Why the caged bird sings

The caged bird sings as an act of hope, resistance, and longing for freedom. In Maya Angelou’s memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, the metaphor of the caged bird is drawn from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy”, and it symbolizes:

1. Expression of Pain and Hope

The bird is trapped—its wings clipped, feet tied—yet it sings of freedom. The song becomes a way to cope with suffering and to express a deep, persistent yearning for a better life.

“But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams / his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream…”

2. Voice Amid Oppression

For Maya, the caged bird represents Black Americans—especially Black women—whose voices and lives are restricted by racism, sexism, and trauma. The bird’s song becomes a metaphor for finding and using one’s voice despite oppression.

3. Resilience and Resistance

Even in confinement, the bird does not stay silent. The act of singing is both defiance and survival—a refusal to be broken by circumstances.

So in essence, the caged bird sings not because it is free, but because it must—because the act of singing is a lifeline, a cry for freedom, and a declaration of inner strength.

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