Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird

Maya Angelou was a black child living with her grandmother in the American south in the 1930’s. In her autobiography “I know why the caged bird sings” she takes the reader on a journey throughout her childhood, growing up where racism towards the black people was rife.
The opening lines introduce a crucial theme heavily laced with rhythm, dialect, alliteration and imagery. It shows Maya’s natural gift on her use of language and her use of upbeat, gentle self-deprecation that she uses when she writes. (cited in Robinson, M. 1992, pg. 19)
The opening paragraph she say’s
“If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens her throat”
It is an unnecessary insult”
“My pretty Black brother was my Kingdom Come” (1984:23)
This is Maya using a metaphor to show the importance of her love for Bailey. She uses a biblical allusion so the reader can feel how important her brother is to her, he is like her god. It was Bailey who became her rock and the person who she confided in after her horrific rape at the age of eight years old.
“momma” is a remarkable strong female in Maya’s life, although Maya struggled with her own insecurities she had momma as a role model. She manages to maintain her dignity and self-respect through her life while the black people were the subject of segregation and daily humiliation. Her store is the gathering place in stamps and the centre of Maya’s childhood. It symbolizes the rewards of the hard work and loyalty and shows the importance of a strong community and the role which momma plays in her community.
Maya describes the store as a
“Fun House of Things….” (1984:8)
Using informal language and spoken in a child’s voice the reader can imagine the fun that the store held for Maya as a
“I couldn’t sit long on the hard seats in the library (they had been constructed for children).” (1984:77)
She now feels like an adult, that her childhood that she had has now been taken away. The seats are for children and she no longer feels like a child so she can’t sit on them.
Shortly after her family find out what has happened and when Mr Freeman is released from Jail he is found kicked to death, Maya feels like this is her fault for speaking up and vows never to speak again.
“I was called impudent and my muteness sullenness” (1984:85)
Her and Bailey were then sent back to Stamps to momma. She was left feeling abandoned and guilty for what had happened, she blamed herself for everything.
Mrs Bertha Flowers was the other influential woman in Maya’s life as well as momma. She influenced Maya on the powers of voice and encouraged her to read great literature and pay attention to the usage of language, she helped her to become the great author that she is today. Mrs Flowers made Maya feel liked for who she was and gave her respect. Something Maya had not had before. It was Mrs Flowers who gave Maya the encouragement to speak again after having 5 years of being