The speaker openly admits that she is neither cute nor model thin, so it makes the women even more curious as to how she gets the most male attention. The poem starts off with a flock of women intrigued by the speaker’s popularity among male suiters and want to know the secret of her success. And no poem does this theme justice quite like “phenomenal Woman”. Phenomenal WomanĪnother major theme common in many of Angelou’s works is the theme of feminism and women empowerment. Giving trees the feeling of sadness and sorrow. Angelou also uses personification in the line “sighing trees”. It represents the misery and distress of all those African Americans who had to endure cruel and inhuman treatment. The “caged bird” is a metaphor for not only the poet herself, but the entire African American community. Just like the African Americans will continue the fight for hope and a better tomorrow. Affirming that no matter what, the caged bird with continue to sing for freedom. The poem however ends of a positive note. Furthermore, the second and third stanzas depict the sorrowful life of the caged bird using phrases such as “ narrow cage”, “his wings are clipped, his feet are tied”, “the caged bird sings for freedom” to show the desperation of the caged bird and just how much he longs for freedom.
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For example, the first and fourth stanzas brilliantly illustrates the life of the free bird using images such as “free bird leaps on the back of the wind”, “he names the sky as his own”. It uses an array of words to describe the contrasting images of the two birds. The poems tone fluctuates between a positive and joyful feeling, to an aura of sadness and negativity. Whereas the caged bird lives in agony and sorrow knowing that the cage has become his “grave of dreams” The free bird already has so much freedom yet selfishly desires for more. The rage and helplessness of those people who had to endure racial discrimination is brilliantly expressed through the pathetic condition of the caged bird. The caged bird symbolizes the sad, miserable life of the African Americans who where subjected to inhumane cruelty and tyranny. The joyful condition of the first bird is immediately contrasted by the image of a lonely bird trapped in a cage “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied” he is denied freedom of movement The free bird represents the Whites who had all the freedom they wanted yet they still craved more.
The first bird happily flies from one place to another as if it owns the sky.
The freedom and joy experienced by the first bird in its natural, unrestricting habitat are best expressed in the first stanza as the poet beautifully describes how “ 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.” The repetition of the stanza is used in order to put stress on the horrific condition of the caged bird and emphasize the birds longing for freedom.
The poem is divided into 6 stanzas with the third stanza repeated twice. While the free bird living in liberty represents the white, privileged oppressors. The image of the caged bird living a sorrowful life symbolizes the oppressed African Americans living in slavery. The theme of oppression and racial injustice are the most dominant themes in the poem “I know why the caged Bird sings”. With poems such as “ I Knew Why The Caged Bird Sings”, “Phenomenal Woman” and “Still I Rise” Anhelous poems revolve mainly around the oppression of African Americans, as well as gender inequality and rising above the odds. Angelous’ faced many tribulations in her life that inspired her literary works. It was during her period of silence that she discovered her love for literature and the arts. Which left her completely mute for 5 years. She fell victim to sexual abuse at the hands of her mothers’ boyfriend when she was 9 years old. She is best known for her critically acclaimed 1969 memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, which made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. Maya Angelou was simply impossible to define. An author, poet ,civil rights activist, actress and dancer.
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