HALF-BLOOD BLUES ESSAY
Josh Bregar
April 4, 2013
LIT-1004
Grant Coleman
Half Blood Blues reveals the story of a group of American and German jazz musicians in Berlin
and Paris prior and during World War 2. In addition, the novel explains the events that steered the
group, in their old age, to reuniting with Hiero in 1992. Within the group of musicians, the story
focuses on two black musicians Sidney Griffiths and Chip. At this point of time in Europe they had a
great deal to offer the cultural community. However, Griffiths and Chip are victimized as enemies and
thus pose risks with the rise of the Nazi regime. Eventually both men are introduced to Hieronymous
Falk, the young black trumpet player being hailed as the new Louis Armstrong and the man responsible
for forming a part of their jazz band. Moreover, when tensions in Germany escalates, the group are
forced to flee to Paris with the assistance of Delilah Brown, a talented jazz singer and associate of
Armstrong's who offers the group the chance to play and record music tracks. The story heavily
revolves around character relationships, and how some relationships crumble due to betrayal and the
burdens of loyalty. The novel strongly advises the readers to be careful where your loyalties are placed,
because where loyalty lies, betrayal often follows.
The novel reveals that Sid and Chip have had a long history together, dating back to the when
they were just early teenagers. Initially, Sid knew Chip was troubled as he reminisced on the days Chip
would essentially rob an elderly woman with schizophrenia by pretending to be her son so he could
steal a few expired chocolate bars she had stowed away under her bed. At various times within the
novel, the author displays a grey area as to where Chip confirms his loyalty towards Sid. The turning
point of their relationship occurs during the festival where Chip reveals how Sid betrayed their longtime friend Hiero, who was captured and taken away by Nazi soldiers also known as “the boots”. Sid
felt deceived when Chip said "I mean, there [Sid] stood, denying his friend, pretending he didn't even
know him, while they dragged the poor boy away" during the festival honouring their friend,
Hieronymous Falk. Sid felt betrayed as he believed that Chip exposed the darkest part of his life for the
public. In the end Chip was just saying what he thought at the festival interview with little regard to
how the words would affect his friendship.“a shame, the trust we all put in [Sid]. But [Sid's] a lesson,
really. A lesson in what jealousy'll doto a man. To betray such a genius musician [Hiero], and a kid at
that, over a woman”(p. 56). Despite the negative reputation Chip has for being a poor friend at times,
he is always by Sids side. Without a doubt, their relationship relies heavily on the forces of loyalty and
betrayal.
Despite the struggle the two men have experienced together, even the worst betrayals displayed
at times cannot break their bond for one another. Sid especially will never be able to endure an end to
his friendship with Chip. Sid understands that Chip is loyal even though he had unintentionally hurt
him. A strong point in which displays the breaking point of the men’s relationship occurs when Chip
expresses “I know I got carried away. But I ain't meant it like he put it together. I swear. Caspars, he
just kept asking and asking. Just kept on me. I said a lot more, all sorts of things that was real nice
about you. They just wasn't in it. He known what he wanted, Sid. And that's what he took,” (p. 77).
Chip who is successful, wealthy, cunning and sly has a moment of breakdown and redemption in front
of Sid after coming to the realization of what he had done to him at the festival. Sid for the first and
only time in the novel perceives the genuine and vulnerable side to Chip. They both have a long rooted
relationship, that has grown almost dysfunctional due to Chip’s lack of ability to truly express himself
to others, and in this case Sid. In addition, he is a bad expressionist of how much he values Sid's
friendship. Chip has the right intentions, but he has lacks the ability to show it. Due to their relationship
of 70-plus years, they only have each other to rely on in their old age.
On the other hand, a character is initially revealed to be the innocence of the story. Which
contrasts with the rest of the novel during a time that is filled with the exact opposite. From the war, to
the grimy bars filled with cheap alcohol, cigarettes and sleazy women. Hiero, the next jazz prodigy, is
represented as the little brother of the jazz group. Sid in particular takes Hiero under his wing. Heiro is
inadequately portrayed as a weak, fragile, and innocent character in a place filled with “check” drinks,
smokey bars, and the filth and stench from the war that rages on in Europe. Sid comes to the realization
that Hiero is not the soft and innocent character that most wrongly believes. Towards the end of the
novel, Sid finally recognizes him for who he is after he felt betrayed by Hiero. This is because he was
not informed that the woman he has quickly fallen in love with, Delilah (Lilah) had left Berlin and was
safe in Paris. The three suffered from a nasty love triangle that was envisioned and created by Sid's
jealousy. Sid felt as if Hiero was trying to come between himself and Lilah, when in reality this was not
the case. Furthermore, because of Sid's narration, there is a sense of bias in his passages and towards
his interpretation of certain events and other characters. A prime example would be during Sids
Jealousy towards. “I wasn't sure if maybe something wrong in all of it, if there been some mistake. But
then I thought back to his shifty looks, his worried frowns, his sudden brotherly protection of me, and I
thought, he a cold kraut after all.” (217). Sid felt betrayed by Hiero due to his actions of not telling Sid
that Lilah was safe in Paris, which led him to believe that she was dead. Hiero’s actions drove Sid to a
boiling point where his jealousy became too intense and his love for Delilah and his desire for her to be
in a relationship was more important than Hiero's life. This jealously drives Sid to withhold important
paperwork from Hiero that could have changed the outcome of his life, including not landing him in a
camp. By the end of the novel, Sid breaks down into tears when he goes to Poland and see's Hiero for
the first time after fifty years. Sidney realized that he was not going to Paris to “finally reunite with a
friend. But to lose one,” (p. 283). Sid believed that Hiero would never forgive him once he realizes that
because of him, he was the reason that Hiero to spending a part of his life in a Nazi camp by hiding his
citizenship papers back in Berlin, effectively preventing Hiero from being able to leave to Paris with
the rest of them. However, like Sidney, Hiero forgave him as Sid had done for Chip after the festival.
As a result, the novel displays the dynamics in the power of betrayal over loyalty after time has passed.
In the novel, Delilah is a consistent figure who stays loyal and does not betray any of her
friends. Delilah is the antithesis of Sid, Hiero, and Chip as she is a strong support figure. In addition to
providing the men a safe haven in Berlin during the war, she also gives them counterfeit citizenship
papers for Berlin and Paris to stay under the boots' radar (p. 187). Most importantly, she warned them
by letter before fleeing out to Paris of the Germans that were to advance in the upcoming days, “the
government left Paris last night. We are going to the gate d'Austerlitz to secure passage on a train. Meet
us there when you get this. Don't delay,” (p. 193). Furthermore, Lilah was also the crucial link between
the band meeting the great Louis Armstrong in order to play and record songs with the greatest jazz
musician during the time. This made Sid, Chip and mostly Hiero famous in the upcoming years as a
few of the greatest jazz historians. Delilah proves to be a contrast to the betrayal displayed by the three
men in the novel.
In closing, the novel Half Blood Blues most definitely prevails in its theme of loyalty vs.
betrayal. The novel demonstrates that the element of betrayal largely contributes towards the dynamic
of Sid and Chip’s relationship. In addition, betrayal reveals that both Sid and Chip are capable of
redemption. Moreover, the novel displays how the indistinguishable character Hiero is able to deceive
Sid thus bringing to surface his true calibre. In addition, the aspect of betrayal also displays Sid ability
to feel guilt towards his actions. Lastly, the author includes Delilah to provide an element as a true loyal
character which allows a rich storyline filled with contrasting values and personalities. Despite
Delilah’s addition to the story, the author maintains the juxtaposition between loyalty and betrayal
within character relations. As a result, the novel expresses a clear message of the devastation of
betrayal from close friendships, but also the power of what true friendship can overcome.
References
Edugyan, E. (2011). Half-blood blues. London: Serpents Tail.