Point of View

“Sonny’s Blues” is written in the first-person point of view. The narrator is one of the two main characters in the story, along with his brother, Sonny, and yet his name is never revealed. The narrator is a black man who grew up in Harlem, and he chooses to live there as an adult. He offers a unique perspective on growing up in Harlem, based on his own experiences, the adventures of his brother, Sonny, and vivid descriptions of hopelessness and rage in the streets.

The narrator tells the story in a non-chronological order, alternating between his present time and flashbacks. The flashbacks amplify the characters, offering insight into their past and their motivations. For example, the narrator reveals in flashback that he had promised Mama he would look after Sonny, but then he failed to do so. This revelation explains why the narrator...