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“Being in a family is like being in a play. Each birth order position is like a different part in a play, with distinct and separate characteristics for each part. Therefore, if one sibling has already filled a part, such as the good child, other siblings may feel they have to find other parts to play, such as rebellious child, academic child, athletic child, social child, and so on.” (Jane Nelson) My part, as eldest sibling, consists of the good child, academic child, mature child, and basically, any type of child seen as a role model for younger siblings. Likewise, in James Baldwin’s short story, Sonny’s Blues, the narrator, who is the eldest, plays the role of the good child, responsible child, fatherly child and so forth, to his younger brother Sonny. When playing the part of the eldest sibling, family members expect the characteristics of each role to be held; however, the eldest sibling may find those expectations overwhelming and begin to question their place in the family. As the responsible child, the parents’ expectations consist of the eldest knowing their responsibility to their younger siblings in the case of extreme situations, such as family sickness or death. My parents repeatedly tell me that if anything were to happen to either of them, I am to take on the role of father and mother to my brother and sisters because they will have no one to look after them. Thus, characteristics of the role include being responsible for their health, education and future. Although I am the eldest, I am still a child; taking on that information and responsibility feels like being trapped in a forever-turning hour glass. As soon as I think that my childhood time has run out and I can finally go off on my own, my parents turn over the hour glass and once again I am being drowned with reminders of my role as the eldest sibling and my responsibilities to the family, which are represented by each and every grain of sand pouring over my head.. Similarly, in Sonny’s Blues, when the mother thinks the sand in her life’s hour glass is about to run out, she takes aside the eldest child to tell him, “If anything happens to me he [Sonny] ain’t going to have nobody to look out for him” (Baldwin 9). She sets the eldest up with the responsibility of having to take care of his younger brother by making him feel guilty knowing that there is no one else to care for Sonny.
Approximate Word count = 1574
Approximate Pages = 6.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
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