Sibling Choice and Sibling "Success" Term Paper

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Emotionally, Sonny's brother is seriously blocked: uptight; very cautious in his life-choices, and extremely controlling. He lives his life in a sort of self-perpetuating "darkness." It is not until the penultimate scene (in which he watches Sonny, inside the smoky piano bar, being himself and playing his jazz) that he realizes it is all right, perhaps, to step into the "light" and own his feelings. Ironically, it only when listening to Sonny playing his music that Sonny's older brother can even begin to grant himself that simple permission.

However, Baldwin continually tempts us, encourages us, in fact, to mistake Sonny for a failure, as his older brother does. After all, unlike his straight-arrow brother, Sonny is a confirmed drug addict. He struggles with family relationships, does poorly in school, and seems, to others at least, to have little direction in life. However, I believe Sonny is actually more successful than his older brother: he steadfastly refuses to live by someone else's definition of "success." Instead, Sonny has always followed his dream of becoming a professional jazz pianist, regardless of others' criticisms or disparagement of that goal. Sonny's older brother may disapprove of Sonny's profession, but Sonny actually knows more about who he is, and from a young age, than his older brother does even at the end of the story. Sonny does not let the opinions of others deter him from his goal or from being and remaining himself.

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Sonny's steadfast pursuit of that goal requires enormous inner strength and resolve, especially since his goal is to play music professionally, an endeavor in which the odds far outweigh most chance for success.

Additionally, by following his heart and refusing to compromise with his brother or society, Sonny finds an outlet for his own ongoing pain and suffering, his music; something his older brother does not have, and, at least until the end of the story, cannot even begin to understand he needs.

This was the second work by James Baldwin, that I have now read, with the first being his novel, Go Tell it on the Mountain. Having read those two works, I have become impressed by the vividness and honesty of Baldwin's subjects and writing style. Also, since I am the oldest of three brothers, I have found that I can relate personally in various ways to the struggles of the narrator of "Sonny's Blues." For example, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to stand by and watch as family members make unwise life-choices, especially when those choices do not fit with one's own beliefs and values. However, in order to become successful at anything (e.g., life; school; work; relationships; friendships) one must first have the courage of one's convictions, as Sonny does, in order to be able to define success on one's own terms......

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