Blog Tools
Edit your Blog
Build a Blog
RSS Feed
View Profile
« May 2009 »
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
You are not logged in. Log in
Entries by Topic
All topics  «
Group One
Tripod Home
Tripod Build
Register Your Domain
Group Two
Lycos Home
Lycos Search
Lycos News
ALHS Hum11 Per. 4
Thursday, 21 May 2009
"Sonny's Blues" - So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Track how the past exerts control over the present of the two main characters. What from their past controls them? How does each of them respond to this? How aware of this are they?  How can one view the past’s influence on these characters—and us—in both positive and negative ways

Posted by jcorey2 at 12:33 AM EDT
Post Comment | View Comments (4) | Permalink

Comments Page

Monday, 25 May 2009 - 9:33 PM EDT

Name: "anonymous"

The past plays a huge part in controlling the future of Sonny and the narrator. For Sonny, I believe, it was his obssession with music and after he got into the business it turned into the drugs. After he gets busted and sent to rehab he realizes how much it took control over his life and he spends the rest of the story with the knowledge of what those types of things can do to you. He responds by taking every precaution in trying to stay away from those situations that can get him back to where he was. I think that in a way his experience with drugs was somewhat good. It obviously wouldn't have been good if he hadn't been busted and sent to rehab, but since he did it showed him how bad that kind of life was.
 
For the narrator, I believe that the thing in his past that had the most control was the promise he said to his mother. He promised that he would take care of his brother, Sonny. I think it's really hard on him at times, especially since his brother was busted for the heroine thing. Then again, the drugs almost brought them back together in a way. If Sonny hadn't been caught and sent to rehab to change his ways, they probably still wouldnt be talking. I think the narrator is very aware that his past, the promise to his mother, controls his life.

Reply to this Comment

Monday, 25 May 2009 - 9:34 PM EDT

Name: "Josh Jensen"

This was Josh Jensen's I forgot to put my name in the blank

Reply to this Comment

Monday, 25 May 2009 - 10:05 PM EDT

Name: "Clint Schmidt"

I believe that the past has the more impact on the narrator than it does on Sonny. The narrator was driven by messages left by the people before him. Such as that his mother told him that he had to watch over Sonny even if he was a good boy. Though Sonny was driven by what was now. He made music to let go of the emotions he had with everyday life in Harlem.

The narrator is veryu controlled by the message that his mother left him. He takes in Sonny after prision, and wants to make sure that his life is not just suffering, even though it is said that everyone is always suffering. And the narrator is very aware that he is taking note of his mother's promise, and we know this because he cries when he fails at protecting Sonny.

Though Sonny is not moved by anything specific in his past, the past in general just may persuade him. The hardships that he would have grown up through being a black American living in Harlem would of been a tough way of life. Though it all depends on how he would of interpurted what happened in his past (Loss of his parents), and how he goes on the next day.

Reply to this Comment

Tuesday, 26 May 2009 - 10:17 AM EDT

Name: "Mitch Weebb"

i agree with this one. The narrator is haunted by his mother's words, so he tries to help sonny in any way he can. he almost takes over the parents role in sonny's life trying to encourage him to find a good job for the future, even though its not what sonny wants. so this quote could apply to sonny, for he is going against the norm and is working at being a musician, even though his brother tells him it isnt the greatest idea.

Reply to this Comment
Comments Page
View Latest Entries