As we encounter the story of "Sonny's Blues", on the surface it is the tale of two inner city brothers, and their perpendicular paths through life. The author, James Baldwin, propels us through this story with intrigue and suspense. However, the most inviting aspect of this story is the underlying theme encountered. Baldwin incorporates the art of symbolism, extensively, to develop the overall theme of the story. Through the use of the light and dark motifs, parable style, symbolism and allusion, Baldwin sends an inviting and comforting message. Ultimately, the reader rides shotgun on the spiritual journey of Sonny and his brother, the narrator. Though the author does not write it down in words, the theme is developed through the writing style and components of the story. Explore the religious theme of "Sonny's Blues" through the eyes of symbolism.
             In the opening paragraphs, Baldwin's vague use of 'it' propels us forward on this journey. "I read it...I read it...I couldn't believe it...I read it ...I just stared at it...I stared at it in the swinging lights of the subway car, and in the faces and bodies of the people, and in my own face, trapped in the darkness which roared outside."(40) What does 'it' signify? 'It' is something so vulgar and hideous that it is not worthy of being named. Moreover, 'it' is something that the author can not bring himself to either write or say. The overall connotations represent failure, disappointment, and ultimately religious damnation. It is through this premise that the pious expedition originates.
             With 'it' being the starting point of the brothers' sacred conquest. The conduit for this expedition is the author's use of the light and dark motifs. Light and dark, or conjugates there of, transcend the language of the entire story. From the first paragraph narration: "I stared a...