In literature, light and dark are highly symbolic, thus giving the writers a great deal of insight into human nature. In his short story “Sonny’s Blues”, James Baldwin draws an intricate picture of humans’ inner turmoil with his use of light and darkness as a subtle metaphor, showing how these two elements can illuminate the depths of our lives and how they are intertwined in outer themes. The virtue of managing light as a symbol of brightness, lukewarmness, and enlightenment, alongside darkness, which shows the absence, obscurity, and oblivion, masterfully created by Baldwin, adds meaning to the novel. In this way, Baldwin makes us part of a world, including a light-dark struggle through which Sonny can be helped identify his inner world problems and those he encounters in his environment. Through the study of “Sonny’s Blues”, we see that symbols of light and darkness are very important. However, in the end, light and darkness represent symbolism, which allows the poet to explore the complicated issues of the human race and the meaning of life.
Symbolism of Light and Darkness
Significantly, the symbology of light and darkness in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” really represents the dilemma of Society, among other complex issues. In the beginning, Sonny seems to be “open and light-hearted “, which, in fact, means that he is innocent and pure. However, life’s shimmering is momentary as Sonny is dimmed and described as an animal languishing in an obscure corner, apparently signifying a drastic shift in his disposition (Baldwin 127). This particular change manifests the separation of the previous inner light from the joy experienced. It highlights the ongoing battle for the characters between their light and dark realms.
The narrator’s reflections on the problems facing young men in Harlem make the darkness surrounding their daily lives more apparent and more visible (Baldwin 123). Alongside the real challenges that they face in life, like poverty and violence, the darkness is about the costs imposed on the role that Society assigns to her as well as the lack of the freedom that she would love to have. The story’s focal point is the depiction of Harlem as a turbulent sea with housing projects as the rocks that signify Sonny and the narrator spent most of their childhood here (Baldwin 33). By depicting such colourful images, the most important themes in the whole work, like the ones of struggle and resilience, are able to give the viewers the ability to understand how the characters struggle and why they do.
Background and Credibility
A thorough appreciation of Baldwin’s symbolism and thematic issues in Sonny’s Blues can be gained by finding out more about James Baldwin’s background. As a Harlem boy, Baldwin extensively used his environment in harder living. Thus the book’s storyline is very true and deep Reilly’s scholarly article,”‘ Sonny’s Blues’: James Baldwin’s “Image of Black Community” (Reill 56), which appeared in a renowned journal, The Negro American Literature Forum, gives readers shrewd discernment into Baldwin’s depiction of black culture. From a credible journal published in its analysis of African-American Literature, the choice of source was made, and ultimately, this indicates the source’s credibility.
Additionally, During the conversation, Reilly’s questions not only touch upon the issue of racism that the author is mainly concerned with but also bring out that the author’s works contribute a lot to the movement of Black liberation. Also, the essay shows us how Baldwin artistically blended with black ghettos’ culture; his writing became more credible when he delivered the community characteristics in “Sonny’s Blues” (Reilly 58). The Negro American Literature Forum, published since 1967 by the University of Pittsburgh Press and considered a resource of the highest quality, has kept its position as the main voice of scholarly publications on racial matters such as slavery, women’s liberation, inter-race victims and racial oppression with the insights of Reilly solidly confirming its reliability. Therefore, Reilly’s scholarly work reflects the insightful lens through which readers can develop their comprehension skills of Baldwin’s stylistic concerns and thematic preoccupation.
Educational Insight on Heroin
Sonny’s revelation as a person with a heroin addiction elucidates the narrative even further, and it sensitizes us to a theme of substance abuse. Heroin, a damnable drug and not permitted, turns into a scenario Schmaltz’s life depends on. The story editing depicts the heroine’s attraction to the drug, which is explored through various modes of consumption. The critical part of the addict’s disease recognition by the narrator has revealed the broad action of this harmful habit. This lens enables one to learn about the intricacies and those that affect Society. Urbanix makes the flow of the narrative smoother, and by doing so, Sonny’s struggles and the hidden messages of the story become clearer to the audience.
In conclusion, as a strong portrayal of familial ties, self-growth, and the power of music, James Baldwin’s novella “Sonny’s Blues” asserts itself. In such a way, Baldwin incorporates light and dark to exhibit the inner experience of his characters and enrich the narration with the true elements reflecting Buldwines’ background. By strengthening my argument with Reilly’s article and educational insights on heroin, the essay has thus increased its credibility and reliability. Furthermore, readers may have deeper insight by grasping the virtuous cosmos that resonates in the theme and symbols of the poem “Sonny’s Blues”.
Work Cited
Baldwin, J. (1995). Sonny’s Blues.
Heroin: MedlinePlus. (2018). MedlinePlus – Health Information from the National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/heroin.html
Reilly, J. M. (1970, July). “Sonny’s Blues”: James Baldwin’s Image of Black Community. In Negro American Literature Forum (Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 56–60). St. Louis University. https://fogartyenglish.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/6/1/10614830/sonnys_blues_article.pdf
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