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A recurring theme in with story that is prevalent in not only Sonny’s life but Parker’s as well is darkness. Darkness within the story is symbolized as a menace. Baldwin focuses on whether a person should be conventional in making decisions for their life, or if they should follow their desires and do what they feel is right for themselves. After the death of his mother, Sonny seems to be on the verge of losing himself, trying to decide where he conforms emotionally when he tells his brother he aspires to play music like Parker. “I think people ought to do what they want to do, what else are they alive for?” said Sonny. Sonny seems to be searching for a place where he fits in mentally; physically; and emotionally; as if music will take him to a place where he can find the real him. Darkness continually mentioned throughout the passage is considered people’s lack of opportunities that are unavailable to them because of their barriers.
All they knew were two darknesses, the darkness of their lives, which was now closing in on them, and the darkness of the movies, which had blinded them to that other darkness, and in which they now, vindictively dreamed, at one more together than they were at any other time, and more alone. (Baldwin)
The darkness of the movies is an escape from reality and as for Sonny, it is a darkness that is familiar to him. Sonny thrived off living a life free from restraints as portrayed by “movies” or for example his reality idol Parker.
On the contrary, readers can look at this story as a positive for Sonny. Sonny’s passion for music is what frees his soul and enables the ability to reach a pinnacle feeling within himself that can only be obtained through playing music. Near the end of the story, we see a change of mood in the story; hope. Sonny views his jazz playing as a ray of light to lead him away from the dim and dismal future. The music at the end of the story is seen as the revival of Sonny, the narrator understands the pain and battles Sonny had to overcome through the sounds of his music. “Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did.” The narrator feels the impact of music himself, reminiscing on moments of his mother and his late daughter. This is what Sonny had been in love with for his whole life and it took this long for people to understand him— why he was so heavily influenced by music. The feelings that it brings are unobtainable through any other form of activity.
All in all, music is nostalgic for many, but for Sonny, it was bearing moments of distress that led to imprisonment in which he lost himself for a part of his life and others. While Sonny was chasing his dream he was killing himself and affecting those around him. Sonny was determined to play music at whatever cost to the point it was influencing his decisions and ultimately damaging his attitude and behavior in his everyday life.
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