Sonny's Blues, Keyword: Laugh

The word laugh plays a significant role in the short story. The word is used at the beginning of the story when the older brother is describing the laugh of the kids in the playground. He says it was "not the joyous laughter which-God knows why-one associates with children." He is making a big statement here. He is saying that the laugh of these children is not light-hearted, but it contains negativity. This helps set the mood for the story. The mood is one of sadness for the children and is very melancholy. The word laugh is also used when the older brother and Sonny are talking about life after they have been united again. I felt as if this laugh were strained because these brothers weren't talking to one another as family members but as acquaintences. Laugh was also used at the nightclub were Sonny was playing. I thought this was the time when it was used most sincerely. It was used were Sonny felt comfortable with himself and was doing what he wanted to do. It seemed like at this point the story made a full circle.