Critical Reponse to "Sonny's Blues"

In the short story, “Sonny’s Blues,” it tells the story of the narrator’s younger brother growing up in their dark and gloomy neighborhood on the streets of Harlem. Sonny, the narrator’s brother, was explained by the narrator as his younger brother who “was wild, but not crazy.” He never thought that he was going to go down a horrible path until he discovered his extreme use of heroin.
When Sonny’s brother found out that he had been picked up off a street corner, he was sort of in denial. He always assumed that everything wasn’t as bad as he’d thought until he read the news in the paper. He didn’t write or send him anything until he received a letter from Sonny; which then he felt guilty and decided to write back and keep in touch with him.
Finally, Sonny then came back to New York. Sonny’s brother finally met with him and promised himself for the sake of his mother and father he was going to watch after Sonny and make sure that he was okay.
Their mother made Sonny’s brother promise to take care of him after explaining to him how his father’s brother passed away and they had never told anyone about it. She explained that family is what is important and you have to make sure you stick together through everything and always help each other out; and he promised her he would do so.
After Sonny’s brother heard about his father’s brother, his daughter passing away, and finally his mother and father; he knew he had to stick with his brother even though it was very hard and he was so bitter with him about everything.
When Sonny came home and tried to explain to his brother he wanted to become a musician, he didn’t take him seriously. He wanted Sonny to finish school and stay with his wife, Isabel’s parents. Sonny finally got frustrated and was arguing a lot with his brother and finally decided to go out on his own and join the army, and he did.
Sonny finally came back again and went on to pursue his music career in jazz. Sonny’s brother was so confused and back in forth and always wondered why he destroyed his life as he did and why he wanted to die. He said, “I don’t want to see you-die-trying not to suffer.” Sonny responded, “I won’t,” he said flatly, “die trying not to suffer. At least not any faster than anybody else.”
Sonny all along just wanted his brother to understand that he wants to live his life to the fullest just as he is doing. Sonny had a serious passion for jazz music and finally when he was home for good decided to bring his brother to a jazz joint and show him how strong of a person he is and that he truly does have a deep passion for music that gives him the good feeling of being on heroin.
When Sonny and his brother go downtown to the only joint playing jazz music in town his brother finally watches him play for the first time. He finally realizes that this is what Sonny loves and “he made it his.” Sonny’s brother finally realized that Sonny was content. He realized that no matter what happens, they have both been through so much with and without each other and in the end; all they need is each other to listen to.