Final answer:
In 'Sonny's Blues,' the narrator offers a cigarette to Sonny's friend. The story's title refers to Sonny's struggles and connection with the genre of blues music. By the end, the narrator attends Sonny's concert, showing his newfound understanding of Sonny's life and the healing power of music.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the opening of "Sonny's Blues", the narrator encounters Sonny's friend after reading about Sonny's arrest in the newspaper. Feeling uncomfortable under the friend's scrutiny, he offers a cigarette to Sonny's friend. This gesture is an attempt to ease the tension between them as they discuss Sonny's situation.
Title Reference and Misrepresentation
The title "Sonny's Blues" refers to the struggles and suffering that Sonny endures throughout his life, particularly in connection with his addiction to heroin and his passion for music, especially jazz. It can also be a play on words, as 'blues' is a musical genre often expressing sadness and hardship, which is relevant to the themes in Sonny's life.
Sonny is often misrepresented by his brother, the narrator, who initially fails to understand Sonny's aspirations to become a musician, and instead, views Sonny's dream with distrust and skepticism. This misrepresentation stems from the narrator's own preconceptions and inability to comprehend the depth of Sonny's experiences and the therapeutic role music plays in his life.
Concert and Realization
The protagonist's attendance at Sonny's concert at the end of the story illustrates his journey towards empathizing with Sonny. By showing up at the concert, he finally begins to grasp the true essence of Sonny's world and the power of music as a means for Sonny to cope with his pain and to communicate with others. It's a moment of connection and understanding between the brothers.