Explain the symbolism of the poem Caged Bird by Maya Angelou.
Explain the symbolism of the poem Caged Bird by Maya Angelou.
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The image of two kinds of birds is the dominant symbol in the poem. The caged bird is the symbol of misery endowed upon the poet’s race by the oppressors. The free bird is the symbol of the people who live their life freely without any exploitation and limits.
The Caged Bird Summary
The Romantics used birds as a symbol of freedom and poetry itself. Maya Angelou deviates from the norm by expressing the bird’s sorrow and rage.
Caged bird symbolises Black Americans’ plight. Its song references 19th-century slaves singing in Congo Square to remember their heritage. The caged bird’s rage-filled bars represent its blind rage at being caged.
The free bird highlights everything the caged bird lacks. Free birds can do what people think birds like. Free birds can do as they please, while caged birds can only hope for freedom.