Metaphorical Light and Darkness: A Study of Two Literary Works Essay Example

36). Ultimately, it is through their use of light and darkness that both narratives create their mood.

While riding the subway and looking at a newspaper, the narrator of "Sonny's Blues" notices the faces and bodies of people on the train. Along with them, he sees his own reflection in the swinging lights that illuminate the subway car. However, he also feels a sense of confinement in the darkness that lies beyond what is illuminated. This feeling intensifies when he learns about his brother's arrest on drug-related charges. The presence of the swinging lights adds to his confusion during this moment, offering no clarity or understanding. It is in this moment that he not only acknowledges Sonny's darkness but also recognizes it in other young boys who are entangled in drugs.

At the conclusion of the story, there is a glimmer of hope as the narrator reflects on how Sonny's piano and jazz music bring light amidst all the darkness (Baldwin 60). Meanwhile, in "Araby," loneliness envelops the boy through words like "musty," "useless," and "waste." The boy's neighborhood consists of dull, brown houses (Joyce 404), and the recent passing of the priest adds to his desolation. Light and darkness symbolize both joy and pain in the journey towards adulthood.

Despite feeling isolated, the boy in "Araby" discovers his first taste of love. Though surrounded by a bleak environment, he sees Mangan's sister as a beacon of hope for his dreams and idealism. This darkness symbolizes the boy's confusion and disappointments during his coming of age. Similarly, Sonny's upbringing in Harlem proves challenging, but instead of finding light in a person, he

finds it through his love for music. In his search for identity, Harlem presents numerous obstacles, including the darkness of drug addiction.

Returning to his passion for playing the piano helps bring him back to sobriety and into a positive state. Sonny has matured and gained wisdom from his own life experiences. "Araby" and "Sonny's Blues" both delve into similar themes, utilizing light and darkness as symbolic elements. Sonny and the boy from "Araby" both undergo periods of darkness while growing up and face the ongoing battle between good and evil, particularly as they are still trying to establish their own identities. The boy in "Araby" is left disappointed by life, whereas Sonny is determined not to disappoint himself or others.