Log In
|
My Passes
|
Sign Up
Learning Guides
Teacher Resources
Test Prep
College Readiness
Schools & Districts
All of Shmoop
Literature
Bible
Poetry
Shakespeare
Mythology
Bestsellers
Dr. Seuss
Pre-Algebra
Algebra
Algebra II
Geometry
Biology
US History
Flashcards
DMV
Careers
SAT
ACT
AP Exams
En Español
Essay Lab
Videos
Literary Critics
Shmoop Shtuff
Cite This Page
To Go
Kindle: Learning Guide
Nook: Learning Guide
Sonny's Blues
by
James Baldwin
Home
Literature
Sonny's Blues
Themes
Intro
Summary
Themes
Quotes
Characters
Analysis
Questions
Quizzes
Flashcards
Best of the Web
Write Essay
Advertisement
Sonny's Blues Quotes
Table of Contents
AP English Language
AP English Literature
SAT Test Prep
ACT Exam Prep
ADVERTISEMENT
Sonny's Blues Themes
Little Words, Big Ideas
Drugs and Alcohol
Drugs are a central theme in "Sonny's Blues," impacting both the users and those who love them. Heroin destroys lives, families, and artistic talent. On the other hand, it also offers a momentary...
Suffering
The idea of suffering hovers inescapably over "Sonny's Blues." Every character suffers in some way – from grief, from poverty, from addiction, from limited opportunities in life. The constant pr...
Family
Ah, family. They can make us crazy and angry; they can love us and drive us away at the same time. This is precisely what happens in "Sonny's Blues." The two brothers in this story clearly love e...
The Home
The home is a physical place in "Sonny's Blues," but it's also an idea. It's a place to escape from, a place to return to, a place with both horrible and wonderful memories. Home is comfort, conf...