Paul's Case vs. Sonny's Blues

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…the life that he wanted. Overall, both stories reflect how people have their lives influenced from different sources. In "Sonny's Blues" Sonny was influenced by his brother, Harlem, and his love for music. In "Paul's Case" his father, his teachers, Cordelia Street, and his love for the good life influenced Paul. Ultimately, both boys made the right choice in deciding what kind of life they wanted for themselves and limited the influence from other places.