Characters
This character joined the navy but then turned into heroin junkie who is arrested for drug use and eventually is able to combat his addiction with jazz music
Who is Sonny?
This symbol serves as a bridge between the narrator and Sonny and the end of the story. The narrator doesn't understand this because it makes no sense to him.
What is Jazz Music?
"You got to hold on to your brother," she said, "and don't let him fall, no matter what it looks like is happening and no matter how evil you gets with him."
Who is The narrator's mother?
The narrator's mother makes him promise to take care of Sonny and tells us something about the unconditional love of family. She doesn't care how angry the narrator gets with his brother (and she knows he will); all she wants is for him to remember to always keep Sonny within reach.
The narrator receives this object from his brother which is the first time Sonny has contacted him.
What is a postcard from Greece?
Sonny plays this instrument in the story.
What is the piano?
This character is Sonny's brother and is disappointed in him after reading a newspaper about his arrest.
Who is The Narrator?
Bonus 50 points: what was the narrator's name?
The narrator feels like he has this symbol inside of his stomach when he reads that his brother was arrested for heroin use and distribution. It represents a cold feeling that the narrator feels and initially unable to cope with.
What is Ice?
"You mean – they'll let him out. And then he'll just start working his way back in again. You mean he'll never kick the habit. Is that what you mean?"
Who is the narrator?
The narrator wrestles with the idea that Sonny may never kick his drug addiction. If Sonny never gets off drugs, the narrator will never get his brother back.
This event prompted the narrator to write back to Sonny after he reached out.
What is Grace's death?
This is the medium that the narrator uses to find out about his brother's arrest.
What is a newspaper?
This Character is the narrator's wife. She is a loving woman and tolerates Sonny's music despite him constantly playing.
Who is Isabel?
This symbol represents all the evil and fear present in the story. It is brought up when the narrator's uncle is killed.
What is Darkness?
"I'm glad Mama and Daddy are dead and can't see what's happened to their son."
Who is Sonny?
Sometimes it's better not to have family around than to have to live with the guilt of hurting or disappointing them. This guilt is one thing Sonny couldn't handle.
Sonny does this event instead of going to school.
What is going to a white girl's apartment in Greenwich Village to practice his music?
Sonny states that he admires this real-life jazz musician.
Who is Charlie Parker/Bird?
This character tragically passed away in the fall from polio at a young age.
Who is Grace?
This symbol represents hope and all good things in life. It is present throughout the story, to describe Sonny's face when he was young and warm, and later it compliments Sonny's dream when he is on stage.
What is Light?
"Tell me," I said at last, "why does he want to die? He must want to die, he's killing himself, why does he want to die?"
Who is the narrator?
The narrator is making a desperate plea with this unanswerable question. He can't imagine anyone doing what Sonny has done to himself unless he no longer has the will to live. He just wants to know "why?" His suffering is as great as Sonny's here.
This event was told to the narrator by his mother regarding what happened to his uncle.
What is his uncle's death at the hands of white men in a hit and run?
This street is where the narrator and Sonny grew up. The narrator states that he's known this street for his whole life.
What is Lenox Avenue?
This character is the leader of the band that Sonny plays in and serves a father figure to Sonny.
Who is Creole?
This biblical reference describes the glass sitting on top of Sonny's piano. It compares Sonny's redemption to the Prodigal Son from the Bible and shows that he can be redeemed.
What is The Cup of Trembling?
"I'm surprised at Sonny, though . . . I thought Sonny was a smart boy, I thought he was too smart to get hung."
Who is Sonny's friend from school?
This quote is said at the beginning of the story. It's an interesting statement coming from a drug user. Being smart or not has nothing to do with becoming an addict, but this statement makes it sound like anyone with enough intelligence can take drugs and will themselves to not get addicted.
This event takes place outside of the narrator's apartment and involved men and women in black singing songs and playing instruments.
What is a religious revival meeting/street meeting?
The narrator sends this drink to his brother when he is performing on stage.
What is Scotch and Milk?