An interpretation of Sympathy By Paul Dunbar
I KNOW what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun i
s bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river f
lows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume
from its chalice steals -- I know what the caged bird feels!
The cage bird is not allowed to use i
ts ability to fly. Just like the African American was not allowed to explore and be free, instead t
hey were enslaved by the master. These slaves used the sun as a glitter of hope and a symbol of fre
edom. While the master took the spring glasses for granted the slaves were not able to enjoy those
thing because, like the caged bird, they were imprisoned by their social status." Like a stream of
glass" this gives you a picture of a calm and serene body of water flowing peacefully something that
the slaves longed for. Dunbar repeats "I know what the caged bird feels" throughout the whole po
em giving you the impression that he is talking about himself.
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 fa
in would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again
with a keener sting -- I know why he beats his wing!
As the bird beats its wings, trying to get ou
t of its cage the slave also is trying to find freedom. They both know that they have been unjustly
imprisoned, as they fight for freedom their blood is soak into the ground. The bird loose its wing
while the slaves loose their life's in the name of freedom. The cruel bar could represent the peopl
e that held them back and kept them enslaved. They stand between the slave and his freedom; the bir
d and his blue sky. With no where to go the bird returns to its perch, while the slaves turn to God
for security. The pain here is a physical and emotional one. That has left old scars that can onl
y be healed with freedom.
I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his
bosom sore,-- When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a p
rayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings -- I kno
w why the caged bird sings!
When a bird sings we think it's happy, but is a caged bird singing or i
t is crying for its freedom. The slaves also sang song of happiness, but the underline meaning was
not so happy, but song of freedom and insults to the masters. A bird's bosom is it chest area, wher
e the heart is. A deeper meaning of bosom is the soul "His bosom sore" is the bird soul being torme
nted as was the slaves. "Beats his bar" is the fight for freedom. "Carol of joy or glee" Represents
songs of happiness or does it? Dunbar tries to show us the absence of joy or glee. Think about it
why would a bird or slave sing of joy or glee while imprisoned. "Plea" the bird and slaves not onl
y plea for freedom they fight for it and will continue until it's obtained. Dunbar repeats "I know
why the bird sings" because he really Knows.
interpretation sympathy paul dunbar know what caged bi
rd feels alas when bright upland slopes when wind stirs soft through springing grass river flows lik
e stream glass when first bird sings first opes faint perfume from chalice steals know what caged bi
rd feels cage allowed ability just like african american allowed explore free instead they were ensl
aved master these slaves used glitter hope symbol freedom while master took spring glasses granted s
laves were able enjoy those thing because like caged they were imprisoned their social status stream
glass this gives picture calm serene body water flowing peacefully something that slaves longed dun
bar repeats know what feels throughout whole poem giving impression that talking about himself beats
wing till blood cruel bars must back perch cling fain would bough swing pain still throbs scars the
y pulse again with keener sting beats wing beats wings trying cage slave also trying find freedom bo
th that have been unjustly imprisoned fight freedom their blood soak into ground loose wing while lo
ose their life name cruel could represent people held them back kept them enslaved stand between sla
ve blue with where returns perch while turn security pain here physical emotional left scars only he
aled with sings bruised bosom sore bars would free carol glee prayer sends from heart deep core plea
upward heaven flings sings think happy singing crying also sang song happiness underline meaning ha
ppy song insults masters bosom chest area where heart deeper meaning bosom soul sore soul being torm
ented fight carol glee represents songs happiness does dunbar tries show absence glee think about wo
uld slave sing imprisoned plea only plea fight will continue until obtained repeats because really k
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