Above all, Maya Angelou highlights the need for freedom in "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings".

 

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by the American poet Maya Angelou is predominantly about the deep yearning all living things have for freedom. The poet does this by illustrating the effects of lack of freedom on someone and then contrasting that person’s life with someone who enjoys a life free of restrictions.

In order to convey her point, the poet uses the metaphors of a caged bird and a bird that is free. The poem opens with an image of the free bird enjoying its freedom. In the first two lines, like a rider leaping onto the back of a horse and riding away in a carefree manner, the free bird rides the thermal air currents in the evening sky. In the third and the fourth lines, the bird, like a swimmer effortlessly floating down a river, floats downwards in the sky until the air current ends. There is no worry at all in the mind of bird. He is completely in charge of his actions and his surroundings: He “dips his wings/in the orange sun rays/and dares to claim the sky.” Therefore, his actions have grace born out of happiness. In contrast, the bird whose “wings are clipped”, “feet are tied” and incarcerated in a “narrow cage” cannot engage in any of the activities the free bird does. He “stalks/ down his narrow cage” instead of flying free in the limitless sky. His “rage” at being caged thus forms “bars” which prevent him from seeing the outside world most of the time.  Doubly confined, the caged bird does the only thing he could: “he opens his/ throat to sing.” A song usually coveys happiness, but the caged bird’s song contains only lamentation. He sings “with fearful trill/ of the things unknown” – all the experiences he has never had due to being caged – “but longed for still”.  Others who are far away “on the distant hills” can hear the anguished “tune” on freedom of the caged bird. The term “hills” is quite significant for throughout history many freedom fighters have hidden in hilly forests and trained in order to attack those who restricted freedom.

In contrast, the free bird does not suffer from lack of freedom; his only worry is another wind for him to ride upwards or to float downwards. Immediately nature supplies his need: “the trade winds” blows “soft through the sighing trees”. He does not have to worry about any of his physical needs either, for “the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn”. Thus unencumbered and leading a blessed life “he names the sky his own.” In contrast, the caged bird is restricted in every possible way and at the mercy of its captor for its sustenance as well as its very life.  His is a repetitive kind of life devoid of fresh experiences due to his caged status. This is indicated by the poet by repeating the 3^rd stanza verbatim as the 6^th stanza.

In conclusion, Maya Angelou, illustrates the importance freedom by juxtaposing the experiences of a free bird with those of a caged bird. The free bird may stand for those of us who enjoy freedom in its various facets. The caged bird, on the other hand, stands for all those who are suffering due to lack of freedom. The poem suggests the possibility of the songs of the caged bird stirring up rebellious thoughts in the minds the listeners leading to revolutions. However, one can question whether anyone can be absolutely free as the poem suggests as there are limits to the territory even of a free bird.

Evaluate “I Know Why the cage Birds Sing” in relation to its depiction of social issues in the world.

·        Race

·        Gender

·        Political ideology

·        Religious beliefs