'Sympathy' by Paul Laurence Dunbar
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I know what the caged bird feels.
Ah me, when the sun is bright on the upland slopes,
when the wind blows soft through the springing grass
and the river floats like a sheet of glass,
when the first bird sings and the first bud ops,
and the faint perfume from its chalice steals.
I know what the caged bird feels.
I know why the caged bird beats his wing
till its blood is red on the cruel bars,
for he must fly back to his perch and cling
when he fain would be on the bow aswing.
And the blood still throbs in the old, old scars
and they pulse again with a keener sting.
I know why he beats his wing.
I know why the caged bird sings.
Ah, me, when its wings are bruised and its bosom sore.
It beats its bars and would be free.
It's not a carol of joy or glee,
but a prayer that it sends from its heart's deep core,
a plea that upward to heaven it flings.
I know why the caged bird sings.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sympathy: A Masterpiece of African American Poetry
As a literary critic, there are some works of art that stand out as outstanding, and Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar is one of them. It is a masterpiece of African American poetry that speaks to the soul of every reader. Written in 1899, the poem captures the pain, struggles, and aspirations of the African American community in a time of deep racial segregation and discrimination. In this literary criticism and interpretation of Sympathy, we will explore the themes, symbols, structure, and literary devices used by Dunbar to convey his message.
The Themes of Sympathy
The central theme of Sympathy is the oppression and confinement of the African American community. Dunbar uses the caged bird as a symbol of the African American people who were trapped in a society that denied them their basic human rights. The bird's wings, which are clipped, represent the limitations imposed on the African American community, preventing them from achieving their full potential. The bird's song, which is muted, represents the voicelessness of the African American people, whose opinions and perspectives were often ignored or silenced.
Another important theme in Sympathy is the desire for freedom. The bird's intense longing to escape its cage and fly represents the African American community's desire to break free from the chains of oppression and discrimination. The freedom that the bird seeks is not just physical but also emotional and psychological. It is the freedom to be oneself, to express oneself, and to live life without fear or prejudice.
The theme of hope is also present in Sympathy. Despite the bird's current situation, it still has hope for a better future. This hope is reflected in the bird's singing, which is a form of resistance against the oppressive forces that seek to silence it. The bird's hope for freedom is also reflected in its persistent efforts to escape its cage, even though it knows that it will likely fail.
The Symbols in Sympathy
Dunbar uses several symbols in Sympathy to convey the poem's themes. The most prominent symbol is the caged bird, which represents the African American community's experience of oppression and confinement. The bird's wings, which are clipped, represent the limitations imposed on the African American people, preventing them from achieving their full potential.
The cage itself is also a symbol of the African American community's confinement. The cage's bars represent the physical and emotional barriers that prevent the African American people from living life to the fullest. The bird's singing, which echoes through the bars of the cage, represents the African American people's voice, which was often ignored or silenced by the dominant white culture.
The bird's singing is also a symbol of hope and resistance. Despite its captivity, the bird still sings, which represents the African American people's resilience and determination to overcome their oppression.
The Structure of Sympathy
Sympathy is a three-stanza poem, with each stanza containing eight lines. The poem's structure is consistent, with each line containing eight syllables. The consistent structure of the poem reflects the bird's confinement within its cage, as well as the African American community's confinement within a society that denied them their basic human rights.
The first stanza introduces the poem's central image, the caged bird, and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The second stanza explores the bird's desire for freedom and its persistent efforts to escape its cage. The third stanza concludes the poem by reflecting on the bird's hope for a better future.
The Literary Devices in Sympathy
Dunbar uses several literary devices in Sympathy to convey his message. The most prominent literary device is imagery, which is used to create vivid and powerful mental pictures in the reader's mind. For example, the image of the caged bird creates a powerful symbol of oppression and confinement.
Another literary device used in Sympathy is repetition. The repetition of phrases such as "I know why" and "But a prayer" creates a sense of rhythm and repetition that reinforces the poem's themes and motifs.
The use of metaphor is also prevalent in Sympathy. The bird is a metaphor for the African American people, representing their experience of oppression and confinement. The cage is also a metaphor for the barriers and limitations that prevent the African American people from achieving their full potential.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a masterpiece of African American poetry that speaks to the soul of every reader. Through the use of powerful imagery, symbols, and literary devices, Dunbar conveys the pain, struggles, and aspirations of the African American community in a time of deep racial segregation and discrimination. The poem's central themes of oppression, confinement, and the desire for freedom are still relevant today, making Sympathy a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers over a century after its publication.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Sympathy: A Masterpiece of Paul Laurence Dunbar
Paul Laurence Dunbar was an African American poet, novelist, and playwright who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is known for his works that depict the struggles of African Americans during his time. One of his most famous poems is "Sympathy," which is a powerful and emotional piece that speaks to the human condition.
"Sympathy" is a poem that is rich in metaphor and symbolism. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human experience, and it is a poem that has resonated with readers for over a century. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Dunbar to use language in a way that is both powerful and evocative.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his experience of being trapped in a cage. He describes the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape, and he speaks of the pain and suffering that he feels as a result. The cage is a metaphor for the speaker's life, and it represents the limitations and restrictions that he faces as a result of his race and social status.
The speaker then goes on to describe the beauty of the outside world. He speaks of the sun, the sky, and the birds that fly freely in the air. He longs to be free like the birds, and he yearns to experience the beauty of the world outside of his cage.
The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker describes the pain and suffering that he experiences as a result of being trapped in his cage. He speaks of the loneliness and isolation that he feels, and he describes the way that his spirit is broken by his confinement.
Despite the pain and suffering that he experiences, the speaker never loses hope. He knows that there is a world outside of his cage, and he longs to be a part of it. He speaks of his desire to break free from his cage and to experience the beauty of the world outside.
The poem ends with the speaker describing the way that he uses his imagination to escape from his cage. He speaks of the way that he can imagine himself flying like a bird, and he describes the way that his imagination allows him to experience the freedom that he longs for.
"Sympathy" is a powerful and emotional poem that speaks to the human experience. It is a poem that is rich in metaphor and symbolism, and it is a poem that has resonated with readers for over a century. The poem speaks to the pain and suffering that we all experience at times, and it speaks to the way that we use our imagination to escape from our pain and to find hope in the midst of our struggles.
One of the most powerful aspects of "Sympathy" is the way that it speaks to the experience of African Americans during Dunbar's time. The poem is a powerful commentary on the way that African Americans were trapped by the limitations and restrictions that were placed on them by society. The cage is a metaphor for the way that African Americans were confined by their race and social status, and the pain and suffering that the speaker experiences is a reflection of the pain and suffering that African Americans experienced during this time.
Despite the darkness and pain that is present in "Sympathy," the poem is ultimately a message of hope. The speaker never loses hope, and he never loses sight of the beauty of the world outside of his cage. The poem is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope, and there is always a way to escape from our pain and to find freedom.
In conclusion, "Sympathy" is a masterpiece of Paul Laurence Dunbar. It is a powerful and emotional poem that speaks to the human experience, and it is a poem that has resonated with readers for over a century. The poem is a powerful commentary on the experience of African Americans during Dunbar's time, and it is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. "Sympathy" is a poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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