Link to the two poems referenced in the blog:
The poem “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou outlines the feeling of an individual whose voice is ‘caged’ or restricted by others, isolating them from the rest of society. Individuals are oppressed and marginalized by society due to a fear by the ‘free’ group of losing power over the ‘caged’ group. However, despite their dire circumstances, the oppressed will find ways to have their voices heard and make the most out of their imprisonment. Within the poem, Angelou skillfully presents the idea of retaining one’s voice while being silenced through an allusion comparing the two birds in the poem with society.
Maya Angelou’s experiences dealing with racism and oppression throughout her life were a clear inspiration for the creation of this poem. As an African-American woman, she was subject to racial segregation throughout her life within the United States along with hateful comments and barriers which restrained her opportunities in society. Within the group’s research of the author’s life, it is evident that the racism Ms. Angelou had to endure greatly hindered her self-worth and dignity growing up. Being initially abandoned by her parents along with the racism she endured from community members shaped her childhood in feeling subdued and isolated from the rest of the world.
She found an escape from the pressing issues in her life within the world of literature. Writing provided Angelou a voice for herself in the face of repression and provided the tools to break free from the feelings of confinement and humiliation. Her works provide Angelou with a medium to write and inform others about critical issues they may have not ‘heard’ or experienced before; such as racial and sexual oppression, loss, and love. Creating something to express one’s emotions and views are powerful devices in connecting with others and communicating a message to a wider audience.
Within the poem “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”, despite being trapped, the caged bird still sings in the midst of its imprisonment, demonstrated in the repetition of the lines, “His wings are clipped and his feet are tied / So he opens his throat to sing,” and, “For the caged bird sings of freedom.” The caged bird is physically confined within its cage, however, this limitation on its freedoms does not prevent it from singing its song of despair. Despite never having experienced life outside of its prison, the bird still longs for the freedom that others have. The juxtaposition of the two birds who are very much alike but with vastly distinct lives demonstrates the pointlessness of caging one bird but allowing the other to have its freedom. In the end, are they both not the same creature living opposing lives?
The bird’s song can be heard “on the distant hill,” demonstrating how its cries can be heard by others; however, just like in society, it is often ignored by those who could break the chains. In spite of this, the imprisoned bird holds the resilience to continue fighting and speaking out in the face of adversity; which can be seen as an allusion to many various struggles of oppressed groups throughout history. A connection can be drawn to Angleou’s life; who still created and wrote pieces of literature in order for her voice to be heard despite living in a society full of repression. She wrote this poem to express the experiences of Black Americans and to stress the point that freedom is something everyone deserves.
Ulysses and the Sirens painting by John Williams Waterhouse
Continuing on this discussion, Margaret Atwood’s poem “Siren Song” is another piece of literature which exemplifies the power one’s voice has in influencing others in spite of their confinement. The poem is told from the perspective of a siren expressing her desire to be free from her punishment but also acknowledging the power her voice has in manipulating others. Within Greek mythology, it is believed that the sirens were originally companions of the goddess Persephone and were tasked by her mother, Demeter, to search for Persephone after being kidnapped by the god Hades. The failure of the sirens to find Persephone and prevent her rape results in their punishment and exile onto a barren island; fated to die upon having a mortal pass them and resist the temptations of their songs.
The punishment placed on the sirens forces them to be something they do not wish to be, that being, murderous cannibals isolated from the world. Based on aspects of the mythology of sirens, it could be implied within the poem that they are driven by the curse placed on them to commit the actions they do, such as eating men to survive, despite not genuinely wanting to do it. Evidence of the dissatisfaction of the speaker, who is presumed a siren, is seen in the lines, “I don’t enjoy it here / squatting on this island,” and, “It is a boring song.” They are forced into confinement, with the only ways out being equally destructive; either lure people to their island to eat them, or let the men go but subsequently die of the curse placed on the sirens. This internal conflict prevents the sirens from pursuing their true selves and traps them in a cycle of endless agony.
In spite of their physical and mental confinement, the sirens are not afraid to use their alluring voices for their own personal gain. The siren’s songs are described as, “the song that is irresistible,” driving sailors towards their doom in a false belief they are heading to save a damsel in distress. The manipulation the sirens are able to weave with their voices through compelling men to feel unique makes them vulnerable to unseen dangers. In this scenario, the danger for the sailors are the sirens who, are beautiful on the outside but plot murder on the inside. By using their talented voices, the sirens are able to maximize the situation they are in all while calling out to the world for an end to their imprisonment.
Throughout the years, I have too have felt as if I did not have a direct voice in a situation and chose to express myself in an indirect fashion. As an introvert, speaking up against an individual, especially one who is older or with a ‘higher’ status than me is often nerve-racking. My brain’s anxiety and unease when faced with having to converse with those I fear repercussions from or from strangers can be viewed as a sort of cage, pinning down my courage and thoughts. Also, another barrier which hinders my voice is how I fear what others’ viewpoints of me are. I partially seek the approval of others and I do not want to get into conflict with them if I could avoid it by keeping my silence. As a result, most of the time my feelings and opinions are just left bottled up inside of me, slowly taking their toll on my mental health.
I have begun to slowly open up more in recent months and express myself with less hesitancy, however, the mental cage which has built up around me will take time to fully disintegrate. Another way that I am expressing my voice to the world is through my art. Drawing out what I am feeling or on topics I am passionate about is a way to let out all the thoughts inside of me in an enjoyable fashion and can be used as a sort of visual journal for myself. In addition, art is a universal language that everyone can understand and interpret based on their own experiences; allowing for the artist’s initial message to be shared with a wide range of people.
Left: A painting I did this year on taking my twist at the painting Lament for Icarus by Herbert James Draper. Though not necessarily expressing my deep-dark emotions within this piece, it is a project I quite enjoyed working on and decided to share here.
Citations: