scotch. Milk in literature often represents innocence, or peace, while scotch is hard alcohol, and may represent temptation and Sonny’s personal battle with darkness when he was addicted to various drugs, including heroin. This cup represents the unknown future …show more content…
James Baldwin uses light imagery to highlight the struggles that the narrator and his brother face. Yet while they have mostly attained each of their lights and their salvation, darkness remains in their lives. The message he seems to be sending is that light cannot be found without darkness, and then, Light can never completely win. The battle of light versus dark and good versus evil is an ongoing fight that must be fought even if it can never be won. Light and darkness are a balance, not a goal to achieve. Perhaps, if we strive to accept our darknesses, we can better achieve our light and our salvation in the