Caged Bird Sings Trauma
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Survivors of great trauma often display psychological, emotional, and physical effects. In children, these effects are often heightened due to their fragile psyche. Angelou demonstrates the effects her trauma has on her by not speaking and viewing herself as worthless. In the first of Maya Angelou's autobiographical pieces, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, she recounts recovering from extreme trauma at a young age. Suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive disorder in the aftermath of trauma, Angelou demonstrates her pain by not speaking and her self perception of worthlessness. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as, “...a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural …show more content…
She avoids conversation because she makes an association between the power of speech and death. This connection is first made the short moments before Angelou is raped. Mr. Freeman, her rapist, warns her that he is, “..gonna kill you [her].” and that he is, “...gonna kill Bailey.” too if she reports the rape (Angelou 77). Her voice, for the first time, is given power and that power can kill. This connection is fortified when she finally uses her voice to tell the truth about her rape and it “kills” Mr.Freeman. His death after her testimony traumatizes the childlike mind of Angelou; she feels she is at fault. She is so disgusted with herself that she believes she “forfeited her place in heaven forever.” and that she has “sold herself to the Devil.” (Angelou 85). Fearful this trauma (the experience of rape and the death of Freeman) might happen again, Angelou does what most children suffering from PTSD do; She avoids the action that caused the trauma: speech. It is her belief that if she, “talked to anyone else that person might die too.” (Angelou
Survivors of great trauma often display psychological, emotional, and physical effects. In children, these effects are often heightened due to their fragile psyche. Angelou demonstrates the effects her trauma has on her by not speaking and viewing herself as worthless. In the first of Maya Angelou's autobiographical pieces, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, she recounts recovering from extreme trauma at a young age. Suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive disorder in the aftermath of trauma, Angelou demonstrates her pain by not speaking and her self perception of worthlessness. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as, “...a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural …show more content…
She avoids conversation because she makes an association between the power of speech and death. This connection is first made the short moments before Angelou is raped. Mr. Freeman, her rapist, warns her that he is, “..gonna kill you [her].” and that he is, “...gonna kill Bailey.” too if she reports the rape (Angelou 77). Her voice, for the first time, is given power and that power can kill. This connection is fortified when she finally uses her voice to tell the truth about her rape and it “kills” Mr.Freeman. His death after her testimony traumatizes the childlike mind of Angelou; she feels she is at fault. She is so disgusted with herself that she believes she “forfeited her place in heaven forever.” and that she has “sold herself to the Devil.” (Angelou 85). Fearful this trauma (the experience of rape and the death of Freeman) might happen again, Angelou does what most children suffering from PTSD do; She avoids the action that caused the trauma: speech. It is her belief that if she, “talked to anyone else that person might die too.” (Angelou