Power vs. Powerlessness

Power vs. Powerlessness has been the central theme of most stories in history. Some character or thing is powerless to another character or thing which sways the way the story unfolds (Spencer, 19). In this blog we have discussed drugs, music, and the Harlem Renaissance. These are all things which Sonny and his brother are powerless over and things they each have power over. Sonny obviously is powerless to the drugs because its an addiction which is holding him back from becoming something great. He finds ways to hide from the drugs but their power overcomes him and keeps pulling him back in. The drugs aren't his only downfall in this battle of power vs powerlessness, Harlem is a major component to his problems. Sonny wants to leave about mid-way through the story because he realizes that Harlem is root of his problems. He knows too many bad influences in Harlem that are constantly making him cave and just throw away the good in his life. Sonny however has power,  he has his music. Sonny's music helps him transcend past the drugs and the dangers of the area he lives in (McKrueger, Video). While playing he is focused on one thing, keeping the beat. As a reader we can easily tell this because the story illustrates a picture for us with the final pages of the story. Sonny's brother sends him a drink and then realizes that while Sonny is playing he is being all he can be and there is nothing else Sonny would rather do then sit and be immersed and amazed by the sounds that fly off the instruments and into his ears then the drugs which go into his bloodstream. Sonny's brother, the narrator, may have the biggest struggle with powerlessness throughout the entire story because he is unable to hide from what is taking away his power, his brother. Sonny means well and I don't believe he means harm to his family but his actions not only effect him throughout his life but also his family and his families family. Throughout most of the story we do not even hear from Sonny, we hear about what his brothers view was of Sonny growing up was like. The narrator describes to us how Sonny causes all of these problems such as; getting arrested for possession of drugs, playing music in the narrators girlfriends house and causing trouble for them, moving away to follow a life of music, and "not being a grown up". To the narrator, Sonny is just another person he has to worry about or take care of, this mentality is what causes his powerlessness over his brother. Sonny himself is causing these trouble but the narrator is the one who is letting the problems overwhelm him and cause trouble in his own life. Looking out for ones family is a responsibility but putting their needs over our own causes us to lose control or power over the situation. Its not until the final scene when the narrator finally gains power over his brothers troubles when he realizes he is his own man. In the text he says "it glowed and shook above my brother's head like the very cup of trembling"(Baldwin). In this powerful moment in this short story, we see Sonny and his brother becoming victorious in the fight for power. Sonny finally is at peace and has his music to get him through troubled times, while the narrator has peace of mind knowing his brother is able to take care of himself.