"Sympathy" is a poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar that explores the theme of longing for freedom and understanding. The poem is narrated by a caged bird, who looks out at the world through the bars of its prison and longs for the freedom that it sees in the birds outside. The bird compares itself to the free birds, saying "I know why I am caged, I know not why they are free." This line suggests that the bird feels a deep sense of injustice and confusion about why it has been confined while others are able to fly freely.
Throughout the poem, the caged bird expresses its deep desire for freedom and the ability to experience the beauty of the world. It longs to join the other birds in their songs and to experience the freedom of flight. The bird's longing is palpable, and it speaks to the universal desire for freedom and autonomy.
The theme of longing for understanding is also present in the poem. The caged bird wonders why it has been confined, and it seems to be searching for an explanation or a reason for its imprisonment. This search for understanding reflects the human desire to make sense of the world and to find meaning in our experiences.
In addition to these themes, "Sympathy" also touches on the theme of isolation. The caged bird is physically isolated from the other birds, and this isolation is palpable in the poem. The bird's loneliness and isolation are made all the more poignant by the contrast with the freedom and joy of the other birds.
Overall, "Sympathy" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores themes of longing for freedom, searching for understanding, and isolation. Through the voice of a caged bird, Paul Laurence Dunbar captures the universal human desire for autonomy and the need to find meaning in our experiences.
What Is the Theme of the Poem Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar?
The analysis of the devices used in the poem is as follows. He cannot escape the iron cage of unfreedom through his own efforts, an indication of just how hard it was for Black Americans at the turn of the twentieth century to overcome discrimination and oppression. He can empathize with how the bird feels; just as the bird looks with longing at the beautiful world just beyond the bars that cage him in, so the poet, as a black man in America in the early 1900s, feels about his situation as a victim of a racism and discrimination in his society. Dunbar makes certain word choices in his poem to stress the pain that the caged bird feels. The theme differs from the main idea because the main idea describes what the text is mainly about. The responses showed great depth and feelings.
The Different Perspectives on the Caged Bird's Thoughts in the Poems Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
In my opinion the author felt trapped at this job, because of his race and the time period. Some blacks have moved on from it, but some continue to use slavery as an excuse to not progress in life. It should be noted that Revell draws the most attention to the middle of the poem. Maya Angelou: A Critical Companion. As Angelou explains, the bird fights its imprisonment even with fear, but rises above with the stance of freedom. These happenings include death, misunderstandings, and the ability to finally deal with hidden suffering.
What is the theme of Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar?
The bird is hopeful to escape the brutality that is holding it. The poems major themes are death and sorrow and the nature of the Sympathy And The Caged Bird Poem Analysis 443 Words 2 Pages In the two poems Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Caged Bird by Maya Angelou, gave a comparison between the life of a caged bird and the life of a slave. There is a possibility that a supreme intelligent being created these things. Similarly, there is a sense in which the author embarks on imagery to establish the theme of social discrimination. After graduating from high school, he was forced to get a job as an elevator operator which allowed him spare time for writing. While human pain, tribulation, and difficulty are evident within each poem, a common overlying theme exists.
