Sonny's Blues and the Weary Blues - Essay Example

Sonnys Blues and the Weary Blues The theme of identity crisis is the matter of Sonny’s Blues (1957), which is a short story by James Baldwin, and Weary Blues (1923), a poem by Langston Hughes. Besides, both the works belong to different genres of literature, but the undercurrent of identical elements like music and the theme of identity crisis binds both the works together. Thesis statement: The comparative study between the Sonny’s Blues (short story) and Weary Blues (poem) proves that both the works deal with the same theme of identity crisis, the effect of music in human life, the usage of music as an innovative mode of communication and individual difference and the scope on choices in life, but differs in the portrayal of social and cultural segregation faced by the African Americans in America. Comparative study between Sonny’s Blues and Weary Blues The comparative study is divided into five sections including: the theme of identity crisis, the effect of music in human life, the usage of music as an innovative mode of communication, individual difference and the scope on choices in life, and portrayal of social and cultural segregation faced by the African Americans. A. The theme of identity crisis In the short story- Sonny’s Blues, the narrator makes use of the first-person narrative technique to unveil the identity crisis faced by the main characters (say, the narrator and his brother named as Sonny). One can see that this narrative technique is helpful for the writer to expose the narrator’s feelings and his own opinion on his brother. In the opening of the short story, the writer portrays the narrator as a worthy individual, living with his family. At the same time, the narrator considers that he needs to transform his brother’s life because he is a school dropout and drug addict. Within this context, one may misunderstand that the epicenter of the theme of identity crisis is Sonny, not the narrator. In the end, the readers realize that Sonny migrated from Harlem to escape from drug addiction and joined a jazz group in Greenwich Village. So, the narrator is unable to solve the problem of identity crisis, but his brother is able to do so. On the other side, the singer in the poem Weary Blues is aware of the problems faced by him in a multicultural/ multiracial society. Anita Patterson stated that “As a poet, Hughes constantly tries to illustrate how formal qualities may assist an act of engaged social criticism” (655). So, he considers his status as a musician as an escapade from realities. One can see that the problem of identity crisis faced by immigrant communities in a host nation is similar to this problem. For instance, the problem of identity crisis faced by the narrator, Sonny, and the musician are same. But they made use of different ways to cope up with the situation. B. The effect of music in human life Music deeply influences human life because the same is with entertainment value. In the first half of the Sonny’s Blues, the narrator does not consider that music is important in human life. Instead, he considers that social acceptability and personal relationship is important. But he tries his level best to make his brother acceptable within his private circle. Later, he came to realize that he cannot influence his brother. Suzy Bernstein Goldman stated that “Sonnys music stirs special memories in the brothers lives, but these blues belong to all of us, for they symbolize the darkness which surrounds all those who fail to listen to and remain unheard by their fellow men” (233). Within this context, the narrator hates Sonny’s interest in music. He considers that music and drug addiction are interconnected. In the end, the narrator came to realize that music is the most effective factor behind the success in his brother’s life. On the other side, the musician in the poem Weary Blues is aware of the soothing effect of music in human life. In the Selected Poems of Langston Hughes by Langston Hughes, the narrator pointed out that “Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I heard a Negro play” (33). One can see that jazz (Sonny’s Blues) and blues music (Weary Blues) deeply influence the characters in these works. Both the characters (Sonny and the musician) are aware of the soothing effect of music in human life. On the other side, Sonny’s elder brother is not able to realize the importance of music in human life. Still, both the works unearth the effect of music in human life. C. The usage of Music as an innovative mode of communication When an individual considers music as an innovative mode of communication, the ultimate aim of music (say, unification of human minds) beyond its entertainment value is fulfilled. For instance, Sonny is aware of the fact that he can make use of music as an innovative mode of communication. He considers that, music is the core of his personal interest. Besides, his career interest is not limited to the context of his school education. The meeting point of his personal interest and career interest is same, the scenario of jazz music. At the Greenwich Village, within his jazz group, Sonny does not face any problem related to emotional detachment. When he was with his brother’s family, he faced a number of emotional problems. So, Sonny decides to make use of music to communicate with the public circle. On the other side, the narrator in the poem provides ample importance to the blues music and its influence on the musician. Besides, the musician/singer in the poem is aware of the fact that music is the factor which connects him with the listeners/viewers and makes use of music to be in touch with the audience. Douglas Field opined that “One of Hughes’s most famous poems, “The Weary Blues” (1925), can be read as a companion piece to Baldwin’s most famous story, “Sonny’s Blues,” for both describe the torment of the black musician and the tenuous, complex relationship he has with his listener” (86). So, one can see that both the characters in the works make use of music as an innovative tool to communicate with others. D. Individual difference and the scope of choices in life At the grass root level, individual difference and the scope of choices in life are interconnected. For instance, some individuals consider life as a burden and argue that they cannot enjoy life. On the other side, some other individuals consider life as an opportunity and make use of each and every opportunity in life. They cannot be easily defeated by misfortune because they are aware of the fact that life is not full of misfortunes, but a mixture of opportunities and misfortunes. In the short story, one can easily identify that the narrator is not satisfied with his life because lack of social status is irritating him. But he is not ready to believe in the scope of opportunities in life. Keith A Byerman stated that “He expresses a desire to know, and remorse when he does not listen, but he also repeats his unwillingness to understand” (368). Sonny is aware of the individual difference between his brother and him and he believes in the scope of rare opportunities in life. So, he decided to be a musician and it transformed his life. But his brother is not ready to change his attitude towards life. This individual difference between the brothers increases the scope of choices in life in Sonny’s life and reduces the same in his brother’s life. On the other side, the musician/singer in the poem is aware of the scope of choices in his life because his life as a musician/singer proves the same. E. Portrayal of social and cultural segregation faced by the African Americans In the short story, the author provides ample importance to the social and cultural segregation faced by the African Americans. Tracey Sherard made clear that ““Sonny’s Blues” deals not only thematically with the crossroads between the blues and jazz, but addresses the need for a new form of cultural narrative as a repository for the experiences of African Americans” (691). Besides, the author makes use of the main characters (Sonny and his elder brother) to express his views on social and cultural segregation faced by the African Americans. For instance, Harlem is symbolic of African American cultural identity. One can see that Sonny’s brother used to live in Harlem because he is aware of his identity as an African American. Besides, he thought that his social status as a teacher may help him to gain acceptance in the mainstream society. Still, he is aware of the fact that his brother is not ready to be within the mainstream society. But Sonny was aware of the problems faced by him in Harlem. For instance, he migrated to Greenwich Village and escaped from drug addiction. So, the narrator considers that his social identity is interconnected with social acceptance and status in the society. Besides, he considers Harlem as a safe haven for the African Americans. On the other side, Sonny considers that one’s talent can transform one’s social identity and the best possible way to be successful in life is to keep away oneself from negative influences (say, drug addiction). On the other side, the musician/singer in the poem considers that blues music is his cultural identity as an African American. He does not try to mask his social and cultural identities in the society because he is aware of the transformational power of music. Besides, the author considers that blues music is to be considered as the strong protest against marginalization and racial segregation faced by the African Americans. So, both the writers make use of their works to portray the social and cultural segregation faced by the African Americans. Summing, the comparative study proves that the theme made use by both the writers are same, i.e., identity crisis. At the same time, both the works provide ample importance to the effect of music in human life. Besides, music (Jazz and Blues) plays the role of a background in both the works, and is used as an effective mode of communication. Besides, both the works prove that individual difference and the scope on choices in life are interconnected. In the short story, the author utilizes the subject matter of social/cultural segregation to reveal his opinion. On the other side, the author of the poem utilizes the subject matter of social/cultural segregation to expose the protagonist’s adaptability in a multiracial/ multilingual society. In short, works of differing genres are selected for this comparative study to prove that this difference does not affect the writers’ social commitment. Works Cited Byerman, Keith A. “Words and music: Narrative ambiguity in ‘Sonny’s Blues’.” Studies in Short Fiction 19.4 (1982): 367-372. Print. Field, Douglas. A Historical Guide to James Baldwin. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Goldman, Suzy Bernstein. “James Baldwins "Sonnys Blues": A Message in Music.” Negro American Literature Forum 8.3 (1974): 231-233. Print. Hughes, Langston. Selected Poems of Langston Hughes. London: Profile Books, 1999. Print. Patterson, Anita. “Jazz, Realism, and the Modernist Lyric: The Poetry of Langston Hughes.” Modern Language Quarterly 61.4 (2000): 651-682. Print. Sherard, Tracey. “Sonny’s Bebop: Baldwin’s “Blues Text” as Intracultural Critique.” African American Review 32.4 (1998):691-705. Print. Read More