Parker Verhoeff

Mr. Salsich

9^th Grade English

06 October 2008

You Have to Lose Some to Gain Some:

An Analysis on Two Short Stories

In both, “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin and “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald; the main characters are very captivating. Sonny (of “Sonny’s Blues) and Dexter (of “Winter Dreams”) are affected by their losses and gains tremendously, throughout their stories. They both endured their share of hardships, and welcomed contentment. They both had completely different experiences but, like in all of life, they have to suffer before they can succeed.

Sonny had to lose a lot to gain a little. He had to lose his brother to gain his music ability. Sonny’s brother didn’t want him to play music at all, especially jazz, the music Sonny enjoyed the most. Sonny lost all contact with his brother for some time, just so he could become a skilled musician. In addition, Sonny went down the “wrong path” before he could realize what the right one was. He became addicted to heroin, and had to break the habit by realizing he wasn’t just hurting himself, he was hurting the ones around him- mostly his older brother. He originally tried heroin because of music and musicians around him, but the heroin was threatening to ruin his piano playing abilities. In turn, when he quit, he got his music and brother back. All of which, means that he had to lose his old life to gain a new one. He had to break that heroin addiction, and he had to lose his old friends that were a bad influence on him. Sonny had done this to gain his brother and his piano back from the depths of his heart, where he hadn’t looked in so long. “Sonny’s Blues” was a story about Sonny’s struggles to gain what might not seem like much, but what meant the world to him.

On the other hand, Dexter Green started out with nothing and gradually worked his way to the top. Dexter gained power in his business, but lost Judy Jones. He became very successful, but lost his one and only true love. Dexter did, indeed lose Judy, and instead had the picture of “Ms. Lud Simms” forever stained on his mind. This wasn’t for the better, but he knew that he was going to have to accept the fact that she had changed after she married. “[H]e loses not only his ability to go on loving her but […] apart of himself, […] his love for Judy and his dream of having her […] by forcing on him a new intolerable image of Judy.” (Burhans 2), he can’t even love her anymore, from the images that were embossed in his mind of “Ms. Lud Simms” instead of Judy Jones. Much like Sonny, Dexter abandoned his old life to obtain a new one. He tried to forget about the past, forget about Judy, so he finally got engaged to a new woman. He tried to look forward to his future in the east with his profitable, new business. He achieved all of this, except for the Judy Jones part. In the end, he attained all of his “Winter Dreams”, except for his single, true love.

“Sonny’s Blues” and “Winter Dreams” are exceptional stories. The main characters are completely different, but they both have to endure suffering and be able to gradually bounce back. They both need to e able to gain a moderately better life than they previously had. It’s the same in all of life; you have to lose some to gain some.

Works Cited

Burhans , Clinton S., Jr.. "Winter Dreams: ‘‘Magnificently Attune to Life’’: The Value of ‘‘Winter Dreams’’." Short Stories for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 15. Detroit: Gale, 1998. eNotes.com. January 2006. 7 October 2008. .

------- = F.A.S.T. Word

------ = Purposeful Repitition