Caged Bird

Critical essay on a poem

Caged Bird

By Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps

On the back of the wind   

And floats downstream   

Till the current ends

And dips his wing

In the orange sun rays

And dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

Down his narrow cage

Can seldom see through

His bars of rage

His wings are clipped and   

His feet are tied

So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

With a fearful trill   

Of things unknown   

But longed for still   

And his tune is heard   

On the distant hill   

For the caged bird   

Sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

And the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

And the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

And he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   

His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied   

So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

With a fearful trill   

Of things unknown   

But longed for still   

And his tune is heard   

On the distant hill   

For the caged bird   

Sings of freedom.

                              Maya Angelou’s poem ‘Caged Bird’ is generally interpreted as a segregation of various races. The issues that have existed between black and white for hundreds of years, the lives of African- American’s which are characterized by discrimination and limited opportunities and the many in equities and injustices which were forced on the black is  a tradition of the whites. They were forced to be obedient and submissive. They were living in a prejudiced society and the way to earn respect was for the blacks to have a voice and stand up for their rights. Divisions and inequities between blacks and whites have existed since ancient times.  It's an enigma regarding how heritage has incurred blacks with slavery. In her poem, Maya has encouraged her race to raise voice for them. This poem is taken as an extended metaphor. Although the races are not mentioned clearly in it, but it is clear that she is trying to show how the freedoms given to whites are completely contrasting to those given to the blacks.

                               In the first stanza, the speaker illustrates how the free bird, or white race, is undisturbed. It also shows how the white race has the boldness to own and govern society unjustly. The speaker concludes'' (the free bird) dares to claim the sky". This shows how whites demonstrated inequity and unfairness toward blacks. Unfortunately, this unacceptable conduct was condoned in society. Blackness of skin acts as a barrier for the black race; it prevents freedom for a person.  The freedom and feelings of a white person's existence are unknown to one who is black. 

                              In the second stanza, the actions of the caged bird are described, or African-Americans. The speaker says," But a caged bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage". This is an illustration of the anger and aggravation blacks were forced to endure. They were mistreated because they were different and thought of as inferior. In line 1 and 2, the speaker says,” The free bird leaps on the back of the wind…,” The speaker is conveying that whites believed they were superior over other races due to the prejudiced traditions in a segregated America. 

              

                               In the end, African-Americans knew it was necessary to stand up for their long-deserved freedom. A pattern of rhyme is also established to give this stanza an upbeat rhythm to emphasize the enraged attitude of the blacks. The speaker says, “His wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing". This highlights the disadvantages African-American's had to endure due to the color of their skin and also shows that blacks longed for equality so they stood up for their freedom. In stanza three, the speaker says, "The free bird thinks of another breeze... And the fat worms waiting on the dawn bright lawn". The breeze and fat worms are metaphors for all the hopes and opportunities that the whites had that the black’s did not have. The speaker also uses auditory devices of alliteration and assonance to give the poem a continuous flow.

                           This poem is a great metaphor that shows the attitudes African-American's experiences during separation. During this biased era, blacks were in a state of subjugation due to the stolen opportunities and the hatred they regularly faced. The African-American race knew it was necessary to have a voice and finally sing for their freedom.

                            In the Pakistani context the poem can also be interpreted as segregation of boys and girls and the difference of rights that are given to them. It is a very common fact that boys are given certain privileges over girls in our society. Girls are restricted to many things which the boys have easy access to. For instance, girls are not allowed to go out alone where as boys have the freedoms of going out alone according to their own will.

If we take the following metaphors:

·         Caged bird:                                                             the girls having the lack of freedom.

·         Free bird:                                                                 the boys keep hold of freedom.

·         Wind:                                                                      norms of society, boy’s superior to

                                                                                 girls.

·         Breeze:                                                                     hope, opportunity

·         Fat worms:                                                              opportunity

·         "Wings are clipped/ and his feet are tied":             disadvantages faced by girls and

                                                                                restrictions on them.

                              Through norms of society and history, boys have been given hopes and spirit; girls are servile and bound by tradition. The norms of the society have caused the death of girl’s dreams and hope. Opportunities infinitely exist for boys, whereas the same is false for girls. Girls are bound to the norms of the society and are caged with in certain rules. The boys are peaceful and have the boldness to own the unjust treatment of society toward girls. They show in bias and injustice towards girls. Regrettably, this undesirable conduct or treatment is overlooked in society. The freedom enjoyed by boys is not given to girls. Boys believe they are superior over girls due to the freedom and privileges given to them.

                               The metaphor of caged bird is very creatively used. It can also be interpreted in any other context and even the reader can relate it to his own situation in life.

Works cited

Unknown. "Caged Bird by  Maya  Angelou  : The Poetry Foundation." Poetryfoundation.org, 2013. Web. 26 Dec 2013. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178948>.

Unknown. "Caged Bird by Maya Angelou: Interpretive Essay - swanierenglish." Sites.google.com, 2013. Web. 26 Dec 2013. <https://sites.google.com/site/swanierenglish/caged-bird-by-maya-angelou>.

Bibliography

Unknown. "Maya Angelou." Murphweb.tripod.com, 2013. Web. 26 Dec 2013. <http://murphweb.tripod.com/interp.html>.

Schuette, Jeff. "Maya Angelou - Biography." Mayaangelou.com, 2013. Web. 27 Dec 2013. <http://mayaangelou.com/bio/>.

Unknown. "SparkNotes: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Sparknotes.com, 2013. Web. 27 Dec 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/cagedbird/>.

Unknown. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Wikipedia, 2013. Web. 27 Dec 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Know_Why_the_Caged_Bird_Sings>.

Unknown. "SparkNotes: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Themes, Motifs & Symbols." Sparknotes.com, 2013. Web. 27 Dec 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/cagedbird/themes.html>.