The Symbolic Use of Light and Dark in James Baldwins...

The Symbolic Use of Light and Dark in James Baldwins Sonnys Blues In James Baldwins Sonnys Blues a pair of brothers try to make sense of the urban decay that surrounds and fills them. This quest to puzzle out the truth of the shadows within their hearts and on the streets takes on a great importance. Baldwin meets his audience at a halfway mark: Sonny has already fallen into drug use, and is now trying to return to a clean life with his brothers aid. The narrator must first attempt to understand and make peace with his brothers drug use before he can extend his help and heart to him. Sonny and his brother both struggle for acceptance. Sonny wants desperately to explain himself while also trying to stay afloat and out†¦show more content†¦In this instance light seems to be simply the good within a young Sonny. His brother is quickly reminded however that just as Sonnys face was once light there were shadows too. Recalling this younger Sonny forces the narrator to think of the other young boys he teaches. He connects the darkness tha t Sonny faced with the darkness and reality those other young boys live with, All they really knew were two darknesses, the darkness of their lives, which was now closing in on them, and the darkness of the movies, which had blinded them to that other darkness, and in which they now, vindictively, dreamed, at once more together than they were at any other time, and more alone, (410). Here Baldwin gives us our first sense of the pervasive nature of darkness. It is engulfing the boys without their realizing it, darkness is the wasted chances or lack of opportunity at all. The movies show the youths a fairy tale of what could be but will never happen. This darkness of what could have been keeps the young boys from attempting anything. They are together in this sentence of fate but they are also painfully alone, because nothing will ever come of them. The young boys of Harlem live in a dark reality; they do not know light and therefore cannot know hope. The narrator begins to und erstand that there is no way out of the darkness for them and no escape from the reality of drugs and crime that surrounds them. Sonny is aware of the darkness which engulfs him. HisShow MoreRelatedSymbolism in Sonnys Blues by James Baldwin Essay1286 Words   |  6 PagesSymbolism in â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† by James Baldwin In James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues,† the reader meets Sonny, a recovering addict, and his older brother, a high school teacher. Although these two brothers have completely different lives and personalities, the author’s use of symbolism brings them more tightly together like a real family. Baldwin uses symbols such as ice, lightness and darkness, and jazz music to add more depth and meaning to â€Å"Sonny’s Blues.† People usually think of ice or the coldRead MoreSonnys Blues1061 Words   |  5 PagesIn James Baldwins Sonnys Blues the symbolic motif of light and darkness illustrates the painful nature of reality the two characters face as well as the power gained through it. The darkness represents the actuality of life on the streets of the community of Harlem, where there is little escape from the reality of drugs and crime. The persistent nature of the streets lures adolescents to use drugs as a means of escaping the darkness of their lives. The main character, Sonny, a struggling jazzRead MoreThe Light and Darkness of Suffering Depicted in Sonnys Blues2446 Words   |  10 Pagespain that defines us as individuals. The question becomes do we let suffering consume us, or do we let it define our lives? Through James Baldwin’s story, â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†, the manner by which one confronts the light and darkness of suffering determines whether one is consumed by it, or emb races it in order to â€Å"survive.† Viewing a collection of these motifs, James Baldwin’s unique perspective on suffering as a crucial component of human development becomes apparent. It is through his compassionate portrayalRead MoreViolence And Darkness In Sonnys Blues1027 Words   |  5 Pagesheritage. During the 1920s, jazz became a huge musical movement, especially in Harlem. This period of time is coined â€Å"The Jazz Age.† Along with being known for jazz, Harlem is also well known for its violence and being poverty ridden. James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues†, is a short story about a family living in Harlem, particularly two brothers, and their struggles growing up. The narrator, also the older brother, joins the military leaving his younger brother and brother behind. During his absence