Sonnys Blues

The story “Sonny’s Blues” illustrate the lives of two brothers, narrated by the oldest brother, who was never given a name or a nickname. This directs the reader to better understand his feelings and the way he views what is intended to happen. The story begins as the older brother learns of Sonny’s arrest in a raid downtown for peddling and using heroin. He mulls over this all day, and cannot seem to brush it off. The narrator goes through a time of disappointment and sadness. Time goes by and he decides to write to Sonny in prison, only after his daughter Gracie died. When he got a response from Sonny, it “…made {him} feel like a bastard.” (P 43) The two kept in touch until Sonny came back to New York. It was during this time that the two brothers came to terms with their past and present problems; with each other, and themselves.

Sonny’s older brother was discontented in his teaching profession. He felt a lack of admiration and importance from his ...