Tregedies in Sonny's life

Tragedies can cause a relationship or family to become closer or father apart. “Sonny’s Blues” a story written by James Baldwin had many tragedies in it. A brother looses his brother a drunk driver, two brothers lose their mother, and they lose contact with each other. Sonny and his brother have a unique relationship with each other in this story. It takes a few tragedies to make them realize how much they really need each other. The brother is devastated to find out his brother has been put in jail for heroin, his brother belittles Sonny’s dreams, and the death of his daughter creates tragedies throughout this story.


As the teacher was reading the newspaper he was reading about his brother. He was devastated to see what had happened to Sonny who used to be so bright and happy. They had not talked in over a year but it was his brother. There relationship had not always been perfect but they had been through a lot of tragedies together. He didn’t want to believe the newspaper but it was about his brother, Sonny and his heroin addiction. There was an old friend waiting outside to report the news but the brother already knew. He had promised his mother many years ago after his fathers death that he would take care of his brother, and that was the last time he saw her.


Sonny's brother belittled his dreams. Sonny kept himself much llike their father.His father loved Sonny very much and didn’t want anything to happen to Sonny. After his dad’s death Sonny became different and then when his mother passed he was devastated. Sonny moved in with his brother’s girlfriend Isabel while his brother was away in the army. After their mother’s death Sonny’s brother had asked him what he wanted to be after high school and he said a jazz piano player. Sonny’s brother wanted Sonny to be realistic and scolded him for not figuring out what he wanted to become. Sonny hated and school and wanted to join the army but his brother told him no to finish college. For a while Sonny stayed in school and played his piano. Sonny was determined to reach his goals. He was upset for his brother belittling his dreams he way he did and he eventually joined the army and left town.


After many years apart and only keeping in touch with each other only a couple times out of the year they were falling apart. The next tragic accident the brother’s daughter dies and while Sonny is in jail he finally decides to write him. He turns toward Sonny for some help. After all the years he should have been there for his brother Sonny but this death caused him to call on Sonny. After jail Sonny’s brother lets him stay with him and hopes he has beat the habit of drugs. They talk and catch up on life and have time to actually get to know each other. Sonny always looked up to his brother they just had a hard time revealing their feelings to each other. His brother finally goes to a nightclub with Sonny and watches him play his jazz music on his piano. In the end Sonny has proved to his brother that he can become who he wants even though they had to have all these tragedies in their lives to show how much they care for each other and how much they needed each other.


Tragedies can be hurtful or painless. Sonny and his brother had many tragedies in their lives to that consisted of both. Their relationships with each other could have been stronger but they let so many tragedies tear them apart until Sonny let drugs get him down. In the end he was strong and his brother had more respect for him, something he had yearned for so long.