Discussion Post: Sonny's Blues By James Ballwin
• Suffering is a major theme in "Sonny's Blues". What internal and external factors contribute to Sonny's suffering? How does Sonny's art/music communicate his pain? How does his pain reflect the suffering of his community?
• Illustrate, using textual evidence, how Baldwin uses the themes of light and darkness to reflect the struggles of Sonny and his brother.
• Grace's death acts as a catalyst for the narrator's acknowledgement of his pain and the pain around him. How does the narrator's loss of control in his personal life allow him to understand Sonny as an artist?
• The end of Sonny's Blues alludes to a mutual understanding and acceptance between brothers. What textual evidence and Biblical symbolism shows the narrator has forgiven Sonny.
The response must include a reference list. One-inch margins, double-space, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font and APA style of writing and citations.