Blue As A Tool For Narrative Development - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1499 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Sonny's Blues Essay Did you like this example? Story is based on common themes that explores suffering experienced by a black family predominantly two brothers as they struggle through individualism, lack education, drug addiction and imprisonment. It describes the struggle of two brothers separated and caught in the entanglements of time, space, and ideals. The narrator explains how Harlem was a very ruff neighborhood to live in and to raise a family, due to the environment he was living in Sonny lacked education and begin to do drugs but uses jazz music as an outlet. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Blue As A Tool For Narrative Development" essay for you Create order This piece of literature introduces suffering experienced by a black family predominantly two brothers which is analyzed in the story. Nevertheless, many critical views argue that Baldwin has figuratively used the blues in development of his narrative. The themes have been brought out in the narrative as bebop. Baldwin may have used the element of the blues to emphasize the essence of togetherness in the society. Therefore, it would be correct to argue that Baldwin uses the blues idea in his work because of the structure, the content, the discussion of the theme of individualism and the use of jazz reference in the final section of the story. The setting in this story is one many can relate to, riding home on a train, bus, taxi cab or even walking home reading the newspaper only to discover a situation or tragedy hit home. I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces and bodies of the people, and on my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared outside. (Baldwin 251) It puts you in a place of discomfort and a feeling of unease. The narrator experiences combat fatigue hearing the news of his baby brother by the name of Sonny being arrested for using and selling drugs in the street of Harlem. This man was so afraid for his brother that he barely could keep it together while teaching his math class. A great block of ice got settled in my belly and kept melting there slowly all day long, while I taught my classes algebra. (Baldwin 251) The narrator was overwhelmed by the news that he had read in the newsprint this was too much for him to receive into his spirit early in the morning, I was in d isbelief he couldnt digest what was going on mentally. This incident reminds the narrator of growing up with his brother in Harlem and how things were on the streets and in their own neighborhood. Based on the structure of the narrative, it is apparent that the Baldwin uses the format of blues music in the discussion of his themes. They were filled will rage (Baldwin 257). The blues are associated with low spirits which have been clearly brought outB in Baldwins story. The narrator is not comfortable with his selfish life. As it can be seen in the story, he prefers leading respectable and safe life. His brother on the other side leads an opposite lifestyle, he is more into substance abuse. Perhaps its possible then to see Baldwins title as an invitation to question the very sense of blues (Sherard 1). This statement by Sherard supports the fact that the blues structure is used in the Sonnys Blues story. The title might be focusing on how Sonny uses the blues in the discovering himself. Baldwin has used the structure of the blues in the development of his narrative. I read about it on the paper, in the subway on my way to work. I read it, and I could not believe it, and read it again. (Baldwin 251). As mentioned earlier, the blues are synonymous with low spirits. It is evident from the above statement that the narrator of the story was in such a low mood. The narrator is not happy with his brother who has been engaging in illegal activities. According to Sherard, Baldwins description of the motion inside the subway cay conveys the rhythm of change (2). The description of the subway is common element brought ought in the blues. For years the railway has been used in jazz music to symbolize Africa Americans. Therefore, it would be correct to argue that the blues structure has been used in the Sonnys Blues story. The blues take into account the form and the content of the music, which is also evident in the Sonnys Blues narrative. You dont know how much I needed to hear from you (Baldwin 254). The author of the narrative aims at bringing out the theme of brotherhood in the story. It is for this reason that he portrays the narrator as a concerned person who is anxious about his brothers behavior (Chapter 9). Notably, the blues motif has always been used to portray the actual status of the society. So it is with the history of jazz, and also in the history of the families described in this narrative. (Lee 286). As mentioned earlier, the blues are based on the format and the content. Therefore, the Baldwin has focused on the elaboration of the history of jazz music to elaborate the actual state of the African American society. The author of the narrative has also used the jazz motif to bring out theme of individualism. Well, look, Sonny, Im sorry, dont get madname somebody you know, a jazz musician you admire (Baldwin 259). Sonny is a pianist who likes to play jazz a genre associated with individuality. Being competent in the area depends on a persons capability to improve their skills. It all depends on an individuals hard work. The author of the story has included this element in the narrative to emphasize on individualism in the society. Of course, improvisation †players having the freedom to be composers, of solos or of styles†drives individual pieces as well as the history of jazz players having the freedom to be composers (Lee 286). As it can be seen in this statement, jazz players have the freedom of composing their own songs according to their interest. Therefore, it would be correct to ascertain that Baldwin incorporates an element of jazz players in his narrative to focus on the theme of individualism. In the final section of the story, Baldwin uses jazz references to focus on the theme of the struggles of life. ?He and the piano stammered, started one way, panicked, marked time, started again; they seemed to have found a direction, panicked again got stuck (Baldwin 139). Based on the above statement, Baldwin brings jazz references that motivate Sonny to find himself through the art of music. The struggles of life that Sonny goes through while trying to find himself is compared to the difficult process of learning how to play the piano. The blues influences bebop at another, more explicitly emotional level in Sonnys Blues. (Claborn 89). Similarly, Claborn still argues that the blue played a significant role in Africa American society. Musicians were able to express themselves through music. The same way Baldwin does in his narrative. He tries to bring out the actual status of the African American society. From a critical review, it is clear that Baldwins uses of the blues in the development of his content and structure supports the thesis statement of this paper. In the story, the author has included musicians such as Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong to refer to the characters in the narrative. Bird! Charlie Parker! Dont they teach you anything in the goddamn army? (Baldwin 259). The inclusion of jazz artists in the story implies that the author was more inclined on the ideas applied in the blues in his narrative. According to Claborn This story of the doomed double for Robert Johnson, which fulfills the myth of the self-destructive blues musician speeding towards death as mentioned earlier, the author uses the life history of jazz musicians to elaborate on the problem facing the African American society. Although Baldwin uses the blues to support his themes in the story, some structural flaws in the narrative might impel readers to question his understanding of the blues motif. Bird! Charlie Parker! Dont they teach you anything on the goddamn army? (Baldwin 259). This statement would impel readers to question whether musicians are related to the army. Sonny argument on military lessons learned from Charlie Parker seems to be out of place. Based on this point of view, it would be correct to argue that the use of the blues ideas in Baldwins narrative is not effective. It does not help the support of the themes of the story. In summary, it is evident from the above argumentation that Baldwin uses the blue in the development of his narrative. The blues element can be seen from the structure, the contents, elaboration of themes such as individualism and the use of jazz reference in the final sections of the story. Despite the opposing views, it is clear from the narrative that the author based his story on the blues. This is a common genre used by African Americans to express their problems in the community.

Essay on Who Needs Sleep - 1546 Words

In the United States 40% of car accidents are linked to lack of sleep (Souza). Sleep deprivation is a serious problem; people do not seem to care about or pay attention too. Everyone needs sleep; it is the mind and body’s natural way of restoring itself from a day’s work. There are four stages of sleep and according to The Better Sleep Council the first stage is when the mind is relaxing, and the eyes close. It is easy to wake someone during this stage, and people often feel like they are falling and suddenly jump. The second stage is when the heart rate is slowing down, and the body prepares to enter a deep sleep. Stage three is becoming more immersed in a deep sleep, approaching stage four, which is the most important. Stage four is†¦show more content†¦A study recorded by Goldman, McDonough, and Rosemond in 1972 â€Å"noted that sleep-deprived junior doctors were more hesitant and showed less focused planning during a surgical procedure† (Harrison). E ven doctors are affected by this. Doctors need to be able to make quick choices and to stay focus; people’s lives are in their hands, sleep is essential to being successful. Although everyone is not responsible for people’s lives, sleep still affects them mentally daily, and each day it builds up and becomes worse. In an interview with Professor Cathy Newell from Mesa Community College stated â€Å"they are able to get on a treadmill and still make it and what not, but where we see the most impairment is over a course. Like if we deprived them for 24-30 hours. Mental cognitive function tends to decrease† (Newell). People can last longer physically compare too mentally. The mind is running 24/7, and sleep gives it the ability to organize itself and fire off any leftover electrons, giving the mind the ability to dream in stage four REM sleep. Sleep deprivation does not happen overnight, it happens over a period of time. As Cathy Newell stated it happened after 24- 30 hours of sleep deprivation marks the start of the cognitive function deteriorating. Many things can throw off a person’s sleep. A study conducted in 1792, a French geophysicist discovered theShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Teens On Children s Life Essay951 Words   |  4 Pages Teens need to sleep more than bear who need to hibernate during winter for their own health. Teens need to sleep about 8 to 10 hours of sleep to function best and most teens do not get enough sleep study found that only 15 % do not sleep during school night. Teens natural sleep cycle puts them in conflict with school start times and most high school students need an alarm clock or a parent to wake them on school days. 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How successful is Priestly in conveying his message to the audience through stage directions Essay Example For Students

How successful is Priestly in conveying his message to the audience through stage directions Essay Priestleys message is that everyone should be careful what they do because he thinks that everyone is connected so it could affect other people not just yourself. He thought that we are all part of one big community. I think Priestly tried to impart this message in 1945 because it was the end of World War Two and moral was very low in Britain. We as an audience are meant to listen to the Inspector rather than Birling because at the start of the book Birling proves that he is very arrogant and thinks he knows it all which he demonstrates when he says that the titanic is unsinkable. This would give the impression you should listen to the Inspector as he makes a lot more sense and isnt so much of an idiot. The Inspector wants to remind every character about their actions, But each of you helped kill her. Remember that. Priestly uses personal pronouns and short sentences so that what he says stays in your head. This allows you to remember them later and do something different in your life. The effect that these two sentences have on the characters is that it makes them extremely guilty for what they have done. Also it makes the Inspector feel like he is in charge. The effect it has on the audience is that they are shocked because the Inspector is so upfront. In addition, it makes them scared because although he mans metaphorically it still has the same impact. Also, this would have affected the characters quite badly because the book was set in a very capitalist time so the lower class people would not have talked to upper class people like that. This sentence would make the play more memorable and that would have been very powerful at the time it was written because more people were going to see plays as it was too expensive to buy and print books because of the war. The Inspector is an imposing character, Taking charge masterfully These stage directions use an adverb to show that the Inspector is extremely good at it. This makes the characters stop and pay attention as it seems that he is now the master of the situation. The sudden change has a shock effect on the audience by using such a dramatic device. This is the point when Priestly should say his message as everyone is paying attention. This play needed to be memorable to be able to convey Priestleys message, and this is an important message about change and how we should live our lives differently. I think that this was quite successful because life did change after this play and I think it helped people become better. Mrs. Birling was Eva Smiths last hope, You turned her away when she most needed help Here, Priestly uses personal pronouns so it is much more directed at Mrs. Birling. This should make her feel guilty but it doesnt as all through the play she acts like she doesnt care. As for the other characters, it makes them feel like they are not the only ones to blame. At this point the audience would probably be on the Inspectors side as it seems that all the other characters are guilty of some crime or another. I think this is quite effective as it would have shocked the audience. The Inspector makes the audience think about the horrors of war, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Priestly uses the power of three in this sentence, the effect that this would have on the audience is that it is very serious because he says pretty much the same thing three times, so it would have three times the effect. .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c , .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .postImageUrl , .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c , .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c:hover , .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c:visited , .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c:active { border:0!important; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c:active , .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u54c772bfb63da5e6a8d86cc7a88aca5c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Drama: The development phase EssayTo the audience this would have quite an impact as there was possibility of war at the time and this might have made them a little frightened as to what was to come. The Inspector wants us to feel part of a society, We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. When Priestly uses personal pronouns, it makes the characters and the audience feels more involved in the pay and what is being said. This helps convey Priestly message of being part of one society.

Maritime Empires, Cultural Diffusion and Trade Expansion free essay sample

Beginning with the voyages of Columbus and other explorers, the encounter of the Americas would soon lead to the start of increased trade between Africa, Europe, and the Americas. This immense trade changed the Atlantic Ocean from a predominantly unclaimed vast ocean into part of the growing maritime empires, booming with trade. As the region progressed, economic, political, and social changes occurred rapidly due to the emergence of the Triangular Trade Route and the Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade. By the late 1600s, the increased participation in these trade routes allowed a multitude of commodities to reach the Atlantic World, permitting Europeans to construct big maritime empires and constantly serve as the dominant countries in trade and land. As the values and institutions of European lifestyles became planted firmly in the colonization of the Americas and the slave trade thrived, a new multicultural social system emerged based on race and origin. The Pre- Columbian Era consisted of scarce interaction between the Old World and the Americas, who were relatively isolated from the â€Å"global trade†. We will write a custom essay sample on Maritime Empires, Cultural Diffusion and Trade Expansion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A series of thriving trading empires, such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai created thriving cities in Northern and Central Africa. Africa, composed mainly of a tribe system was under the influence of animistic practices. The general essence of Africa was relatively calm, compared to what later decisions would create. In the Americas, Native Americans taking residence there had a set polytheistic religion and system that held rulers and priests at a high social status and farmers and slaves at the lowest. The incredible domains of the Inca and Aztec showed great feats of engineering and technology, including Tenochtitlan, chinampas, and a road system, much like the road system the earlier Persians used. With many regional tribes located there, the Americas were content in their own sphere of unknown exploration. Across the Atlantic were Africa and a very motivated Europe. Under a system of feudalism, Western Europeans had just come out of the Middle Ages. In Spain, the Spanish monarchy had just cleared the final Muslim residents out of Europe. Due to recent contact with Asian goods during the Crusades, Europeans began searching for a way to receive those luxuries without having to trade through the Muslim Ottoman Turks. The Portuguese spear- headed the Age of Exploration with intentions of finding a direct route to Asia. Following in pursuit, Spain sent Columbus to find the Indies, but instead encountered the Caribbean in 1492. The Spanish, and other explorers to come, would be surprised and astonished from their discovery. Europeans were under the impression beyond the ocean to the West was Asia, when in fact between the two was the hidden continent of the Americas. Columbus’ finding of the Americas, although he didn’t know at the time, marked the beginning of what was to become a truly global trade network. The Spanish and the Portuguese served as the first to colonize the New World, however having a range of consequences. Upon meeting the Europeans on the shores of their land, the natives, unimmunized to the disease smallpox, decreased greatly in number. Along with disease and exploited enemies, superior weapons served as trouble for the Aztec and Incan empires. Through conquest, the Spanish and the Portuguese began renovating the land with cash crops. The Columbian Exchange soon interlocked the Americas and Europe; horses, cattle and manufactured products were exported from Europe, while tobacco, sugar, and other New World crops were exported out of the Americas. The New World Crops would have a profound effect on Old World countries; European and African populations increased, as well as the demand for such goods. The encomienda system, as well as a new social system developed where those from pure Spanish origin ranked at the top, while the conquered natives remained at a low status. With many of the Aztec, Incan, and additional native cultures disrupted and prohibited, the religion of many of the conquered natives transitioned from a polytheistic belief system to Christianity. The natives of South America upon coming into contact with the European conquistadors heavily declined in population as a result of disease and conquest. One priest, Bartholomew de Las Casas called for change; he felt the encomienda system exploited the natives and Europeans should use Africans instead, who were better equipped to handle the work. As the Native population dramatically fell, Europeans started looking elsewhere for labor on new plantations- what they found as a solution would greatly change trade and society. In the mid- 1600s, coastal Portuguese trade ports on the coast of Africa generated a forced migration of over 15 million slaves to Brazil or plantations in the Caribbean. Slaves became the predominant export of Africa to the Americas, and with the surplus of labor, the sugar plantations in the Caribbean thrived, enriching many European powers. There became an emergence of the European middle class in the Old World composed of merchants, traders, and artisans. Lords who needed money to buy goods would accept it from peasants, allowing them to pay their lords with money rather than labor. Thus, the traditional feudal system declined and social mobility increased. Along with decline of feudalism, the thriving Triangular Trade Route brought forth the Commercial Revolution. New methods of business were introduced and the rising middle class began forming into organizations- partnerships, joint stock companies, banking, and insurance companies. Capitalism emerged in the Western World, and Europe was growing from a basic cluster of countries and towns to an inter-dependent complex society, while the Americas and Africa were becoming renovated. With the addition of slaves, the social system of the Americas became even more complex. Along with the natives, slaves were placed at a low status. Mostly men, and women, were taken from their African cities and in return, rising African tribes received weapons. The violence occurring in Africa counter- acted the earlier period of prosperous trade. The earlier African social system was undermined, and many cities became dependent on the slave trade. Europeans, such as the Spanish, dominated social classes in Africa and the Americas. The diversity created by the multi-cultural/ ethnic change omitted another addition to the social system. Those from mixed European/ African or European/ native descent, known as mulattoes or mestizos, held a higher social status than those of pure native or African origin. The new social hierarchy of the Spaniards became directly responsible for the restrictions of freedom based on ethnicity and descent. What began as a search for an alternative route to Asia resulted in some of the greatest turning points in history. The incorporation of the Americas into global interaction made an obvious difference; growing empires expanded from land domains to maritime empires. Spain was able to dominate many of those affairs and influence a whole new sphere of people. While they were to dominate for the time being, the world around them was transforming in their benefit. The amount of cultural diffusion was inevitable. The Atlantic World trade routes served as a path for Europeans to advance ahead of many other civilizations, playing out later as what made many of those civilizations take devastating defeats. Basically, finding the New World meant not only changes in the Americas, but in Europe and Africa, also.