““Sonny’s Blues”Sonny’s Blues”By James Baldwin

OutlineOutline

I. BackgroundII. PlotIII. Socio-Historical Context

I. Growing up in HarlemII. Military ServiceIII. Jazz music, Class Divisions, Racial Politics

IV. Characters

James BaldwinJames Baldwin Born 1924 in Harlem Compared his stern

stepfather to Ishmael in Genesis◦ First, albeit illegitimate son

of Abraham◦ Forced to wander in the

wilderness after legitimate Isaac was born

Ishmael theme apparent in literature

Fled the segregated north for France

Wrote much about black struggles in America

Plot OverviewPlot Overview

First person, unnamed narrator◦Stable family man◦Algebra teacher, wife, two sons◦Lost Grace at age two◦Estranged from Sonny

Story switches from real time to flashbacks, including◦Story about uncle getting killed◦Sonny’s desire to drop out, lives with Isabel

Ends at the Jazz Club in Greenwich Village

Socio-Historical SettingSocio-Historical Setting

Growing up in Harlem◦Separate but equal◦Predominantly black

Harlem, father won’t move out.

◦Defacto segregation◦Narrator’s students.

Narrator begins to understand how such a child can go wrong.

Socio-Historical SettingSocio-Historical Setting

Military Service plays important role in the story.

Blacks have long history of serving in American military

Many hope service to country would prove worthy and gain respect from whites.

Jazz music, Class Divisions and Jazz music, Class Divisions and Racial PoliticsRacial Politics

Two black communities◦ Sonny’s vs. The narrators

Narrator’s community◦ Middle class◦ Downplay barriers to their success◦ Believe they can improve their standard of living by hard

work, determination.◦ Eventually assimilate into white America

Sonny’s community.◦ More radical, less accepting of status quo◦ Struggle against whites fierce◦ Feel they will always be shut out from privileges whites

enjoy.

Jazz music’s relationJazz music’s relation

Narrator’s world:◦Louis Armstrong

Sonny’s world◦Charlie Parker

The storyThe story

Is “Sonny’s Blues” a story:◦That moralizes against drug use?◦That tries to explain why people become

addicted to drugs?◦About a man’s struggle to kick a drug habit?◦About an artist’s struggle to kick a drug habit?◦About the effects of drug use on a family?◦About ways in which drug use and self-

expression can sometimes serve the same purpose?

The final sceneThe final scene

What happens to the brothers at the jazz club?