The setting in “Sonny Blues” is an important factor because it helps us understand and see how it is easy for young people to fall into drugs and how hard it is to get out of that. Being that this story originated in Harlem, New York, we can see how it was a place of poverty with very limited opportunities, and young kids fell into bad habits quickly and at a very young age. This created an even harder environment but through all of this Sonny found an escape the harsh reality he was living and he did this through his passion for music. This became a way out of the dark place he was in and opened new doors for him.

The relationship between the narrator and Sonny was interesting. They were not able to connect, and the narrator often questioned Sonny’s actions. The only time I was able to see a connection between them was when Sonny would play his music. I believe the narrator was able to see the struggles and pain Sonny went through only by listening to his music.

One question that came to mind after reading this story is, can something so simple as music really help someone when they have been down the wrong path for so long? And how can we as humans find a way to feel more empathy for others, although we have all been through a lot of suffering?