Sympathy
The poem "Sympathy", by Paul Laurence Dunbar suggests to the reader a comparison between the lifestyle of the caged bird, and the African American in the nineteenth century. Paul Laurence Dunbar's focus of "Sympathy" is how the African American identifies and relates to the frustrations and pain that a caged bird experiences. Dunbar begins the poem by stating, "I know what the caged bird feels, alas!" which illustrates the comparison of a caged bird to an African American. Dunbar writes a poem with vivid and descriptive language throughout. Dunbar uses this to emphasize his point that someone tied up in bondage and chains figuratively is not fortunate enough to enjoy the finer things in life. Sadly, "springing grass", a flowing river, and budding flowers are things that unoppressed people might take for granted (For a slave or someone struggling to get on their feet post slavery, could not take the time to enjoy life's pleasures in which Dunbar symbolically uses nature.) Dunbar uses language that reaches out, striking a personal chord with the reader. Grass, river, or flowers may be objects we enjoy, but underprivileged people, not necessarily minorities, cannot enjoy because of social or economic circumstances. Underprivile
It seems that Dunbar is metaphorically referring to this in his second stanza. The language chosen for this poem evokes compassion, sympathy, and understanding in the reader. Ironically, the life of the caged bird is the life of the African American. A reader could look at the poem "Sympathy" as a piece of entertainment seeing as he is purely talking about past slave time and think it bears no relevance to present day. " (Lines 18-20) Therefore, singing is a plea for help and freedom for the blacks and the caged bird. Singing was a life jacket for African Americans during slavery as it is for the caged bird. It could be subjective to your frame of reference. Dunbar refers to this singing in the last stanza of "Sympathy" and compares it with why the caged bird sings. He writes of "when the sun is bright on the upward slopes; And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals" and then Dunbar writes "I know what the caged bird feels. In reality, African Americans were denied the right to life, just like the caged bird. Bibliography Dunbar, Paul lawrence, "Sympathy" in Black Voices. Whether it be a job, school, family, or relationship situations, Dunbar could be saying you (the reader) are trapped like the caged bird and you (the reader) have no other option but to expend your energy to get out i. African Americans were not given the chance to flourish and grow. Slaves sang not out of joy, but to drown out their sorrow.
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Acceptance Essays
