85 Sonny’s Blues Essay: Topics & Examples

Need to write a Sonny’s Blues essay? Published in 1965, the short story about the African-American community is still relevant today.

The narrator of Sonny’s Blues, a black algebra teacher, tells the story of his younger brother. Sonny is a musician who has been arrested for using and selling heroin. The key theme of the short story is suffering, especially the suffering of African Americans. Other important themes are racism, alienation, and music. The symbols of Sonny’s Blues include darkness, light, and ice.

Whether you are assigned to write Sonny’s Blues theme, symbolism, and character analysis essay, this article will be helpful. It contains title ideas, essay examples, and thesis topics on Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin.

🏆 A+ Sonny’s Blues Essay Examples

1. “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
   The narrator watches Sonny playing the piano in the club and concludes that this helps him deal with frustrations he has experienced in his life.
2. Analysis of “Sonny’s Blue” of James Baldwin
   The story begins as the narrator is on his way to his teaching job when he finds out that is the younger brother is in jail.
3. Two Brothers in Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin
   In contrast to the brother, Sonny uses jazz music and heroin to cope with the despair of their living conditions. In the final part of the story, Sonny’s performance at a jazz club brings his […]
4. Sonny’s Character in the “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
   The fact that Sonny was the black sheep of the family was obvious even in the story’s opening paragraphs. The story unfolded without giving any clue that the black sheep of the family, the drug […]
5. Light v. Darkness Motif in the “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
   Apparently, the references to darkness in Sonny’s Blues are meant to symbolize the essence of Sonny’s drug addiction; whereas, the references to light are meant to prompt readers to think of Sonny’s story of reconciliation […]
6. Analysis of Hills Like White Elephant and Sonny’s Blues: Plot, Setting, and Characters
   The peculiar feature of Baldwin’s plot is the idea to use flashbacks and add to the plot more captivating details and facts.
7. Racism in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
   The narrator had ups and downs with Sonny, and through the story, there is a significant aspect of racism which is the main focus of this proposal.
8. The Theme of Education in “Everyday Use” by Walker and “Sonny’s Blues” by Baldwin
   Initially, in both stories, the authors emphasize the success linked to education and the necessity of school attendance. Back in time, education might create a delusion about one’s intelligence, overstating the significance of existing knowledge […]
9. Drug Use in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
   Through exploring the characters’ lives, the author reflects on the notions of drug use, hopelessness, and escape in the context of the black community.
10. Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” and Walker’s “Everyday Use” Analysis
    The narrative’s main focus was on the family’s relationships, trials, and the never-ending cycle of pain. The storyteller is Sonny’s brother, and the setting occurred in a rural region of Harlem, New York, in the […]
11. ”Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin and ”Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
    The basic theme of the novel is Ibo culture which is to be changed because of the pressure on the part of the external forces. The introduction of the protagonist of the story Okonkwo is […]
12. Symbolism in O’Connor’s “A Good Man…” and Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
    Light is a metaphor for all of the optimistic and pleasant aspects that are inherent in the experience of living. The cup of trembling is a symbol used in the Bible to represent the pain […]
13. Silent Suffering and Racism in Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
    Right from the demise of the author’s daughter to the appalling drug addiction by Sonny coupled with the dreadful murder of the narrator’s cherished uncle, the theme of suffering controls the community in numerous ways.
14. “Sonny’s Blues”: Jazz or Blues as a Thematic Device
    In the text, the sound of the blues has a special meaning, a particular signal that should remind the reader of certain aspects of Sonny’s life.
15. “Sonny’s Blues”: Perspective and Plot Correlation
    How might descriptions of places and characters be influenced by a particular narrator’s perspective and the attitudes he holds? “Sonny’s Blues” written by James Baldwin is a story that deals with very real aspects of […]
16. Sonny’s Blues by Baldwin: Short Story Analysis
    It is clear that the narrator disapproves the way chosen by his younger brother.”I did not like the way he carried himself, loose and dreamlike all the time…and I did not like his friends, and […]
17. The Story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin Literature Analysis
    The realization of the narrator with regard to his brother’s playing the piano begins when the duo are on their way to the club.
18. Narrative Ambiguity in the “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
    When the narrator realizes the trouble his brother is in, he feels guilty and fears for his life and future. As the story unfolds, alienation also unfolds at the same rate; the narrator sees all […]

📌 Best Sonny’s Blues Essay Topics

1. Literary Devices and the Social/Historical Context of “Sonny’s Blues”
2. Family Issues in “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Red Convertible”
3. The Representation of Race in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin and “The Buddha of Suburbia” by Hanif Kureishi
4. Growth in William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” and James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
5. The Search of Sonny in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
6. Theme of Brotherly Love in “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Red Convertible”
7. The Theme of Identity Formation Factors in “Sonny’s Blues”
8. The Meaning Behind the Music in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
9. Darkness and Light in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
10. Sibling Influence in “The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich and “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
11. Comparing “Sonny’s Blues” and “Raisin in the Sun”
12. Internal and External Сonflicts in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
13. Symbolism in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
14. The Pros and Cons if “Sonny’s Blues” Has a Different Ending
15. The Power of Music in Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” and James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
16. Understanding Drug Addiction in “Sonny’s Blues”
17. The Escape Theme in “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”

👍 Sonny’s Blues Thesis Topics

1. Similarities and Differences Between “Sonny’s Blues” and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”
2. A Comparison of John Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” and “Idun and Her Apples”
3. Communicating Through Music in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
4. Contrasting Views of Love and Success in “Sonny’s Blues” and “My Mortal Enemy”
5. The Use of Stylistic Devices in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” and Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral”
6. Acceptance in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
7. Brotherly Love in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin and Tobias Wolff´s “The Rich Brother”
8. Racial Injustice in “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry and “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
9. The Bible and Suffering’s Relation to Music in “Sonny’s Blues”
10. The Discovery of Identity and Blues in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
11. An Older Brother’s Influence in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
12. Сomparison of “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter and “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin

📝 Sonny’s Blues Research Paper Topics

1. The Relationship Between Art and Suffering in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
2. Point of View and Theme in “Sonny’s Blues”
3. The Relationship Between the Life of James Baldwin and “Sonny’s Blues”
4. The Role of Jazz Music in Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
5. Illusion in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” and “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
6. The Imagery in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
7. Communication in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin
8. Past and Future Blues: A Comparison of Historical Themes in “Sonny’s Blues” and “The Underground Railroad”

❓ Sonny’s Blues Essay Questions

1. What Does Sonny Teach the Narrator in “Sonny’s Blues”?
2. Does the Story Explain Sonny’s Addiction in “Sonny’s Blues”?
3. What Does the Cup of Trembling Mean in “Sonny’s Blues”?
4. What Is the External Conflict in “Sonny’s Blues”?
5. How Would James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” Be Different if Told From the Perspective of Sonny?
6. What Is the Conclusion of “Sonny’s Blues”?
7. What Is the Relationship Between Sonny and His Brother in “Sonny’s Blues”?
8. What Do the Scotch and Milk Represent in “Sonny’s Blues”?
9. How Is Harlem Described in “Sonny’s Blues”?
10. What Did the Narrator Realize at the End of “Sonny’s Blues”?
11. What Literary Elements Are Used in “Sonny’s Blues”?
12. What Do Drugs Symbolize in “Sonny’s Blues”?
13. How Are Music and Silence Used as Symbols in “Sonny’s Blues”?
14. To What Extent Is the Protagonist in “Sonny’s Blues” Conditioned by His or Her Physical and Social Environments?
15. Why Is Sonny the Protagonist in “Sonny’s Blues”?
16. Why Does James Baldwin Use Flashbacks in “Sonny’s Blues”?
17. What’s the Brother’s Problem With Sonny in “Sonny’s Blues”?
18. What Time Period Is “Sonny’s Blues” Set In?
19. What Is the Relationship Between Art and Suffering in “Sonny’s Blues”?
20. What Is Baldwin’s Message in “Sonny’s Blues”?
21. Why Is Music So Important to Sonny in “Sonny’s Blues”?
22. What Does “Sonny’s Blues” Say About Suffering?
23. Why Does the Narrator Only Contact Sonny After the Death of His Daughter in “Sonny’s Blues”?
24. What Is the Function of the Barmaid in “Sonny’s Blues”?
25. What Is the Relationship Between the Chronology and the Plot of “Sonny’s Blues”?
26. Why Does the Narrator Have No Name in “Sonny’s Blues”?
27. How Do the Narrator and Sonny React Differently to Pain and Personal Loss in “Sonny’s Blues”?
28. What Were Three Points of Flashback in “Sonny’s Blues”?
29. What Is the Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution of “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin?
30. Is “Sonny’s Blues” Considered an Example of Modernism?