Title of the Story:
Sonny's Blues
Setting:
Low income housing in Harlem, New York.
Characters:
Sonny and the narrator (assumed James).
Problem/Conflict:
Sonny's struggle with his heroin addiction and life struggles, his fights to find a healthy outlet/escape.
Solution:
Using the music he plays as a substitute for the heroin. Music is his escape from his reality.
Introduction/Exposition:
The Narrator (assumed James) saw an article in the newspaper about his brother's (Sonnys') involvement in a drug bust.
Rising Action:
The narrator writing a letter to Sonny after his daughter passed away, which brought Sonny back to the area.
Climax:
The narrators stress over Sonny peaks as he finds out about the death his father endured. The brothers argue terribly.
Falling Action:
The brothers stop speaking. Sonny drops out of college, joins the military and stays away for a while. ->
Resolution:
Sonny comes back to the area and learns how to play music. The narrator goes to see Sonny play the blues, and he comes to a complete understanding as to why Sonny wanted to play.
