Dysfunctional Relationships Between Sonny’s Blues and Shiloh

Jeremy Raymond Professor Gazzara ENG 102-109 April 6th, 2013 It Takes Two To Tango What makes a alliance dys comp acental? Is it the modifications i sees in another whether they be physical, emotional, or financial? Is it a change in their own personality that is now changing their views on their family genus Phallus or significant other? Tina B. Tessina defines a impaired relationship as this dysfunctional Relationships are relationships that do not perform their appropriate function that is, they do not emotionally support the participants, foster communication among them, suitably challenge them, or prepare or fortify them for action in the larger world. (Tessina 1) In Sonnys megrims and Shiloh, we see ii variant types of dysfunctional relationships. In Shiloh we see a marriage relationship mingled with Norma jean and Leroy Moffit. In Sonnys discolour, we see a conglutination relationship amidst Sonny and his chum salmon.These relationships are considered dysfunctio nal based on the actions and lack of actions based on those involved. In Masons Shiloh, the relationship between Leroy and Norma Jean was off to a good start. They have been married 16 years and had a kid named Randy. Randy passed away from sudden child expiration syndrome at a very young age. We can reckon through the text that both Norma Jean and Leroy were left traumatized by this. The death of a child can leave a person traumatized and shook-up for the put down of their lives. The couples relationship takes a turn south due to numerous occasions.One reason being Norma Jeans new breedingstyle. Ever since Leroy suffered his accident, She has morphed into the manly figure of the raisehold. Shes starting to jump weights to strengthen herself up. Leroy is now observing changes in Norma Jean he has never seen before. In addition to lifting weights at home, she is now attending a luggage compart handst building class which puzzles Leroy. Through Leroys eyes, she is already a changed woman. Besides for Norma Jeans newfound physical changes in herself, she is withal attending night classes.Norma Jean is in addition developing sleep patterns that concern not only Leroy but also Mabel, her mother. Mabel in a conversation with Leroy states She used to go to bed with the chickens. nowadays you say shes up all hours. (73). The quote shows how both Leroy, her husband whos write out her for the past sixteen years and Mabel, her own mother are apprehensive and confused by her new patterns in life. In addition to changes in Norma Jean, Leroy has undergone changes as well. Since he had his accident, he is unable to drive tractor trailers across the dry land anymore.He is now cooped up inside of the house because of his injury. He has developed a hobby for building crafts and has turned that into a plan with blueprints to build a full scale log cabin. The thought of the cabin disgusts Norma Jean, where in a conversation between Leroy, Norma Jean, and Mabel, Leroy states, Im aiming to build us a log house (70). Norma Jean quickly responds to Leroy with Like heck you are (70). She clearly shows her disapproval with his plan. We as readers can interpret that Leroy is a man stuck in the past and Norma Jean has evolved into a new woman.We see an attempt at resolving the dysfunctional couples relationship when they take a trip to Shiloh. Leroy is trying to hold onto the love of his life while Norma Jean is trying to free herself and move on to bigger and better things in life. She has changed her life, physically and mentally and Leroy has done zip fastener with his life which is why she is leaving him. The attempt at reconciliation fails odiously and Norma Jean and Leroy split paths and go on with their separate lives. In Sonnys Blues we see another dysfunctional relationship, this time between pals. The narrator of the story, is the buddy of Sonny.A schoolteacher in Harlem, he has grown up around men and women who have suffered from al coholism, do drugs addictions and many more problems. Similar to Leroy from Shiloh, he is a family man also reeling from the loss of their youngest child, Grace. The death of their child spurred the brother into writing to his troubled brother Sonny. Sonny was the younger brother of the cardinal who has been through many difficult life lessons throughout his short life so far. Sonny has suffered from a heroin addiction which landed him in a local jail which further weakened the bond between the two brothers.Sonnys brother has lived in Harlem and has seen heroin addicts and victims of alcoholism and has showed no sorrow for them. We see Sonnys brothers intolerance for the men around Harlem who suffer from an addiction when he is talking to an old friend of Sonnys after he leaves the school one day. Look. Dont tell me your sad story, if it was up to me, Id give you one. (294). This shows how Sonnys brother is in unalike regarding people who have suffered from a addiction. While Son ny was in jail, the relationship continued to dwindle. After Sonnys release from prison, their relationship began to heal.In addition to his drug addiction, Sonnys inability to decide on a career in life irritates his brother. Sonnys aspirations spread as far as India, a military excogitate stationed throughout the world , and/or landing a job as a musician in his hometown of Harlem. This inconsistency of Sonny enrages his older brother, who has make a promise with their mother to look after him and make real he grows up to be a proper man. In wrinkle to the relationship between Norma Jean and Leroy, Sonny and his brothers relationship is able to restore after a time of hardship between the two.Sonny is able to receive fully from his heroin addiction and begin to get his life bandaging on track. In addition to cutting his heroin addiction, he makes a life decision regarding his future and chooses to become a musician in Harlem. The theme of dysfunctional relationships is prese nt in both stories with very different endings. In Shiloh, we see a relationship between two married people end abruptly. Leroy, the man stuck in the past and property on to what he knows and Norma Jean, the woman who has changed everything about herself.Opposites do not overstretch and the marriage ceased to continue after their visit to the Shiloh battlefield. In Sonnys Blues, the brotherhood relationship between Sonny and his brother is able to be cured _or_ healed and progress due to the changes Sonny has made with himself. Works Cited Tessina, Tina. What Is A Dysfunctional Relationship? What Is A Dysfunctional Relationship? N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013 Mason, Bobbie Ann. Shiloh. N. p. Flamingo, 1988. Print. Baldwin, James. Sonnys Blues. Mankato, MN Creative Education, 1993. Print.