Some view life as a beautiful thing, taking advantage of every moment; while others see it as a storm, or perhaps a roller coaster with as many ups as there are downs. People's perspective on life depends on their experiences; which varies by race, culture, and background. Although every person carries around a unique story inside, there is one thing consistent in all of us; suffering. The degree of suffering depends on multiple factors; sometimes it is self-inflicted through terrible decision making, sometimes through the laws of nature and time, and sometimes through unexplained and unpredictable circumstances. James Baldwin's short story, "Sonny's Blues," involves two brothers who experience pain and loss through the trials of life, allowing suffering as an opportunity; to build strength of character, enabling the ability to empathize, and the
             desire to overcome obstacles to achieve one's dreams.
             Disappointment and setbacks in life is inevitable, yet it does not have to be meaningless. Like silver and gold refined by fire, suffering is an instrument that develops mental strength and endurance. In the case of Sonny, his environment is drug-riddled,crime infested, with oppressive poverty, which negatively influences his upbringing. When confronted on issues, "Sonny just moves back, inside himself, where he can't be reached" (196). It is definitely not healthy to allow pain to fester within, but it requires a great deal of mental strength to press on when in desperate need of compassion. Unfortunately, through the years, Sonny succumbs to the pressure and pain, finding himself in a world of Heroin addiction. Alone and incarcerated, Sonny faces the horror of withdrawal symptoms, describing it as "at the
             bottom of something, stinking and sweating and crying and shaking" (208). Every day Sonny will struggle for sobriety, building more endurance as time passes by. The positive of a rec...