![]() ![]() In term of theme and structure, the poem is built on the use of contrast and conceit. The optimistic conclusion “for the caged bird/sings of freedom” signals that slowly the captives will succeed in their campaign to expose the social injustice of racial discriminations and obtain freedom at last. The action of the caged bird is the same with the objective of African American freedom fighters to attain liberty. However, the words “fearful” and “trill” connote a threnody song and desperate cry for freedom. (D) Hope: The repetition of stanza 3 in stanza 5 underscores the yarning and aspiration of the restricted bird to be like the free bird. The different environments of the caged bird and free bird make the readers to empathize with the imprisoned bird in a horrible condition. This is a reversal of fortune in literature. (C) Reversal of Fortune: The portrayal of the free bird in a serene environment before the presentation of the caged bird demonstrates the fact that the caged bird had earlier enjoyed freedom before it was captured. See also Nightfall in Soweto by Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali (Lines, Analysis/Summary) The repetition of stanza three in stanza five enkindles the hope of the caged bird to be freed from shackles of slavery and bondage. The only alternative left for the restricted bird that “his wings are clipped and the feet are tied” is to open his throat to sing and express his agony and distress. In other words, the bird’s song is a protest against slavery, oppression and imprisonment. The sense of imprisonment is vivid and pungent yet the caged animal still manages to open his throat and sing. (B) Protest against Slavery and Imprisonment: The agitations and struggles of a caged bird are trials to rise above the restrictions of unbearable and uncomfortable situations. A capture bird has been cut off from reality and happiness as its wings are clipped and feet are tied. ![]() On the other hand, the poem uses a conceit to compare a caged bird to African American struggling for equality. The free white people care about their comfort and wealth and disregard the needs and cries of repressed and suppressed blacks. White people are the free bird the poem portrays as it “leap on the back of wind” and “naming the sky his own”. The free bird symbolizes freedom as it (the free bird) enjoys the happiness embedded in nature (the breeze, the winds, the sky, the trees and the fat worms as food). (A) Freedom versus Bondage The beautifully written poem exposes the reality of the sad truth about segregation. Discrimination in the United States permeates all aspects of life and extends to all communities of colour. Racial stratification continues to occur in employment, housing, education, lending and government. Blacks are denied privileges in the matters of education, immigration, voting rights, citizenship, land acquisition and criminal procedures. The poet who is a black woman grew up in South during the time of racial discrimination. Caged Bird’ is a symbolic poem exposing the unhealthy relationship between the African American and Whites during the Civil Rights Era. ![]()
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