The short story titled Sonny's Blues written by James Baldwin and the play A Doll's House written by Henrik Ibsen have many similarities and differences when it comes to settings , symbols and characters. Although they may seem like two completely different works, they have many more similarities than expected. James Baldwin and Henrik Ibsen use their protagonist to express the idea of ​​breaking free from a restrictive society to achieve true happiness. Being limited by the roles they play in society, the main characters attempt to break free from conventional social perceptions to understand the world of the unknown for themselves. By using the point-by-point method, you will gain a better understanding of the similarities and differences between these two works. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Mid-20th century Harlem, a time and place of racial injustice, poverty, and discrimination, is the chosen setting for the short story Sonny's Blues. At the beginning of the story, Sonny and his family are trapped in the ghetto because of the color of their skin, showing readers that they do not fit together. Due to the circumstances of this time, the protagonist Sonny has a very narrow perspective on the world he lives in. Due to the restrictions that society creates for people of color, Sonny takes the wrong path and gets lost. Sonny's brother explains, "And yet, when he smiled, when we showed our hands, the little brother I had never met looked on from the depths of his private life, like an animal waiting to be brought into the light (189)." Sonny's brother explains that although society has imprisoned him, he too is a prisoner in his private life. Because Sonny has spent the last few years trapped like an animal by society, he must figure out what he must do to turn his life around and free himself from the restrictions created by the world he is a part of. Late nineteenth-century Norway was not a place of racial injustice, but rather of social injustice. Even though this was a time when women were treated unfairly and had little to no say, the play begins with the characters being in harmony because it is Christmas time. This is a moment that symbolizes family, birth and sacrifice. Although this should be a joyful time with family, Nora is trapped by the limitations her husband and society place on her. Without any source of income because women were not allowed to work at that time, Nora faces the obstacles to overcome this tragic moment alone. Music plays an important role in how Sonny alters his perspective on his life. To avoid getting into trouble, Sonny chooses the path of becoming a musician to express himself in a way that society would not be able to place limits on. Sonny’s brother explains Sonny’s passion for music when he says, “Because, although the story of how we suffer, how we are happy, and how we can triumph is never new, it always needs to be heard. There is no other story to tell, it is the only light we have in all this darkness (194).” Sonny turns to music as a sign of redemption, to free himself from all his sins and to experience true happiness, which gives readers a sense of biblical reference. Sonny longs for salvation and to free his life from the community's control. Ibsen uses the symbol of a doll to enhance the readers' perception of the protagonist Nora. Living in a house with a husband and 3 children, Nora is expected not to work because it is considered a man's duty. Her existence as a doll, moved from place to place by her husband, and in.