The author of Sonny's Blues, James Baldwin, references light and darkness numerous times throughout the story. In theory, the two brothers serve as indirect symbols toward the light and darkness that Baldwin constantly alludes to. Throughout the story, Sonny and his older brother have struggled to cooperate on the same terms. Sonny's life was about staying alive and living the way he chose every day, while his brother's was the complete opposite. Sonny's older brother was a married, priority-minded young man who had a plan for every situation. Although the two young men may seem complete opposites, they are actually not as different as one might think. In fact, the two brothers serve as alter egos for each other. Sonny plays the mischievous side of his older brother who never had the chance to experience true culture, while Sonny's older brother plays the role of the practical and educated individual, a side that Sonny had always wanted to capture at back of his mind. Together, the brothers reflect a dual personality in the author's life. Although the story is fictional, the themes and motifs are recreational in the sense that they can apply to anyone's life. The author captures this dual personality by using imagery such as light and darkness throughout the story. Fear lurked in the soul of Sonny's older brother, and it is evident from the beginning of the story when he begins searching for Sonny and encounters the man who was hidden in the shadows. It wasn't so much fear of being afraid; rather, it was about the fear that takes over a person's body when they are anxiously waiting for something. Sonny's brother constantly mentioned his feelings about being in love and having a kind and caring family, but ultimately he was just another resident of the treacherous zoo that s 'called Harlem. The nature of the narrator's community is not easy to grasp at first glance, due to the misdeeds that constantly occur. The narrator feels the need for an escape, a coping mechanism, but his mechanism is all he fears. “For while the story of how we suffer, how we are delighted, and how we can triumph is never new, it must always be heard. There is no other story to tell, this is the only light we have in all this darkness. » (Baldwin 25) The author's captivating theme of contrasting light with darkness always seems to find a way into every page of the narrative, making the narrator feel like his suffering will never cease, even when his light, his life and his family will be gone..