Biblical and Religious Themes in "Sonny's Blues"

James Baldwin's short story "Sony's Blues" is the author of the author's most research and review literature. Most of these analyzes focus on the obvious subject of books such as jazz music, anonymous narrator, or rifts separating Sonny and his brothers. In the story of "Sony's Blues" there is a small criticism of the Bible and religious themes. What is even more surprising is that, given the strong history in the Christian world of Baldwin, there is little criticism.

Given his career as a missionary of James Baldwin, many critics have proposed a religious interpretation for "Sony's Blues". Like the Bible and Abel's Bible story, the talkie refused to be a guardian of brothers, bred Sony in prison without human contact and visually killed him. However, unlike Cain and Abel, these brothers united and redeemed at the climax of the story. Other critics claim that Sony is a Christ-like person citing "revival of his underworld by drugs and jazz" (Ognibene 36). Like Christ, Sony will exchange other people, especially his brothers. There is another analysis that Sony represents a prodigal son, he has lost and returned to help his family. These religious interpretations are controversial but worth considering

James Baldwin's short story "Sony's Blues" is the author of the author's most research and review literature. Most of these analyzes focus on the obvious subject of books such as jazz music, anonymous narrator, or rifts separating Sonny and his brothers. In the story of "Sony's Blues" there is a small criticism of the Bible and religious themes. Even more surprising is that, given the power of Baldwin, there is little criticism.