Comparing Sympathy And Paul Laurence Dunbar's Caged Bird

There are many rights that one can attain once they reach a certain age; however, the right to freedom is not one of them. In the poems, “Sympathy,” and “Caged Bird,” by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Maya Angelou, both authors used the caged bird as a central symbol in their writing. This central symbol of the bird is significant and reveals the theme “when someone loses the unalienable right to freedom, life lose its value,” because of its supposed representation of freedom, it becomes a trophy, and its song has a double meaning. To begin with, it is common literary knowledge that a bird is a symbol of freedom; but when it is caged it symbolizes something confined that is meant to be unimpeded. For example, Angelou describes the life of a free

Here, the free bird is described as having the liberty to do as it pleases. The worms in these lines exemplify prosperity that one can obtain when unhampered and given the opportunity. Also, all these events and qualities give the free bird confidence. The author wants to express the idea that this is how the bird is meant to live because its wings should give them the ability to defy typical laws of nature. Still, Angelou then uses juxtaposition to reveal how distinct the life of a caged and free bird are. The, “caged bird stands on the grave of dreams/ his shadow starts on a nightmare scream,” (26-27). Unlike the free bird, the caged bird is not given the opportunity to fulfill its dreams. By associating unfulfilled dreams with feeling

Angelou once again explains this concept by saying, “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied/so he opens his throat to sing,” (28-29). The only thing a bird can do when it is physically and emotionally fettered is sing. This song is meant to be a cry, but is often believed to be mimicking the joyous sound from when it was free. Additionally, Dunbar explains what the song truly means. “It is not a carol of joy or glee/But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core/But a plea that upward to Heaven he flings,” (18-20). The bird is an important symbol here because it is considered to be a boundless spirit. Nevertheless, the fact that it has been repressed to such a point that all it can do is sing proves how desperate its situation is. Ultimately, the caged bird cries for emancipation, but is ignored. All-in-all, Angelou and Dunbar use the symbol of the bird to show that when stripped of its freedom, for whatever reason, it becomes despondent. They use this symbol because it is naturally a free creature, oppressed for a feeling of authority, and its song represents one’s last hopes of liberation. Nevertheless, this bird represents people, and its cage can represent whatever is oppressing someone. People are meant to be free, but often times find themselves