I Know WhyThe Caged Bird Sings Essay Paper Example For Students

I Know WhyThe Caged Bird Sings Essay Paper I know Why the Caged Bird Sings 1) Setting I: Stamps, Arkansas, in a black ghetto neighborhood where Maya lives with her grandmother and paralyzed uncle St. Louis, San Francisco, a junkyard, and Southern California; A brief incident takes place across the border in Mexico starting from 1930s to mid-late 1900s, she was born in 1928 2) Character I 1: Primary Characters Maya a black girl with nappy black hair, broad feet, and a space between her teeth; the narrator of the book; the novels based on her growing up. Bailey Johnson (Junior) Mayas older brother and a major person her life; he gives her advice, hes good looking, intelligent, and mischievous; he loves his mother. Momma Henderson Mayas grandmother, she owns a black general store in Stamps; Maya and Bailey come to live with her when their parents get a divorce; Momma is the only black female entrepreneur in town. She is devoted to her religion. Vivian Bibbie Baxter Maya and Baileys mother; a beautiful, smart, and willful lady; She is a trained nurse, but also makes a lot of money playing poker games in gambling parlors. Daddy Bailey Maya and Baileys father; he is a vain, selfish, and conceited man, who is not a good father. Chris Corey pg. 2 3) Character I 2: Secondary Characters Grandmother Baxter the childrens nearly white grandmother; she is a precinct leader Grandfather Baxter dies a few years after Maya returns to Stamps Uncle Willie Maya and Baileys uncle; he lives with Momma Henderson; paralyzed since he was three Dolores Stockland Daddy Baileys girlfriend; she is jealous of Maya and attacks her Mrs. Bertha Flowers Mommas sophisticated friend who helps Maya find confidence through books Mr. Freeman a past boyfriend of Vivians; he rapes Maya and is killed by her uncles Tom, Tutti, Ira Billy Vivians brothers; they are tough; they beat Freeman to death after he rapes Maya Daddy Clidell married to Vivian; poorly educated property owner; Mayas closest father head figure Viola Cullinan Mayas first employer, a barren white woman; her husband has two children with a black mistress ; Maya hates her because she changes her name just for her convenience Joyce seduces Bailey and breaks his heart by running away with a railway porter Chris Corey pg. Tommy Valdon Mayas first admirer Louise Kendricks Mayas first real friend Bootsie -leader of the junkyard community which Maya is a part of after running away 4) Conflict I 1 Human vs. Society As a child, Maya had to live with her grandmother because of her parents divorce. After a long period of not hearing from her parents she neglects the fact that they even live. When they come back in her life, she doesnt get along with them. Because of this she never really feels accepted by anyone. 5) Conflict I 2 Human vs. Herself As Maya grew in age she suffered a lot of emotional damage due to her opposing views and unfortunate events while she was growing up. She was abandoned by her parents, raped at the age of eight by her mothers boyfriend, living during a war, and being a black girl. 6) Plot I 1 Maya and Bailey are sent to live with their grandmother Annie Henderson and her son Willie in Stamps, Arkansas. Chris Corey pg. 4 Momma Henderson sold lunches to the cotton laborers before they began their grueling work to be underpaid. People who stereotyped the cotton pickers as being happy and cheerful always enraged Maya. While black men had a very difficult time supporting themselves, Willie was paralyzed He tired to hide his handicap in front of two strangers, when Maya saw this it made her feel closer to him. The white former sheriff Mr. Stewart came to warn Momma that some white people were enraged because a black man messed with a white woman. Momma hid Willie in the potato and onion bins because they might take their anger out on him, luckily that was not the case. While Maya was insulted for her appearance, Bailey was always complimented. Bailey always protected her from the offending person. Three poor white children mocked came into Mommas store and mocked her stance and gestures. One of the older girls did a handstand and showed that she wore no underwear. Momma did nothing but hum. Maya realized that she had done a good thing. Reverend Howard Thomas visits Stamps every three months and stays with Momma on Saturdays and delivers a sermon on Sunday. Maya and Bailey dont like him because he eats better than them at dinner. Chris Corey pg. Sister Monroe got overexcited in church and ruined Reverend Taylors suit while shouting Preach it. Maya and Bailey found it hilarious until Willie gave them a whipping. On Christmas, Maya and Baileys parents sent them presents. The children went outside to cry, wondering why they were sent away. Momma thought they were being ungrateful. Later they destroyed the blond, blue- eye China doll their mother sent her. Big Bailey, the childrens father visited Stamps. Maya was surprised how big he was, how handsome he was, him owning a car, and how he spoke like a white. A Textual Analysis Of President Obama 's Address EssayMaya did exceptional in school and was one of the only three black students in the school. She achieved a scholarship to the California Labor School and studied the arts. Maya spent their summer with Big Bailey and Dolores whom Maya did not have any connection with, Big Bailey thought it was sort of funny. Big Bailey took Maya on one of his shopping trips. His jokes and personality made Maya start to enjoy herself with him, but she was scared when she couldnt Chris Corey pg. 9 find him. Maya had to drive them home because he was completely drunk. He wasnt angry at all about the accident. Dolores and Big Bailey argued about Maya coming between them. Maya tried to calm her down by saying that she didnt mean to come between them, but when Dolores insulted Vivian they started to fight. Angelou noticed that she was bleeding, so she locked herself in her fathers car. Big Bailey took her to his friends after she fought Dolores to get her wounds bandaged and to spend the night. Maya left his friends even though Big Bailey said he would return in the evening. She went to a junkyard and found a group of black, white, and Mexican homeless people. Bootsie let her stay with them if she followed the rules. Boys could not sleep with girls, no stealing, and they all shared what theyd earn. Maya stayed for a month then called her mom to pay for her to get back to San Francisco. This event was important because she learned how to be tolerant. Bailey and Vivian have heated tension because Baileys been wearing more flashy clothing and is with a white prostitute. Eventually Bailey moves out because of Vivians rules and disliking to his change. They make up shortly and Vivian gets him a job in the South Pacific. Maya takes off from school and successfully became the first black person to work on the San Francisco streetcars. At school, Maya writes about teen hood compared to adulthood and how black women have to deal with both prejudices: being black and being a woman. Chris Corey pg. 10 Maya believed she was turning into a lesbian because of her prepubesant features and the well of loneliness. Vivian explained that the changes were normal growth in her body. Maya looked insistently for a boyfriend to confirm that she was not a lesbian. After a little trouble finding one, she spent an unfulfilling experience with a near by man and discovered weeks later that she was pregnant. Bailey told Maya to keep it a secret because Vivian was against abortions and so she wouldnt quit school. After she graduated, she revealed her pregnancy. Vivian and Daddy Clidell were both understanding and accepting. Maya delivered her son and was fascinated in his fragile body. She stayed awake all night when she was sleeping with her son. Vivian told her that if she was for the right thing, she didnt have to think doing it, you just do it without thinking. ) Theme I The primary theme of I Know why the Caged Bird Sings is that the world and growing up can be complicated and harsh. Maya has been faced with numerous unfortunate events and wasnt born with a silver spoon either. She had the misfortune of being black in a time in which they were still constantly persecuted and a woman in a time in which they werent entirely respected. She was a very young child when she was forced to live with her grandmother and uncle because of her parents divorce and the area was filled with prejudice. Then she goes to live with her mother in California where she is raped by her mothers boyfriend. When she goes to stay with her father, his girlfriend Dolores stabs her with scissors and Maya ends up trying to survive in a Chris Corey pg. 11 junkyard for a month. Things pick up for Maya after she learned how to be tolerant and independent after the junkyard, she proved she could overcome the struggles of life by becoming the first black streetcar conductor in San Francisco and graduating high school. She finally feels connected after she gives birth to her son. Only due to her determination and what she had learned from past experiences did she overcome her struggles.