Introduction
In the vast world of literature, a short story’s plot can hold paramount importance because it contributes to conveying the key meaning and themes. It is the spinal cord around which the narrative body thrives and evolves. The stories “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, while divergent in content and style, reflect the deep sense of humanity, tolerance, and understanding that unite people.
While diverging in the specifics of their stories, the authors illustrate the complexity of family dynamics and societal expectations in both literary pieces. Although Kincaid and Baldwin handle traditional plot elements, such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, in different ways, these plot components contribute significantly to both stories’ general artistic effect. Therefore, it is possible to assume that through a particular reflection of these elements, the authors of these stories shape readers’ perceptions and express the main ideas. While subtler elements in “Girl” symbolize the realism of life with the uncertainty of the future, a distinct structure of “Sonny’s Blues” depicts the flow of music and the main characters’ feelings.
Exposition
The exposition of a story usually introduces its major elements, such as characters, settings, and initial conflict. In “Girl,” it is challenging to identify the exposition as the story directly unfolds as a monologue or its part delivered by a mother to her daughter, interspersed with minor interjections from the girl – it resembles a real-life conversation between parents and their children. The conflict, set in the traditional Caribbean culture, emerges subtly from the mother’s constant advice about adhering to societal norms (Mays 710). Thus, the primary conflict is subtly presented as the daughter’s struggle against the societal expectations placed upon her.
Contrastingly, “Sonny’s Blues” introduces the reader to its setting, characters, and initial conflict more straightforwardly. Set in mid-20th-century Harlem, the narrator learns about his brother Sonny’s arrest from a newspaper, establishing the central tension around familial bonds and societal issues (Mays 660). The conflict is represented through the struggle of two brothers to understand each other in a drug-ravaged society. In general, the exposition of two stories is presented in two opposite forms: subtle and straightforward.
Rising Action
The rising action usually presents a series of unique events that lead the characters to the climax of their situation. For example, Kincaid develops the rising action with the help of the incessant string of instructions from the mother. It seems to the reader that each admonition adds a specific layer of complexity and tension to their relationship, reflecting the struggle of a girl growing within the constraints of society. As a result, the mother’s relentless instructions contribute to the escalating tension within the young girl (Mays 710).
The rising action presented in “Sonny’s Blues” is different, as the narrator is shown coping with his younger brother Sonny’s drug addiction. The flashbacks and recollections provide depth to their relationship, highlighting the intensifying tension and conflict (Mays 660-661). The approaches used by Kincaid and Baldwin to present the rising action are dissimilar, producing different effects on readers but still accentuating escalating tension in both stories.
Climax
The climax is usually considered the most important and intriguing part of each story. It may be regarded as a turning point that detects the resolution of a character’s conflict or a peak of their emotions or struggles. However, the climax is reflected in a story’s message and intended artistic effect.
Thus, in “Girl,” the climax is not easily discernible due to the story’s flash fiction nature. Still, it might be the point where the daughter finally interjects with the mother’s monologue, providing a glimpse of her potential rebellion and frustration (Mays 710). The girl’s interruption acts as a narrative explosion, revealing the emotional pressure built by the preceding string of instructions.
On the contrary, in “Sonny’s Blues,” the climax is presented through Sonny’s performance at a jazz club, where his blues become a manifestation of his life’s pain and struggle, bringing the emotional tension to its height (Mays 677-679). It is also important to note that, despite observed differences, in both stories, the climax is used to bring the characters’ emotions to their peak, revealing sufferings and hidden feelings.
Falling Action
The authors’ approaches to using the benefits of representing the falling action in their stories differ significantly. It is important to pay attention to the fact that Kincaid’s “Girl” lacks a traditional falling action, and the mother’s final piece of advice punctuates the one-sided conversation, leaving the girl’s future open to interpretation for readers (Mays 710). In contrast, “Sonny’s Blues” offers a clearer falling action. The narrator’s understanding of his brother’s life through his music indicates a resolution of the initial conflict and a slow return toward normalcy (Mays 678-679). The narrator finally comprehends the therapeutic role of music in his brother’s life.
Resolution
Both stories provide different and rather unexpected resolutions. Thus, “Girl” ends without a clear resolution, leaving readers with an impression of ongoing life rather than a neat conclusion, but the resolution in “Sonny’s Blues” is clear. Baldwin’s story concludes with the narrator’s increased understanding of Sonny, suggesting an implicit promise of acceptance and a better future (Mays 677-679). Still, the absence of a resolution in “Girl” enhances the story’s realism and suggests that life continues beyond the narrative’s confines.
Artistic Effect
One should state that the plot elements in both “Girl” by Kincaid and “Sonny’s Blues” by Baldwin add greatly to the general artistic impact of the stories, shaping the readers’ experience and guiding their understanding of the characters and themes. Thus, the single-sentence narrative by Kincaid appears to lack the typical plot structure, creating an initial artistic effect of stark realism and immediacy (Mays 710). This blurring of traditional plot boundaries heightens the readers’ immersion and emphasizes the oppressive nature of the societal norms the girl is expected to conform to.
On the other hand, the plot in “Sonny’s Blues” follows a more traditional trajectory, enhancing the story’s effect by creating anticipation and satisfying resolution. The climax is a poignant moment in the story that allows readers to experience the characters’ raw emotions. Through a classic plot structure, Baldwin creates a narrative rhythm that mimics the ebb and flow of a blues song, an artistic effect that ties in perfectly with the story’s central theme of music as an emotional outlet.
Conclusion
In “Girl” and “Sonny’s Blues,” the plot elements are not just narrative devices but are intricately linked with the stories’ themes and emotional impact, significantly enhancing their overall artistic effect. Whether through a non-traditional plot structure in “Girl” or the rhythm of a blues song echoed in the narrative arc of “Sonny’s Blues,” both Kincaid and Baldwin masterfully manipulate plot elements to deepen their stories’ resonance.
The power of “Girl” lies in its brevity, ambiguous climax, and resolution, reflecting life’s ongoing and unresolved nature. “Sonny’s Blues,” in turn, follows a more traditional narrative pattern, using music as a powerful tool to punctuate the climax and lead to resolution. In both stories, the plot elements contribute significantly to the overall artistic effect, demonstrating that great stories can provoke profound emotions and thoughts irrespective of their structure.
Works Cited
Baldwin, James. Sonny’s Blues. Vintage International, 1995.
Kincaid, Jamaica. Girl. Vintage International, 1985.
Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. 14th ed., W.W. Norton & Company, 2021.