The
Music of African-American man in Sonny’s Blues short story
A. Intoduction
Sonny’s blues is one of stories written
by James Baldwin. He born on 2nd August 1924 in Harlem. He is one of
African-American Writer that well-known by Another Country and Nobody knows my name who
be the best sellers of his books.
When he was child, he was adopted by a
preacher. Then he followed his step-father to be a preacher too[1].
But, he realized his skill not as like that, be a writer is the best ability to
his future. So, he developed his skill when he leave New York.
This stoies was published on 1957.
B. Summary of Sonny’s blues
This story was take place in Harlem, the
James’ born and live. the story began in the unnamed author’s work place,
school. He was shocked when Sonny has arrested because he be an addicted to
drugs ,then he was in rehabilitation.
So, he was regretful because he could keep his mother’s advice for take care of
his little brother well. When he wanted to go home, he met with Sonny’s friend.
He told that Sonny was fine and he would be released in rehabilitation.
This story was flashback when they
(sonny’s family) were lived in House Project. The House Project is a not good
or luxury house.
It looks like a
parody of the good, clean, faceless life-God knows the people who live in it do
their best to make it a parody. The beat-looking grass lying around isn't
enough to make their lives green, the hedges will never hold out the streets,
and they know it. The big windows fool no one, they aren't big enough to make
space out of no space.
It seems that
their house is pointed of bad condition in there. Although it was not a good place
for them, there are many memories that ever happened, such as the their life
with parents.
Then, his mother
told about his father’s brother. When they (father and the father’s brother)
was played on the hill, then his brother wanted to move down but the white
man’s car hit down his brother, so he died and his father cried aloud and hate
them so much.
Then
, the next flashback, When the narrator has married with Isabel. Sonny was
never like Isabel. She tried to approach him and introduce how to play a piano,
so he can close to her. But, he has a bad relation with the narrator, so
narrator wanted to fix it with him.
The
Narrator has a kid too. her name is Grace. She is a kind little girl. But, she
died because polio. She was closed with Isabel and Sonny too.
Sonny
told with his narrator that he wanted to be a musician. His brother was disagree
with his desire, because the black’s man never will be a superstar. In America,
the black’s man were not be appreciated by American in US. So, he was afraid if
Sonny could earn much money or disappointed with his future. But, he wanted it
much, and decided to be a pianist. The type of his music is jazz.
When he wanted to go to Navy, he always
send many letters for ask his condition. But,he went to Greece and returned to live a Bohemian lifestyle in New York's Greenwich Village. Presumably, he
struggles there as a musician and a heroin addict, maintaining a fragile and intermittent relationship
with his brother until he is picked up the final time on drug charges.
After he released, he met with Sonny
again, in his house (apartment). He told the story of Sonny’s life. Then, he
asked his brother to come to nightclub. In there, they met with Creole, Sonny’s
friend. He talked confident with narrator.
When Sonny played a piano, many people are amuse with his play, include his
brother. He was so proud of him and continuing to hear the beautiful sound.
C. The analysis of Sonny’s blues
1. Theme
The Music
Everyone like a music,
by hear, play, or both of them. Music is one of a sound, that can make us
feeling good.
Music has a communal
function; it tells the stories of a community of people, it evokes feelings in
performers and in listeners, helping them to heal from the misfortunes of their
lives or to at least find solace in the company of others who are similarly
afflicted[2].
One theme of Sonny’s Blues is that
tragedy and suffering can be transformed into a communal art form such as blues
music.
”I mean, I'll have a lot of studying to do, and I'll
have to study everything, but, I mean, I want to play with-jazz
musicians." He stopped. "I want to play jazz," he said.”
The art form of jazz
is a culmination of African and African-American musical traditions coupled
with European instrumental and stylistic influences. The jazz art form is a
uniquely American form of music and it possesses strong Negro musical
undertones. The “blue note” sound and the use of the drum are just a couple of
those undertones.[3]
The music could be a one of reason why he make a
plan of his future. First time, he told that wanted to be a drummer Finally,
after he likes play piano with Brother’s wife, he wanted to be a jazz musician.
2. Character’s analysis
a. Narrator
He is smart, kind, lovable, impatient, and easy
guilty. He is so smart because he could be a teacher for teached many students.
Then, He has worked hard to attain the trappings of
middle-class success, to be a good brother for Sonny[4].
He is a lovable too, because he loved his wife and
his child. He always take care his child , but Polio make him guilty.
b. Sonny
Sonny is a narrator’s brother. He is a taciturn
person. he always quiet in his life. Because his family not always communicate
him, so he became uncommunicate man. Then, his brother was too serious reach
his career or study, so Sonny felt ignored by all his family. He was easy to
affected to other, so he became a heroin addicted.
“I told
myself that Sonny was wild, but he wasn't crazy. And he'd always been a good
boy, he hadn't ever turned hard or evil or disrespectful”
His brother’s perspective, Sonny is a kind person,
but he easy to offended
c. Isabel
She is narrator’s wife. She is a kind person,
because she can melt Sonny’s icy heart. Then, she has a good voice.
d. Grace
She is a narrator’s child. She is children under
five that was loved by her parents and Sonny too.
e. Creole
He is a Sonny’s boy friend. He is a talkative and
too confident in every side of him.
f. Sonny’s Father
This is the personality of father’s
sonny.
“Daddy was big and rough and
loud-talking, just the opposite of Sonny, but they both had-that same privacy.”
Although Daddy and Sonny have a different
personalities, but they have a same personality, they can hide their feeling
well.
“Your father always acted like he was the
roughest, strongestman on earth. And everybody took him to be like that. But if
he hadn't had me there-to see his tears!"
Perhaps, everybody know that he didn’t
want to look weak, but his wife know , he has a deep guilty in his life.
g. Sonny’s mother
h. Sonny’s friend
3. Settings
a. Place
1) Harlem
Harlem is one of district that placed in New York,
US. This place is a big histories. Harlem has synonymous with African-American
culture. In the early part of the 20th century, the neighborhood was
the setting for African-American-led movements in music, literature, dance, and
art-collectively as the Harlem Renaissance. [5]
James took this place for Sonny’s place when he was
child and teenager.
“he hadn't lived
in Harlem for years”.
In this
story, Sonny never like to stay in Harlem, because he and his family
2) Bar
The bar is a place when narrator and Sonny. Sonny
asked his brother to bar, because he want to show about his life when escaped
from the difficult time.
He showed his ability in piano.
“We squeezed through the narrow,chattering,
jampacked bar to the entrance of the big room, where the bandstand was.”
3) Housing Project
Sonny and his family ever lived in here.
“We live in a housing project.”
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