Sonny's Blues Character analysis
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Sonny's Blues Character Analysis
Sonny's Blues, a short story by James Baldwin, had two main characters, Sonny and his brother who was also the narrator. Sonny was the heroin addict brother of the narrator who was trying to find his self through music after he was released from prison. His brother, who name was never mentioned was a fearful, judgmental, uptight "Uncle Tom," and was very protective of his little brother.
Being fearful of his brother's future, the narrator did not want to experience the pain of an unsuccessful future. The narrator states his thoughts "I was scared, scared for Sonny" (Baldwin 349). With seven years between them and the death of both their parents, it was natural for his older brother to feel fearful of his future, as would a parent is about their child. Also fearful of the fact that he does not know his brother as well as most brothers would know their sibling, he goes on to say, "he became real to me again (349)."
Not only was Sonny's brother fearful of his future and the aloofness between them, he was also very judgmental. During his talk with one of Sonny's old friends, there was an instance when they were in front of a bar and he called a perfect stranger who was a barmaid, a semi-whore. The instant speculation with no apparent knowledge of her past or lifestyle justifies his being judgmental...