The Biblical Foundation Of James Baldwin s Sonny s Blues

â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† is one of James Baldwin’s most famous short stories, and probably his most noteworthy one. Countless people have analyzed the several obvious themes and concepts that are within â€Å"Sonny’s Blues,† like jazz music and the unnamed narrator. However, surprisingly, I have not found many articles regarding the several religious and biblical references in my search, despite this themes playing a major role in the short story. There are a few mentions of those references in some articles, as James Tackach points out in his article â€Å"The Biblical Foundation of James Baldwin’s ‘Sonny’s Blues’,† but no in depth analysis of it or its significance to the story. It’s not surprising that Baldwin would incorporate his religion as a major part of his story. Many African-American writers allude to the Bible in their works. Much like most African-American Christians, Baldwin was intimately acquainte d with the Bible. In fact, he became a member and preacher at his local Harlem church by the age of fourteen. In his autobiography, he ventures to say that the King James Bible â€Å"have something to do with [him] today.† Given the vital role of religion in African-American writing, Baldwin’s history with the church, and even his own comments on the topic, it is puzzling that such few people have made mention of the religious aspects of â€Å"Sonny’s Blues.† â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† is a modern-day rewrite of the parable of the Prodigal Son. That story from Saint Luke’s gospel was told by Jesus inShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin Essay804 Words   |  4 PagesMollie Colon Comp 111 B04 Mrs. Canella In Class Essay 1 â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† by author James Baldwin tells the tale of two brothers; one good and one evil. The narrator paints the two brothers as â€Å"light† and â€Å"dark†. The author James Baldwin writes about his relationship with his brother Sonny whom was the â€Å"dark† brother. In essence, this story is about the struggle of two black brothers growing up in Harlem. This essay incorporates the struggles that Black men and women go through on a daily basisRead MoreSonny s Blues By James Baldwin827 Words   |  4 PagesSonny’s Blues In James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† it is only when a brother loses his child that he realizes how easy it can be to lose his brother. The narrator’s little brother, Sonny, was left in his charge when their parents passed away. He neglects Sonny and leaves him to work through hard decisions on his own which leads to Sonny being picked up by the police for using and selling drugs. When the narrator’s daughter, Grace, passes he sees how suffering can affect people and reaches outRead MoreSonny s Blues : A Story Based On A Boy1279 Words   |  6 Pages Sonny’s Blues is a story based on a boy by the name of Sonny, and his brother who is the narrator of the story. 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From Baldwin’s skillful use of metaphors and similes to his incorporation of religious referencesRead MoreSonnys blues literary analysis2558 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Jane-Clare Dauito Professor Thorstensen English Composition 2 11 December 2013 Within The Blues James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† is a story of how a distant and conflicting relationship between two brothers is saved by the powerful message within music. In â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† the music portrays a very powerful message. The story begins with Sonny being arrested for heroin use. Sonny’s older brother is a school teacher and did not want to believe that the news was true, â€Å"I didn’t want to believe thatRead MoreThe Meaning of Jazz in African American Culture Particularly in Harlem During the 1950’s2384 Words   |  10 PagesParticularly in Harlem During the 1950’s In the Baldwin’s story, Sonny’s Blues, the author portrays African -Americans in the urban life. 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To My Old Master by Jourdon Anderson To My Old Master (Young, 1996, pp. 15-16) is chronologically the first of the three selected readings and is a letter written onRead MoreLove in Literature2486 Words   |  10 PagesRaymond Carver s Cathedral†, the writer also expostulates about Raymond’s act of kindness â€Å"The subject of their mutual efforts‑‑the cathedral‑‑as a symbol represents a kind of common humanity and benevolence, and of human patience and fortitude† Robert’s act of love causes the narrator’s mind to transcend to a new level. Familial Love, is the type of love between family members, such for example the love between parent and child or between siblings. This type of love is evident in James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s