Sadighim,Candice
English 2
Cramer
3 November 2015
Conflict and reconciliation in familial relationships in Literature
Hayden’s ‘Those Winter Sundays’, Baldwin’ Sonny 's blues and Grimm brothers’ Cinderella describes certain sensitive situations most families sometimes find themselves in when disagreeing on diverse issues that can be resolved when parties are determined to. In these pieces of literature, family conflicts are portrayed as simple disagreements that in certain cases result in family break-ups and unnecessary hostilities. These pieces of work are very explicit and affirm that in any situation where there are facts, inclinations, and distress, there is a relatively high possibility for conflicts to occur. However, contrary to the popular opinion, these fundamental causes of family conflicts are human-made and can be resolved when proper channels are followed in a collaborative manner as portrayed in these three literatures. Indeed, virtually all families are at one period of time obliged to pass through diverse everyday conflicts, but with determination and acceptance of mistakes, appropriate processes of reconciliation can be instituted and the family ultimately return back to normalcy.
This piece of work by Grimm brothers describes a familial conflict pitting a step-mother and step-daughter who is obliged to unite after the sudden death of her birth mother. Grimm brothers rues the step-mother’s poor communication skills and lack of some important
“Going up in the World: Class in ‘Cinderella’” is a scholarly article written by Elisabeth Panttaja that analyzes the roles of the mothers and the importance of class within these times. Panttaja focuses her article on the Grimm version, which is most famously critiqued and discussed. The article analyzes the importance of the mothers, which leads to the overall concept that the natural mother’s role seems irrelevant, yet Cinderella’s entire destiny is based upon her. The mother’s also show similar goals: get their daughter(s) married into power. Cinderella wins this battle, however, for she is the “true bride.”
In present-day society, families go through several problems and arguments regarding numerous issues which would have been considered unacceptable in past times. Throughout a variety of different cultures, the level of respect and obedience for one’s parents has diminished while the negotiation of conformity and rebellion has risen. This statement is supported and evidential in two different stories, “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan and “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. Although these stories represent different cultures, they both exemplify the values and importance of family relations; as well as demonstrate in every culture families face social problems. In both these stories, two major topics stood out which allowed me to compare each one to one
In her article, “Cinderella: Not So Morally Superior,” Elisabeth Panttaja illustrates the important role of parents in a childhood. She talks about the importance the mother plays in all versions of Cinderella as well as evidence showing what lack of parenthood does to children. Panttaja claims by way of the Grimms Brothers version of Cinderella and how each mother wants to guarantee a bright and happy future for their daughters by marrying them off to the prince. The similarities between the wanting of Cinderella and the stepsisters married- and doing anything to get it- contradicts the idea that Cinderella and her mother were morally superior, or different at all, from the stepmother and sisters.
In reading the story "Sonny 's Blues" by James Baldwin, we learn of two brothers and their lives growing up in Harlem. The narrator, who is the older brother in the story, narrates the trials and tribulations he and his younger brother (Sonny) had to endure growing up in such a harsh environment in Harlem (due to the drugs, violence, and Black 's being looked down upon in general in the mid-1950s). We start in the future (present), with the narrator having a somewhat successful future being a teacher and having a wife and two kids (with one of them passing away due to the polio disease). We learned very early that Sonny was locked up due to possession of heroin. The narrator originally found out about the tragic news from a newspaper, then later, an old childhood friend of the two made a trip to inform him while he was leaving school. The childhood friend tried to inform the narrator of the harsh reality of the situation Sonny was in, and would never change by telling him "Listen. They 'll let him out and then it 'll just start all over again. That 's what I mean" (Baldwin page 50), with the narrator already being mindful of the situation and conceivable consequence of him diving into that lifestyle. He initially didn 't care, but came to the realization that he had to care about his younger misguided brother as he and the fellow converted then parted ways. This gave light into where the story was heading with the two siblings, as they would write letters back and forward
In the short story, Sonny’s Blues, by James Baldwin, there are two brother that live in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. The older brother, whose name is never mentioned, was given responsibility of Sonny by their mother before she passed away. Sonny is the younger of the two and wants to be a jazz pianist, but his older brother does not understand this, while he is an algebra school teacher. Sonny and his brother stop communicating. Later, the older brother is going to his job when he sees in the newspaper that his younger brother, Sonny, had been arrested for selling and possessing cocaine, or as it is called in the story, horse. Sonny’s brother never writes Sonny in jail until his daughter, Grace, died of polio. After Sonny gets out of jail, they begin to get close and his brother starts to appreciate Sonny’s love for jazz.
James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues” was a great tale of the struggles shared between two brothers in Harlem in 1957. This story is about two African American brothers who, unfortunately, grew apart as the aged. The plot shows the struggles the two brothers faced as they grew up in Harlem, and in return, the two drastically different paths they perused. James Baldwin was an African American who grew up in Harlem in the 1930s and 40s. Baldwin was the oldest of nine children, and grew up in a very poor family, having a very bad relationship with his stepfather. Baldwin followed in his stepfather’s footsteps in becoming a preacher, but as he was studying to do so, he realized that his true calling was to become a writer. Baldwin
From the creation of harmonies to singing to instruments, music has been an abstract form of human expression. Although an auditory collection of pitches and volumes, musicians can manipulate the same notes and bring them alive for their audiences. The true emotion and energy that’s felt in music really comes from the player as feelings are transferred to and through the listener. This interaction between performer and the house is catharsis, the complete release of strong repressed emotions. Thanks to the musician, music has the ability to grasp people and cause them to sense emotions and feelings without lyrics or images even being necessary. Although it’s believed we can only hear with our ears, something about music makes it emotionally if not physically tangible. In James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues,” a narrator certainly unaware of the impact of music invites himself to experience jazz for the first time. Baldwin uses the final scene of his story to argue that music has an effect on those who are able to experience it. Baldwin does this in one single moment by letting the fixed, practical minded, “well-intentioned” narrator experience catharsis from jazz as his growing, free-spirited brother communicates with him through jazz.
While reading “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin theme, symbolism, and motifs were discovered throughout the entire short story. Sonny one of the two main characters, is dealing with a drug addiction and is now following his dreams of becoming a jazz musician. The narrator, whose name was never given, does his best to keep the promise he made his mother years ago, to be his brother’s keeper.
The story, “Sonny’s Blues” is not simply the story of the experience of the narrator. Rather, it is a story that captures his inner transformation as well the spiritual progression that his previous experiences of death and loss have influenced. Yes, it is. In that, the story starts as an identified or unfamiliar algebra teacher tries to familiarize with something at the same time riding the passageway to school. The teacher and the narrator of the story exit the subway and walks towards the school, his anxiety and fear mounting pressure on him regarding the fate of his Sonny. The brother has been detained for peddling heroin. At the same time, thinking about the fate of his brother reminds of the teacher of his students, who are subjected to limited possibilities in a harsh and hostile world. The storyteller postulates that several of his schoolgirls may be by now be undertaking drugs, as, for instance, heroin. The summary provided above captures that indeed, the story based on the inner transformations that he attains from his previous experiences, that us the fate of his brother, death, and loss. Attributable to the elucidations provided above, this paper in writing seeks to substantiate the fact the story “Sonny’s Blues” is not just an illustration of the experiences of the narrator, but the story based on his inner transformation.
ntroduction: James Baldwin, author of Sonny 's Blues, once said, "I grew up with music...much more than with any other language. In a way, the music I grew up with saved my life" ("Session 3 Inquiry: Rudolfo Anaya and James Baldwin," 2015). Blues becomes Sonny 's "drug" and his addiction to it his salvation.
In James Baldwin’s short story “Sonny’s Blues,” one of the most pertinent themes throughout the story is the contrast and duality of light and darkness. More specifically, the author explores this theme by using light and darkness to explain the characters coming to terms with their realities and the realities of many people who live in their community. The theme also is key in explaining the relationship between Sonny and the narrator. In this paper, I intend to explain the significance of the tension of identifying one’s reality in “Sonny’s Blues,” by exploring the many instances that Baldwin uses light and darkness to explore one’s reality.
In the story “Sonny’s Blues”, written by James Baldwin, the narrator and his younger brother, Sonny, interact with musical elements that serve as a redemption for Sonny. Baldwin believes in the power of music to rescue or minimize the suffering that people go through. Both characters isolate themselves with several instances of music and issue their reactions toward it. Sonny is an uprising musician that wants to portray his life by playing the piano. This story is about Sonny’s Blues. His sadness about his escape from his childhood, his frustration with being a musician, as well as the lack of support from his brother, when he knew that Sonny was hurting the most, are expressed through the wooden black and white keys. At first, Sonny uses
The idea of family, though usually associated with love, care and comfort, are not always the perfect bonding unit they are supposed to be. Both The Eye of the Sheep (2014) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (2003) are novels which convey how the paradoxical nature of relationships and a difficulty of communication and understanding among family members can cause a dysfunctional family relationship. In The Eye of the Sheep, Jimmy’s autistic disorder causes a strain in his relationship with his father as he is forced to repress his anger towards his own son. Similarly, in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, the father is forced to suppress his frustration on his son’s condition which makes it difficult for a
In Black, Mandelman writes about how a non-traditional marriage causes a traditional family to have several conflicts. In comparison, in Back to the Surface Darraji also displays inner family conflict due to broken traditional values. Both authors have several commonalities and differences displayed using two different types of stories to explain similar moral values. Madelman and Darraji wrote these stories for entertainment, both stories show how a family loss can harmfully effect a family connection. Traditional and moral values are important guidelines for these families to follow and both authors demonstrate in explicit details how it can effect two completely different families in the similar ways.
Examples of dysfunctional families can be seen everywhere in society - on television, in movies, in music, and of course, in literature. Many books have recently been published that include complex, conflicted families. The purpose of using dysfunctional families in popular literature is to make the story more relatable, show different views on the traditional family dynamic, and to spark interest with readers. These three intentions are shown in both George RR. Martin’s Game of Thrones and Alice Munro’s Who Do You Think You Are?. Both works contain complex characters that illustrate abnormal family dynamics and the integral value of dysfunctional families in literature. This idea of dysfunction among families can be seen in the Lannister and Stark families in Game Of Thrones and Rose’s immediate family and her husband in Who Do You Think You Are?. The Lannister family in George RR. Martin’s Game Of Thrones are one of the most powerful and rich families in the series. They are a prosperous dynasty and live the lives of kings and queens. However, they are also one of the most dysfunctional families in all of literature. The lives of the Lannister family are filled with incest, betrayal, murder and destruction. The Stark family are yet another example of dysfunction in a family structure seen in Game Of Thrones. Rose’s family in Alice Munro’s Who Do You Think You Are? are the cause of her having a very sad childhood. She resides with her father, his second wife named Flo and