- 11/02/2013
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
You will never say that these two stories are only mundane waste of ink. Reading these stories, you understand things you have never thought about before. However, what do people think? Did all of them recognize the same these authors did? Each of us should answer this question by own. Whether this is good or bad is up for opinion. There are some of the most interesting and touching stories, I have ever read. Making my way through long lines of bookshelves in the library these two books caught my eye: “Sonny’s Blue” by James Baldwin and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. After reading them, I understood how good they are for arguing about. All standpoints about these books are contradictory and varied. Nevertheless, you should read these novels to understand and determine what place do they occur in your life. I did. Moreover, I must admit that, they are definitely not just another mundane waste of ink, whatever they can be said to be. However, these stories are believed to be unique, talented and ubiquitous. They are worth of attention, as I will prove it through this paper. So, let me begin to explain.
Main question
In two stories “Sonny’s Blue” by James Baldwin and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker, the authors explore sibling relationships, demonstrating how siblings may feel both love and conflict toward each other. The main mission of the paper is to discuss and analyze the relationships between siblings in these two stories and to explain how conflicts are resolved or not. When I finished reading these two stories, words and snatches of conversations echoed around my head, so I could not sleep. I decided to read them and analyze in order not to be lost in thoughts. This at first glance frantic idea appeared to be overwhelming. All points of view about these books are contradictory and varied. I must admit that “Sonny’s Blue” by James Baldwin as well as “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker influenced me a lot. These stories are two mysterious worlds, they can be judged or understood, but never wiped off. Creations of its authors, novels include feelings, words, and dearest moments. To sum up, reading these novels is not mortifying thing, it is not just wasting the time. Anyway, they exist and it is nothing to do.
It is mentioned that “Sonny’s Blue” (that was written in 1957 by James Baldwin) starts with the narrator, who reads about his brother (whose name is Sonny). Sonny got in a heroin bust. The relationships between relatives (for example brothers) are always difficult and various. Not always conflicts between brothers could be resolved. Through the story, two brothers (narrator and Sonny) are arguing and deciding are they brothers or not. They remember father’s and mother’s death and even uncle’s. Then they have a conflict in interests, when Sonny claimed that he wants to become a pianist and a jazz musician. They all eventually started to live in narrator’s wife’s house, where the piano let Sonny to play. During the entire story, two main heroes (brothers) argue and have a conflict. In the end of story, they have a conversation, where Sonny tells his brother about what he feels when his veins are filled with heroin. Sonny also mentions that he would not die in order to stop suffering (at least, he would not die earlier then anybody else would in this case).
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Finally, narrator accepts Sonny as a brother (even if he is a kind of a drug addict), when he hears how beautiful and magical is Sonny’s play in jazz club. Relationships between two brothers are contradictory and complete. They argue and do not accept each other’s way of living. Nevertheless, both try to find a kind of compromise in order to understand each other’s interests and way of thinking. It is always hard to step over your principles to find let someone relative to you live by his or her own rules. Do you think that it is easy not to condemn and blame a brother who got on the wrong way, but try to help and understand, to leave him the freedom of choice? It is not. But our hero found force in his heart to make his brother’s life better.
Another story called “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. It is said that she illustrates the importance of understanding our present life in relation to the traditions of our own people and culture. Walker personifies the different sides of culture and heritage in the characters of Dee and the mother (the narrator). Dee can be seen to represent a materialistic, complex, and modern way of life where culture and heritage are to be valued only for their “trendy-ness” and aesthetic appeal. Mother represents a way of life where culture and heritage are valued for both its usefulness as well as its personal significance (2003, pg 1, <http://www.freeessays.cc/db/18/erk87.shtml>). Thus, it must be mentioned that this story contains a conflict between two women (Dee and the mother). Main conflict in the story is that Dee struggle because of creating identity for herself. She wants to change her name. Moreover, her strict heritage can be defined as that of Afro – Americans. The point is that Dee was named after her grandmother and aunt. It was a kind of tradition. Finally, through the story Walker illustrates readers that “culture is neither name changes nor speaking a foreign tongue”. To analyze the story one should read it at first. It shows how difficult could be different views on culture and heritage between relatives. Every culture does not appear from nowhere and does not disappear to nowhere. It goes through many years and centuries. Thus, it is worthy of respect. Eternal problem between parents and children, between old and new world and culture is illustrated in this story. It is rather difficult to step over your principles, as I have already mentioned, but it is needed to make life less complicate and better. Characters in this story are looking for understanding in the heart of each other. When each of us follows only own principles and rules, it becomes unreal to find a compromise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I must admit that both stories touch conflicts and problems that modern people face in their routine daily life very often. The value of these stories is definitely great in nowadays culture, because people can gain some experience from them and look for some answers for their questions. The main mission of the paper was to discuss and analyze the relationships between siblings in these two stories and to explain how conflicts are resolved or not. I believe mission is completed. “Sonny’s Blue” by James Baldwin and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker are obviously talented and useful stories in our fast – moving contemporary world.
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