“Sony’s blue” got published by James Baldwin in 1957. The story takes place in Harlem, New York, which gets depicted as an impoverished and oppressed neighborhood. The area plays an essential role in the tragedies of Sonny as it represents a trap from which the speaker must strive to escape. The narrator frequently uses the term “trapped” to describe his neighborhood. Generally, the story depicts how Sonny, who is the central character of the story, struggles with issues associated with his community, including poverty, drug addiction, racism, and lack of proper education. The story also reveals that Sony served some prison time due to his drug addiction. However, despite all his obstacles, Sony managed to achieve his life goal of becoming a jazz pianist. His success gets attributed to music, which served as his primary source of motivation. In general, music plays a vital role in “Sony’s blue,” for instance, describing the characters’ life experiences. It also acts as a symbol of hope, peace, comfort, and redemption.
From the beginning to the closing scene of the narrative, music plays a significant role in describing the characters’ lives and Harlem’s culture. It helps to define the lives of the characters featured in the story. To begin with, the title, “Sonny Blues” provides an understanding of the life experiences of the characters (Gale, 2015). According to Baldwin, the term “blues” denotes the stories that describe how individuals suffer or get delighted. Although Sonny is not a blues musician, his jazz music reveals his life situation since it is a revision of the blues music. Precisely, Jazz music is a new way of expressing blues music, representing stories that depict happiness or sadness. In this case, Sonny’s jazz music illuminates how he suffers and ultimately overcomes his obstacles.
Also, music gets depicted as a basis of the conflict and peace between the narrator and his brother. Early in his life, Sonny desired to be a musician, though his brother was against it. Therefore, his decision to be a musician resulted in a conflict between him and his brother, as the speaker is unwilling to acknowledge the value of music in Sonny’s life (Gale, 2015). Besides, his association of music with drug addicts makes him disagree with his brother’s decision to be a musician. The narrator’s view of jazz music got based on the lives of earlier jazz musicians, such as Charlie Parker, who were addicted to drugs, and died prematurely partly as a consequence (Tracy, 2015). Generally, unlike his brother, the narrator had a negative view of music, which inhibited him from accepting his brother’s wish. However, the conflict between the speaker and his brother, Sonny, later got resolved through music. Sonny’s persistence towards becoming a musician contributed to his success, which enabled his brother to understand the importance of supporting other peoples’ lifestyles rather than changing them. From this description, it is evident that music was the cause of conflict between the two brothers and a solution.
From the story, it is also evident that music is a source of hope and comfort. For instance, the barmaid who dances joyfully in front of the narrator and Sonny’s friend reveals the pleasure derived from music (Gale, 2015). Music allows her to escape the reality of her tough life temporarily as it brings a sense of being inside her. Another example that shows the use of music as a source of hope and relief is when Sonny’s mother is observing him through the window. She understands that Sonny gets exposed to the dangers of the street. Thus, to ease her worries and gain comfort, she begins to sing an old church song. The narrator also shows the use of music in seeking pleasure. After fighting with his brother in the village, the narrator uses music to comfort himself.
Throughout the story, Baldwin intertwines music with life and redemption. Sonny is among the characters whose survival relies on the music. To him, music is a means of avoiding self-destruction. He relies on music to escape his emotional scars, despair, and addiction to heroin. Besides, music gives Sonny a purpose in life and acts as the only positive force in his life (Tracy, 2015). It also redeems and provides him with a new experience. As the narrator watches Sonny play the piano, he immediately realizes who Sonny is and gains more understanding. He, therefore, begin to respect and support him as a brother. In essence, music changed Sonny’s life and his relationship with the narrator.
The use of music in “Sony blue” reflects its importance in present society. Music has had several impacts, such as the emotional, cultural, and moral impacts on individuals’ lives (Tracy, 2015). The emotional impact is one of the most identifiable effect of music. These impacts include the enhancement of moods and promotion of relaxation. Music creates comfort by improving the way people feel. It also helps to represent individuals’ culture, for instance, through language and lifestyle depiction. Regarding the moral impact, music influences behavior by identifying what is right or wrong. In general, music is essential to society due to its cultural, emotional, and moral impacts