The Researched Critical Analysis ESSAY
Christopher Velez
Professor Alyssa Yankwitt
FIQWS 10008 (Writing Section)
12/10/23
In James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s blues” Sonny’s brother is commentating on his identity and struggle with his relationship with his brother as seen through Baldwin’s critique of society illuminated by Freud’s concepts Id, Ego, and Superego.
In “Sonny’s Blues,” James Baldwin intricately constructs a story that offers an in-depth commentary on the larger social and cultural scenery while simultaneously exploring the personal desires of Sonny and his brother, Sonny seeks artistic expression and freedom through jazz, while his brother desires stability. This essay explores how Baldwin analyzes and comments on society through the lens of Freud’s Id, Ego, and Superego. By examining how the characters’ egos develop relationships with external authorities and inner drives, the story becomes an outline for understanding the complexities of Sonny’s identity, oppression, and his struggle for self-discovery. James Baldwin employs the characters and their transformative experiences as a means of shedding light on the complex social issues such as drugs, racism, and many more woven throughout the 1950s in Harlem. Baldwin also reveals the intricate tapestry of social issues, making readers consider important questions about race, identity, and the unwavering pursuit of personal freedom within the narrow confines of a society engulfed with constraints. Baldwin’s narrative in “Sonny’s Blues” skillfully unveils a tapestry of systemic challenges that are deeply embedded in Harlem during the 1950s. The author portrays a community grappling with multifaceted issues, where racial oppression acts as a pervasive force shaping the lives of its people. The racial dynamics of the time are depicted not merely as individual acts of discrimination but as an overarching, systemic influence that infiltrates every aspect of life.
Living in Harlem in the 1950s presented numerous challenges and struggles, particularly Sonny, He mirrors the social difficulties faced by African Americans in a racially oppressive environment. Baldwin uncovers the structural problems that impede personal development and self-realization through the characters’ negotiations with external authorities. The recurring addiction to drugs in the story serves as a metaphor for society’s addictive nature, where societal norms and expectations trap people. Baldwin suggests that society, like an addictive substance, can be both a source of comfort and a destructive force that impedes personal development, using Sonny’s addiction as an example who used drugs to escape the feeling trapped by his environment.
Through the contrast between Sonny and his brother, Baldwin delves into the complexities of identity, generational differences, and the pursuit of individual freedom. The characters become representative of broader themes within the African-American community, Sonny’s battle with addiction is a central aspect of his character, illustrating the challenges faced by individuals in the community. His struggles with substance abuse become a metaphor for broader societal issues, reflecting the harsh realities of life in Harlem during the drug epidemic. In contrast, the brother, who serves as the narrator, embraces a more conventional path. He becomes a teacher and seeks stability through conformity to societal norms.
In James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” Sonny and his brother grapple with the intricate interplay of Freudian psychological concepts the id, ego, and superego within the context of societal expectations. The id, characterized by primal desires, manifests in characters like Sonny, whose passionate pursuit of jazz music becomes a symbolic expression of his untamed instincts. The text supports this with the idea that, “Instinctual cathexes seeking discharge—that, in our view, is all there is in the id.” (“The Id” 1) Positioned as a bridge between the external world, the id, and the superego, the ego plays a pivotal role in navigating the characters’ relationships with societal norms. Sonny and his brother, the narrator, exemplify the ego’s struggle to synthesize conflicting desires and realities, especially when faced with the harsh standards imposed by the super-ego. The super-ego dictates moral standards that, “punish the ego with tense feelings of inferiority and of guilt”(“The Ego”1) when not adhered to. Through this Freudian lens, “Sonny’s Blues” becomes a profound exploration of the complexities inherent in the human psyche, the negotiations between personal, the negotiations between personal aspirations and societal expectations, and the eternal struggle for harmony among the id, ego, and superego. This psychological exploration resonates with the broader themes found in Randol Contreras’ “The Stickup Kids,” which delves into the complex intersection of race, drugs, and violence in the pursuit of the American Dream. Both works shed light on the challenges faced by individuals navigating societal expectations, particularly within contexts marked by economic hardships and racial discrimination. In “The Stickup Kids,” Contreras provides a sociological lens on the impact of the drug trade on marginalized communities, revealing the harsh realities individuals face in their pursuit of socio-economic advancement. Sonny in “Sonny’s Blues” and the individuals depicted in “The Stickup Kids” share a common struggle against systemic pressures, exploring the ways personal aspirations and desires clash with societal norms and the pursuit of the American Dream. By connecting these works, one can gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted challenges individuals face, be it in the realm of artistic expression or economic survival, within the complex tapestry of American society.
Furthermore, Sonny’s artistic passion, manifested through his love for jazz music and the piano, can be seen as an outlet for his repressed emotions and desires. In the Freudian context, creative expression often serves as a way for individuals to channel and release unconscious thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to express openly. Sonny’s musical talent becomes a symbolic language through which he negotiates the conflicts between his inner drives and the societal expectations imposed on him. Freud argues that parapraxes are unintentional errors that reveal hidden desires or thoughts (Freud 2221). Similarly, Sonny’s choice to follow his passion for music, particularly jazz, is a kind of unintentional rebellion against what society expects. By embracing his artistic gift, Sonny is, in a way, pushing back against the limitations imposed by the harsh environment. In short, Sonny’s artistic journey is a form of resistance, a way of asserting his individuality in the face of societal expectations. Similarly, the older brother’s protective instincts and authoritative demeanor are shaped by societal expectations of responsibility. His internal conflict showcases the balance individuals must maintain between personal desires and societal obligations.
In addition, Baldwin’s critique of society in the story can be connected to Cheryl Lynn Greenberg’s book, “Or Does It Explode? Black Harlem in the Great Depression,” which provides valuable insights into the historical context of Harlem during a challenging period. By connecting Baldwin’s narrative to Greenberg’s work, we gain a deeper understanding of the nuanced struggles depicted in “Sonny’s Blues.” Baldwin’s portrayal of African American characters, such as Sonny, reflects the harsh realities of racial discrimination and economic hardships prevalent during the Great Depression. Greenberg’s examination of this era provides a historical lens through which we can appreciate the societal dynamics shaping Sonny’s life in Baldwin’s story. This aligns with Greenberg’s exploration of how African Americans in Harlem navigated the challenges of the Great Depression, striving for personal greatness despite systemic obstacles.
Moreover, Baldwin’s incorporation of music, particularly jazz, into the narrative resonates with the cultural richness of the Harlem Renaissance. the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural, social, and artistic movement that took place in the 1920s in Harlem, New York. In “Sonny’s Blues,” Baldwin addresses the struggles African Americans face in a society marked by racial discrimination. This resonates with the broader themes of the Harlem Renaissance, which sought to challenge racial stereotypes and celebrate African-American culture. Greenberg’s analysis of the cultural and artistic movements within Harlem further enriches our understanding of the significance of music in challenging societal norms. By intertwining Baldwin’s narrative with historical perspectives, we gain a comprehensive view of the intricate interplay between societal challenges, cultural expressions, and the quest for identity during a pivotal period in African-American history.
In conclusion, “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin offers a deep examination of the complexities of both personal and societal struggles as viewed through the lens of Freudian psychological concepts—the id, ego, and superego. Baldwin deftly develops a story that explores the personal conflicts and desires of its central characters while also critically examining the greater social and cultural context of 1950s Harlem. Baldwin utilizes the characters and their transformative experiences to shine a light on the intricate tapestry of social issues, prompting readers to contemplate questions about race, identity, and the pursuit of personal freedom within a society rife with constraints. Living in Harlem during the 1950s, characters like Sonny grapple with systemic challenges that mirror the broader struggles faced by African Americans in a racially oppressive environment. The narrative uncovers structural impediments hindering personal development, with addiction serving as a metaphor for the societal traps that bind individuals. Sonny’s addiction becomes emblematic of society’s addictive nature, a source of both comfort and destruction.
Work Cited
Freud, Sigmund. Five Lectures on Psycho-Analysis. W.W. Norton & Co, Inc., 1961. Semantic
Contreras, Randol. The Stickup Kids: Race, Drugs, Violence, and the American Dream, University of California Press, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ccny-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1046304.
Greenberg, Cheryl. Or Does It Explode? : Black Harlem in the Great Depression, Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 1997. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ccny-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4702574.
Baldwin, James. “Sonny’s Blues” The Oxford Book of American Short Stories edited by Joyce Carol Oates, Oxford University Press, 2013 pp. 483-513.
Work Cited
Freud, S. “The Id”, (1923), pp. 1, https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-79627978-dt-content-rid-597021384_1/xid-597021384_1
Freud, S. “The Ego”, (1923), pp. 1-2, https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-79627978-dt-content-rid-597021386_1/xid-597021386_1
Freud, S. “Lecture XXXI The Dissection of the Psychical Personality ”, (1933) , pp. 1-5, https://bbhosted.cuny.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-79627978-dt-content-rid-597021387_1/xid-597021387_1
