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Poetry Analysis

The state of all beings, including humans, in nature is free. When individuals join societies they often enter a social contract that robs them of unlimited freedom but offers them certain protections in return. In many cases, the protection of the right to freedom is a hallmark of modern democratic societies. However, as we see in AngelouÆs I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and RichÆs Aunt JenniferÆs Tigers, women and minorities are often denied the same protection of freedom as the typically white males who make the law.

In I Know Why The Cages Bird Sings, through concrete and figurative imagery Angelou reinforces the theme that unnatural limitations on freedom rob the individual of their unique potentiality. Angelou does so by contrasting the spirit of the bird free in nature compared to the bird that is caged, much as black women in America were caged in by prejudice and racism. The free birdÆs only concern is waiting for another ôbreezeö so it can experience ôwinds softö, dine on ôfat wormsö, enjoy the ôdawn-bright lawnö and name ôthe sky his ownö (Angelou 2003, 1). In contrast, this naturally free-being bird, unlimited in its expression of joy is compared to a bird imprisoned in a cage. This caged birdÆs existence is a harsh one compared to the naturally free bird and Angelou uses harsh imagery to convey the dehumanizing, limiting and harsh impact of racism and prejudice û another artificial imprisonment. For example, the caged bird exists in a ônarrow cageö, can barely see through ôbars of rageö, and must express himself via his ôthroat to singö since his ôwings are clipped and his feet are tiedö (Angelou 2003, 1). Whereas the free bird experiences freedom, the caged bird can only ôfearfully trillö for it (Angelou 2003, 1). The caged bird has been robbed of its natural freedom and is now trapped in an existence that robs him of all expression but a cry for what has been stolen. T

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Poetry Analysis. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 02:14, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1711086.html