There are many meanings behind the symbolism of music in this short story. One of these implications shows the age gap between Sonny and his brother, the unnamed narrator. The narrator listens to classical music, which many feel is a dated genre of music and is reserved for “older” generations to listen to. Sonny listens to jazz, which is younger and more popular with the younger generation.

Through jazz music, the narrator and his brother, Sonny, is reunited. The narrator starts to r

Another importance of the music is how the narrator had preconceived notions that members of the nightclub were all filthy people with drug addictions. Sonny’s older brother is now able to see Sonny with his group of friends in the jazz club. This is the first time he has ever seen his brother in his true element. As stated on page 228, paragraph 232: “Yet it was clear that, for them, I was only Sonny’s brother. Here, I was in Sonny’s world. Or rather: his kingdom. Here, it was not even a question that his veins bore royal blood.” The narrator is now starting to understand whom his brother truly is and that his brother’s friends aren’t repulsive men, but true comrades.

One of the last things James Baldwin tries to express through symbolism is how different things can trigger old memories. As Sonny is playing in the nightclub, the narrator starts thinking about his mother and father. He saw his mother’s face and felt the stones on her bare feet

Some topics in this essay:
James Baldwin, Sonny’s Sonny’s, Music Symbol, brother’s life, jazz music, music narrator, james baldwin, music sonny’s, sonny’s performance, story music, narrator starts, short story,