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The Conscience of the Court and Sonny's Blues
In the early 100s, particularly in the 10s, African-American literature, art, music, dance, and social commentary began to flourish in Harlem, a section of New York City. This African-American cultural movement became known as The New Negro Movement and later as the Harlem Renaissance. More than a literary movement, the Harlem Renaissance exalted the unique culture of African-Americans and redefined African-American expression. African-Americans were encouraged to celebrate their heritage.
The main factors contributing to the development of the Harlem Renaissance were African-American urban migration, trends toward experimentation throughout the country, and the rise of radical African-American intellectuals.
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The Harlem Renaissance transformed African-American identity and history, but it also transformed American culture in general. Never before had so many Americans read the thoughts of African-Americans and embraced the African-American communitys productions, expressions, and style.
Two great African- American writers from that era are Zora Neale Hurston (The Conscience of the Court) and James Baldwin (Sonny's Blues). What these two stories have in common is the nature of the topics that deal with the struggles that African-Americans had to endure. Hurston published her last original story "The Conscience of the Court" in 150. This story deals with the quality of justice. Laura Lee Kimble is the black maid of Mrs. Celestine Claiborne that has been charged with felonious aggravated assault. The man whom she is accused of assaulting is Clement Beasley, a white man that states that he loaned Mrs. Claiborne $600.00.When he came by to pickup the money, Mrs. Claiborne was gone. When he entered the house he was attacked by the maid and almost beat to death. The story begins with the trial and the story rolls from there.
In James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues" he deals with a man trying to find his identity in a very hostile society.The narrator attempts to understand the life of his brother Sonny. Set in post Korean war Harlem, Sonny's Blues places emphasis on the African-American community's struggle economically and socially to become successful. The blues is used in this story in a more emotional manner which recollects the past. It also repairs the relationship between the two brothers who have chosen two different ways of coping with living in the ghetto. The blues also serves as a communicator between the two. The Conscience of the Court never talked about the blues at all. With that said we still are able to feel just where Hurston was coming from. "The concern for
justice beyond race, class, or gender seems to be the center of so very much of Hurston's fiction and her fascination with myth."(Hurston, p.xxi)
In both stories there is a relationship between two big brother/ big sister relationship. During the trial in The Conscience of the Court, Laura Lee described her relationship with Mrs. Claiborne. Her family worked for the Claiborne's and they "gave" Celestine to take care of her and protect when she was just five years old.Celestine grew to rely on Laura Lee for almost everything in life. From that very day Laura Lee felt a sense of loyalty to Celestine, even when she probably shouldn't.There were times when Celestine would ask her to do things the average human would say no to, like the time she wanted Laura Lee and her husband Tom to pick up and move from Georgia to Florida. With little discussion they were on the move. Tom often said "I made out of myself (Laura Lee) a wishbone shining in the sun. Just something for folks to come along and pick up and rub and pull and get their wishes and good luck on. Never looked out for nothing for my ownself."
The narrator in Sonny's Blues took his role of protector and keeper as a burden place upon him by his mother right before her death. His brother Sonny was a street kid with a good heart that tended to stay in trouble. Sonny's brother never really wanted the role in the first place and he never thought that he would have to step up to the plate. The first time he actually fulfills his mothers request is after her funeral. She felt that Sonny needed his big brother to survive, actually they needed each other.They begin discussing what Sonny plans on doing with his life. When Sonny suggests that he wants to be a musician there is a lot of tension displayed. His brother doesn't feel that a musician is a realistic career. Feeling that his authority is being questioned and threatened the narrator is condescending, begging Sonny to "Be serious". All of this stems from his lack of understanding and parental guidance, which Laura Lee seemed to have too much of.
The Conscience of the Court is basically about selflessness, about a woman who loved so much that she almost went to prison because of her devotion to her employer. It is also about an idea of justice and the fact that the court was on the side of a simple black woman, which you don't see too much in that day and age or even in today's society. "Good is being rewarded, even in black skin and those who mean well will be rewarded in the end." (Hurston,p. xxii)"Hurston's short stories demonstrate a sure command of plot development as well as of narrative voice, especially in her use of black vernacular. Her later stories are of interest because they demonstrate Hurston's concern with such issues as black migration into the cities, justice, and cultural diversity." (Campbell, p.4)
Sonny's Blues is the story of ultimate release. Having been able to finally understand and accept one another the brothers finally reach clarity. Each of their personal withdrawings and withholdings of emotion is accented by their communication. "Sonny's Blues" is about how memories and past events can shape a persons future. The reference of the blues in the title reflects the memories the narrator has about Sonny. The memories are of unfortunate events that had occurred in Sonny's childhood. Some may think that the blues alludes to the music that Sonny plays in nightclubs on his piano but I would argue that the music he plays (which is jazz) is an escape from the reality of his life. The jazz music he plays can be compared the heroin the he takes, they both act as a means for a temporary escape from his life. However, even though the story has a very depressing tone, the story ends with the hope of the two brothers working their differences out. This possible reconciliation is alluded to by imagery. The scotch and milk beverage that sat on the top of Sonny's piano, just at the edge where the light diminished from the spotlight (light in the darkness) I believe is a representation of hope.
It would be a mistake to read Hurston's short stories only as a precursor to her novels, or even as glosses on them, interesting as that may be. The short stories stand on their own, revealing Hurston's insight into black life, its pain and its joy, and above all, its triumph. (Campbell, p.5)
WORKS CITED
1)Campbell, Josie P., Student Companion to Zora Neale Hurston, Greenwood Press, Westport CT, 001
)Hurston, Zora Neale, The Complete Stories, Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., New York, Ny, 15
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