Introduction to Music in “Sonny’s Blues”
Music in “Sonny’s Blues” is related to blue music, immensely popular among African Americans during the decade of the 50s. The story and characters demonstrate that Blues and Jazz are more than just types of music Baldwin presents. The story revolves around two brothers, the elder family-oriented person, and teacher, and the younger, a musician, singer, and drug addict. The elder man marries a girl, Isabella from a good family. The younger brother loves music but plays truant from school which leads to his expulsion from home, too. When the narrator discovers that his younger brother, Sonny is enthusiastic about music and nothing else, and he gets furious. Like a typical middle-class man, he thinks that after education, a young man can lay his hands upon a decent job to marry a girl like Isabela, have kids, and home. Although the narrator does not seem entirely against music, he seems to think that he should “go to finish school” and pursue some future which Sonny says lies in music (11). Music in “Sonny’s Blues” is associated with an artistic expression devoid of material gain which arouses hostility of the narrator but becomes a passion of life for Sonny and helps readers understand that it assists in communication where language fails.
Artistic Expression of Music in “Sonny’s Blues”
As far as music in “Sonny’s Blues” is associated with artistic expression, some of the narrator’s words clearly show that he does not think that music will give his brother some monetary benefit to live with. When he brings his brother home, they have a conversation about what Sonny is going to do to live, and he says “I can make a living at it” which the narrator does not believe (11). There is a reason behind it because Harlem was the ghetto of New York where African Americans never dreamed of coming out except through education. Sonny’s sudden passionate love for music alerts the narrator that he is going to ruin his career, but little does he know that his brother has already made music his career. When they both talk about music again and the narrator takes some interest in Sonny’s choice, he notices that it does not give him monetary gains, but it does give him a sense of completeness, “In order to keep from shaking to pieces” (16). For Sonny, music in “Sonny’s Blues” is an artistic expression of his sufferings, his pains, and his personal griefs.
Passion of Music in “Sonny’s Blues”
On the other hand, this passion of Sonny arouses a sort of hostility in the narrator for music. This hostility shapes their relationship. Little does enter his mind that music is an artistic expression and that if his brother has decided to pursue it as his career in life, he must support him. He thinks that music is just a pastime, and that Sonny should do something tangible which could bring bread and butter for his family. A typical middle-class person, the narrator, rather thinks about “free will” and beautiful life. It, though, is very interesting to note that despite his antipathy toward music and his resolve that he would not fail his brother, all his pragmatic conversation seems to him “empty words and lies” (17). The narrator, about music in “Sonny’s Blues” feels the hollowness of his anti-music policy toward his brother through his failure to achieve the intended objective. However, as far as Sonny is concerned, he has made it a passion of life, a matter of “life or death for him” (11). It is because the harsh realities of the world have forced Sonny to find refuge in Jazz and Blue. His Harlem context does not let him succeed in the outside world which is “as hungry as a tiger” (21). His view is that if they, the narrator and his family, listen to his music, they would feel free of the suffering, pains, and grief they have gone through in their lives. It is a healing touch that he suggests them will heal their wounds.
Function of Music in “Sonny’s Blues”
Another especially important function of music in “Sonny’s Blues”is that it communicates meanings where language fails to do so. Whenever the narrator tries to become articulate about the career and future of Sonny’s life, both brothers fail to make each other understand what Sonny says and what the narrator wants. Whereas the narrator is concerned, his concern about his brother and his career seems quite genuine. On the other hand, Sonny thinks that his brother does not understand his career choice which has provided him not only refuge but also a healing touch. This conflict reaches its climax when Sonny asks the narrator to see him performing live. It is there in the nightclub that the narrator says, “I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we listen, that he would never be free until we did” (21). Both brothers understand each other during this performance and the narrator, finally, feels proud of his brother’s performance. Language could not bridge this gap of communication that music in “Sonny’s Blues” has filled at last.
Conclusion
Baldwin thus leaves this lesson that sometimes arts and artistic skills fill the communication gaps though they hardly become liabilities. Music in “Sonny’s Blues” provides an incredibly good reference that though the music does not provide money, it provides refuge, relief, and communication media to understand each other. By inviting his brother to the nightclub, Sonny finally succeeds to convince his brother that he has chosen music as his career and that it will provide freedom if they listen to him. It does provide freedom to him by the end of the story. That is how music is a great motif of “Sonny’s Blue.”
Works Cited
Baldwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues.” WMV. n. d. Web. 30 Jun. 20.17.
Relevant Questions about Music in “Sonny’s Blues”
- How does the theme of music in “Sonny’s Blues” contribute to the emotional depth and character development of Sonny and his brother, and what does it symbolize in their lives?
- In “Sonny’s Blues,” how does the character of Sonny use music as a means of expressing his inner turmoil and finding solace, and what impact does it have on his relationship with his brother?
- What role does the jazz club in “Sonny’s Blues” play in shaping the narrative, and how does the music performed there serve as a catalyst for personal and emotional revelations for the characters?