The Changes In The Narrators View Of Sonny Essays -- essays research p

The Changes in the Narrators View of rookieCan one know anothers thoughts? Through dialogue, actions, and events, thethoughts and views of a man of whom we know not even a reboot are sh experience. The manis the fabricator of "Sonnys Blues" and his thoughts we are shown are thosedirected towards his brother. Over the course of the story, there are threemajor stages or phases that the teller goes through, in which his thoughtsabout his brother change. We see that those stages of thought vary greatly overthe narrators flavor, from confusion about his brother to understanding. Eachphase brings different views of his own responsibility toward his brother, hisbrothers manhood, and his brothers sense of reality.Through out the story, three of the narrators view are changed, the first ofwhich is Sonnys manhood. During the first phase, early in the story, thenarrator showed that he viewed Sonny as a child. "I was beginning to realizethat Id never seen him so upset before.. . and decided this was one of thosethings kids go through and that I shouldnt make it seem important."(49) This abduce is an example of how the narrator viewed his brother. He not only thoughtSonny acted as a kid, but was also too young to be readiness a future or cautioner."He still wasnt a man yet, he was still a child, and they had to watch out forhim in all kinds of ways."(51) The narrator decided that he would plan Sonnysfuture and when Sonny rebelled, the narrator saw it as yet another childishaction.Another way in which the narrators boilersuit view changed was his view on whetherSonnys idea of reality was sound. Still in the first phase, the narrator oftenpresents his view of reality and when Sonny rejects it, the narrator feels Sonnyis being unreasonable. For instance, "Well Sonny, I said, gently, "you knowpeople cant always do exactly what they want to do- No I dont think that,said Sonny, surprising me."(49) Actually, Sonny understood life much mo reclearly than the narrator, but the narrator did not realize that then. Hethought that perhaps Sonny was just too young or too high on drugs to understandwhat life was about.Finally, the third view changed was the narrators responsibility towards Sonny.Before the brothers mother died, the narrator promised he would take it uponhimself to take care of Sonny shou... ... finally started caring about Sonny instead of tryto care for Sonny. He no longer saw him as just something to be taken care of,he finally began to see him as a brother. He became sensitive to what offendedSonny and took caution to avoid them. He was automatic to be interested in whatSonny interested in. Finally, he was willing to sit and listen to Sonny insteadof telling him how to run his life. All of these were drastic changes from whentheir mother had first died and improved the brothers relationship.Through out the story it is as if the narrator is descending a stair well. Eachstage that the narrator goes throug h is another leak of stairs and each flightof stairs he descends brings him closer to an understanding of Sonny. Thenarrator descended one flight and it changed his views one way, another flightand his views changed again. During the whole ordeal he can see Sonny, yet hisviews of Sonny are distorted or blurred. After each stage he believes his wiseview is the correct one, however it is not until he reaches the ground that hegets a true idea of what Sonny is like. It is then that he brings himself downto Sonnys take aim and begins seeing Sonny as an equal.