Timeline for Sonny S Blues

TIMELINE FOR “SONNY’S BLUES”

*NOTE THAT EVERYTHING IS TOLD IN THE PAST TENSE, BUT WITHIN THAT TENSE, OUR NARRATOR WEAVES IN AND OUT OF FLASHBACKS FROM VARIOUS TIMES IN HIS LIFE.

I. PG. 29-34: LOOKING BACK AT THE ARREST OF SONNY. GOES THROUGH THE DAY TEACHING SCHOOL, AND THEN TALKS TO CHILDHOOD ACQUAINTANCE.

II. PG. 34: MOVES FORWARD TO FINALLY WRITING A LETTER TO SONNY AND RECEIVING ONE FROM HIM. SONNY IS RELEASED AND VISITS THE NARRATOR AND HIS FAMILY

III. BOTTOM OF PG. 36: QUICK BACKSTORY ABOUT SONNY WANTING TRAVEL TO INDIA WHEN HE WAS 14.

IV. TOP OF PG. 37: BACK TO CAB RIDE TO THE NARRATOR’S HOUSE

V. BOTTOM OF PG. 38: MAJOR BREAK IN TIME. BEGINS A LONG FLASHBACK ABOUT THEIR CHILDHOOD. THIS INLCUDES:

a. LIFE AND DEATH OF FATHER AND MOTHER

b. STORY ABOUT HIS UNCLE BEING KILLED BY DRUNK WHITE KIDS

VI. TOP PG. 43: 2 DAYS AFTER MOTHER’S DEATH, NARRATOR IS MARRIED TO ISABEL. SONNY MOVES INTO THEIR APARTMENT IN HARLEM. *NARRATOR IS THEN SHIPPED OFF TO WWII.

a. TALKS TO SONNY ABOUT JAZZ MUSIC

b. NARRATOR HEARS ABOUT SONNY PLAYING PIANO AND GOING TO GREENWHICH VILLAGE FOR DRUGS, ETC.

c. ISABEL GIVES UP ON SONNY

d. SONNY ENLISTS IN THE NAVY AND LEAVES FOR THE WAR.

VII. PG. 49: BOTH ARE BACK FROM THE WAR

VIII. BOTTOM OF PG. 49: BACK TO HEARING ABOUT SONNY’S ARREST, THEN A FLASHBACK TO GRACE’S DEATH. IX. MIDDLE OF PG. 50: KEY MEMORY RELATING TO A TIME WHEN SONNY WAS STAYING AT THEIR HOUSE (AFTER SONNY RETURNS FROM JAIL) AND THE NARRATOR FINALLY SEES HIM PLAY.

*CONSIDER WHY BALDWIN WANTS TO TELL THE STORY THIS WAY. WHAT AFFECT DOES IT HAVE ON YOU AS A READER? WHAT DOES IT ULTIMATELY SUGGEST ABOUT SONNY’S BLUES? ABOUT THE NARRATOR? ABOUT HARLEM? ABOUT STRUGGLE?