Overcoming Addiction In Sonny's Blues
Addiction is a condition in which a person is compelled to continue an act even if it interferes with ordinary life responsibilities. Life with addiction can become overwhelming and even stressful because there is such a need for a specific item. Addictions cause harm, abuse, fatality, behavioral problems such as, aggressiveness, loss of self-control and paranoia. In “Sonny’s Blues” we see a different type of addiction than what we see in “A River Runs Through It.” In “Sonny’s Blues” Sonny was addicted to heroine, a drug that triggers a release of dopamine into the brain. In the story “A River Runs Through It” Paul was caught in the wrath of alcohol and gambling. Addiction overtakes Paul’s life in “A River Runs Through It” by excessive drinking …show more content…
In the story “A River Runs Through It” the father was very understanding on the fact that family needs to be there to support and help the addict. During his sermon he stated, “Each one of us here today will at one time in our lives look upon a loved one who is in need and ask the same question, ‘We are willing to help, Lord, but what, if anything, is needed’ It is true that we can seldom help those who are closest to us. Either, we don’t know what part of ourselves to give or, more of then that not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us, but we can still love them. We can love them completely without complete understanding.” He was showing that forgiveness is crucial to help a recovering …show more content…
He/she must feel compelled to completely change their lifestyle and work every day to complete their task. The next thing a recovering addict must do is explore treatment options to help cope with the stress and feelings that may happen. Another way an addict can recover is by reaching out for support from family, friends, or therapist. Lastly, the addict needs to base their new life on a meaningful addiction free life. He/she must always focus on obtaining their goal to ensure they will be addiction free. In the story “A River Runs Through It” Norman was able to understand that overcoming the wrath of addiction is not an easy task. “To him, all good things- trout as well as eternal salvation- came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come
Compare And Contrast Under The Influence By Scott Sanders And Once More To The Lake
1063 Words | 5 PagesThe impact of his father’s addiction still reflects in every walk of his life, every string of his personality and in his life, he won’t let his children go anywhere near alcohol or any other such
Suffering In Sonny's Blues
714 Words | 3 PagesHe is really sensitive to pain and becomes a heroin addict to try and cope with it. However, the narrator is different, he denies his own pain and doesn’t really deal with it in a certain way. He stated, “But there’s no way not to suffer- is there, Sonny?” (Baldwin 74). The narrator has just accepted his suffering as part of
Theme Of Imprisonment In Sonny's Blues
106 Words | 1 PagesImprisonment was a very repetitive and perpetual theme in "Sonny's Blues." Sonny was physically imprisoned when he was incarcerated for distribution of heroin. Being incarcerated was extremely detrimental to Sonny because his desire for freedom. Although a great amount of the imprisonment in the story is abstract. Harlem is referred to as a trap several times, insinuating that those of lower class must struggle to escape.
Addiction Interaction Disorders Paper
457 Words | 2 PagesAn article by Knepper (2013) mentioned that the presence of addiction interaction disorder in a person may promote his or her severity in the addiction cycle. Addiction interaction disorder was introduced by Carnes (2011) which means a person may have multiple addictions at the same time and these addictions combine to interact, reinforce and become part of one another. Looking at individuals who struggle with primary addiction: sexual and secondary addiction: alcohol, the secondary addiction may ritualize the primary addiction which makes a person alternate between the addiction cycles and relapse deeper to their addictive behavior (Carnes, 2011). Four Stages of Addiction According to Butler (2009), below are the four stages of addiction that a person goes through from the first trial of the addictive behavior.
The Use Of Addiction In William Gibson's Neuromancer
1629 Words | 7 PagesPeople use these addictions to escape the world they live in, similarly to the way Case has a dependency on drugs. This type of dependency is usually started because people have the feeling of emptiness and are struggling with this feeling, looking for an easy way to feel better. Case was given the opportunity to escape his addiction, but instead Case states, “Thanks, but I was enjoying that dependency” (45). He enjoyed his dependency on drugs and alcohol because it was a form of an escape from his body, a chance to forget about his body slowly deteriorating. As Case gradually weakens he continues to abuse stimulants to help with the loss of energy.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Opioid Addiction
480 Words | 2 PagesLosing a battle to illness is devastating and utterly heartbreaking. With addiction, it is quite often that people fail and fall into their old habits. Others simply don’t want to be sober. In How to Help Someone with an Opioid Addiction, published by the Chicago Sun Times, the author lists ways for friends and family members to assist in the process of sobriety. But, what if it doesn’t work?
The Role Of Hope In Laura Hillenbrand's Unknown
618 Words | 3 PagesIt becomes a part of them and they feel they require it to survive. Louie often headed down this same path, however he continued to trudge on because he believed “A lifetime of glory is worth a moment of pain” (35). With the same mindset, lives can be turned around and faced down a better path. Addicts must find hope in themselves to overcome their challenge and work towards a brighter
Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Addiction Analysis
1956 Words | 8 PagesHe does a commendable job of avoiding prejudicial tropes of the era and does not demonize the drugs themselves, noting that the drug “was neither diabolical nor divine” (63). By outlining the physical, psychological, and social effects of addiction, Stevenson presents a realistic portrayal of this problem without demonizing the person suffering from addiction, and in couching as a metaphor he successfully avoids exploiting addicts as well. The narrative, especially at the time of its publication, was suspenseful, terrifying, and enthralling, and though these elements may not have aged well as the work seems rather tame by today’s standards, the story of addiction has only increased in
Jesse Trapp Research Paper
808 Words | 4 PagesAddiction had not only consumed Jesse’s life, but it had taken his father’s (163). When Jesse started dealing in his college years, “He was kicked out of school…and barely escaped without jail time” (162). At this point in his life, Jesse, “could not be
Theme Of Addiction In Sonny's Blues
703 Words | 3 PagesSonny 's Blues is about the ongoing pain of brotherhood and how an addiction can quickly transform into wanting to reconcile and reconnect. It 's so easy for individuals to judge others on various decisions that are made throughout their life but why do male get the heavier load. Individuals quickly become judgmental towards others suffering and forget that their journeys are different than there 's. Sonny 's drug addiction just like any addiction come from a place of pain. The representation of Sonny 's addiction in the story is his relationship with the narrator.
Sonny's Blues Theme
887 Words | 4 Pages"Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin is a harrowing tale about a boy's struggle to overcome his drug addiction. The central plot isn't the most relatable topic but Baldwin expands the plot by touching up on different themes that further explicates the story to the point where any reader can find a way to relate to the characters. The story is told from the first point of view of the brother of Sonny. The narrator states his account from the commencement of Sonny's drug use to his fall out. James Baldwin does not focus only on the central theme of drug abuse.
Addiction Brain Disease
835 Words | 4 PagesThe person is now addicted. Continued use of addictive drugs changes the brain on a biological level. This change usually results in relentless and uncontrollable drug use. The addict has now lost all self-control and will power.
Tweak Nic Sheff Methamphetamines Summary
844 Words | 4 PagesIt has twisted and vicious first-hand account about a life of addiction. As David Rothenburg stated “People tend to accept survival of the fittest simplification of evolution and leave it at that. It makes most of us proud and uncomfortable at the same time. (302) Survival of the fittest is a big part of what drug addicts go through on a day to day basis just to survive or get the next fix which leaves them vulnerable and in a dangerous position. This book is not for those with a weak stomach because it is not just a glimpse into an addict's life, it is an addict's life coming to light on every page.
Character Analysis: Sonny Blues
1191 Words | 5 PagesSonny Blues Paul Pearshall once said “Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted”. In this story the conflict of responsibility takes place. A brother, who happens to be the narrator, blames his self for the events that takes place in his life, such as his brother sonny’s crack addiction. The Narrator feels responsible for his brother’s heroin addiction because he believed he shut his brother’s career goals down, felt as though he went against what his mother asked him to do, and because he chose not to believe that the way he treated his brother affected his brother life.
Heroin Addiction In Marisa Crane's Art Therapy
800 Words | 4 PagesWhat would you do if someone whom you love becomes addicted to heroin? Most people would try everything they can to take that person out of addiction. Others, learn to deal with it by making it a permanent part of their life. However, some people find alternative solutions to the problem. Likewise, in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, Sonny is able to replace his heroin addiction with music.
More about Overcoming Addiction In Sonny's Blues
Compare And Contrast Under The Influence By Scott Sanders And Once More To The Lake
1063 Words | 5 PagesSuffering In Sonny's Blues
714 Words | 3 PagesTheme Of Imprisonment In Sonny's Blues
106 Words | 1 PagesAddiction Interaction Disorders Paper
457 Words | 2 PagesThe Use Of Addiction In William Gibson's Neuromancer
1629 Words | 7 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of Opioid Addiction
480 Words | 2 PagesThe Role Of Hope In Laura Hillenbrand's Unknown
618 Words | 3 PagesDr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Addiction Analysis
1956 Words | 8 PagesJesse Trapp Research Paper
808 Words | 4 PagesTheme Of Addiction In Sonny's Blues
703 Words | 3 PagesSonny's Blues Theme
887 Words | 4 PagesAddiction Brain Disease
835 Words | 4 PagesTweak Nic Sheff Methamphetamines Summary
844 Words | 4 PagesCharacter Analysis: Sonny Blues
1191 Words | 5 PagesHeroin Addiction In Marisa Crane's Art Therapy
800 Words | 4 Pages