In "Sonny's Blues" by Baldwin, the narrator, who is Sonny's brother, begins to see and outward change in Sonny. As Sonny plays the piano, he begins to play more lively and brings life to his audience. As a result, Sonny has begun to release his burdens that he has kept hidden. The narrator also says, "Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did," (1928). Music can be used as a release from burdens at it does in this story. The narrator senses freedom all around the room, and Sonny experiences freedom from his burdens.
Leo, in "The Magic Barrel" by Malamud, also experiences a change in his life. He doesn't think he is capable of finding a mate on his own, so he decides to go to a marriage broker named Salzman. However, Leo just happens to see a snapshot of a woman that is in a discarded pile. He likes her and wants to meet her, but Salzman tells him to forget about her because she isn't good enough for him.
Leo goes home and tries to forget about her, but he can't. He wants her so much that he decides to "convert her to goodness, himself to God. The idea alternately nauseated and exalted him," (1991). Even though he isn't fond of the idea, he is willing to turn to God, so he can have the woman he likes.
Leo finds out he is capable of finding a woman and doing what he can to have her. He is persistent in tracking her down because he wants her so much. He is also willing to change his life style in order to have the mate he desires.
The narrator in "Cathedral" also changes as a result of his encounter with a blind man. At first the narrator doesn't know how to respond to a blind man, but as they spend time together he begins to change. They start talking about cathedrals. He tells the blind man that "cathedrals don't mean anything special to me. Nothing. Cathedrals. They're something to look at on late-night TV. That's all they are," (2241). He looks on the outward appearance of a building or scenery. This is why he has a difficult time relating to the blind man. He keeps wanting to talk about how things look.
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