Sympathy By Paul Laurence Dunbar Analysis
Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872 in Dayton, OH. Dunbar was one of the most outspoken authors from 1872-1906.Dunbar was the child of Joshua and Matilda Murphy
Dunbar who were free slaves from. His early work was a reflection of his parent’s lives as slaves working on the plantation. Dunbar was mostly known for his poems. His work addressed the difficult encounters by the members of his race (African American) and the effort to achieve equality in America. Paul Laurence Dunbar and the unfulfilled desire to be fully free to participate in the full spectrum of adventure that life holds and the universal cry for freedom.
Dunbar is an amazing author whose work often focused on African American accomplishments and pride. One of Paul …show more content…
Dunbar and other African Americans felt discrimination and imprisoned which is described in this poem. In Sympathy, it uses a caged bird as a metaphor for what it means to be a black during the 1800s. In the first stanza Dunbar states he knows how the caged bird feels. Also how the caged bird is missing out on the beauty of freedom. In the second stanza
“I know why the caged bird beats his …show more content…
He knows the pain and agony it created while trying to escape but trying is better than standing still and giving up. He was very persistent (African
American slaves fighting their way to freedom). In the final stanza,
“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 prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings—
I know why the caged bird sings!” the bird (African Americans) after giving his all the caged bird sings a prayer. As African
Americans they believed if all failed they have their lord and savior and he will answer their prayers. Paul Laurence Dunbar gave African Americans a voice in “We Wear the Mask” and “Sympathy”. Dunbar expressed the unfilled desire to be free in both writings. African Americans had to stay behind the mask and conceal their true feelings or suffer the abuse and imprisonment like the caged bird in sympathy. Knowing not two people are alike but they faced the same fares during the time this poem was written. Dunbar was very brave writing these poems that could’ve gotten him killed. Since society was still full of racism. He showed African Americans a way to express their
Dunbar who were free slaves from. His early work was a reflection of his parent’s lives as slaves working on the plantation. Dunbar was mostly known for his poems. His work addressed the difficult encounters by the members of his race (African American) and the effort to achieve equality in America. Paul Laurence Dunbar and the unfulfilled desire to be fully free to participate in the full spectrum of adventure that life holds and the universal cry for freedom.
Dunbar is an amazing author whose work often focused on African American accomplishments and pride. One of Paul …show more content…
Dunbar and other African Americans felt discrimination and imprisoned which is described in this poem. In Sympathy, it uses a caged bird as a metaphor for what it means to be a black during the 1800s. In the first stanza Dunbar states he knows how the caged bird feels. Also how the caged bird is missing out on the beauty of freedom. In the second stanza
“I know why the caged bird beats his …show more content…
He knows the pain and agony it created while trying to escape but trying is better than standing still and giving up. He was very persistent (African
American slaves fighting their way to freedom). In the final stanza,
“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 prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings—
I know why the caged bird sings!” the bird (African Americans) after giving his all the caged bird sings a prayer. As African
Americans they believed if all failed they have their lord and savior and he will answer their prayers. Paul Laurence Dunbar gave African Americans a voice in “We Wear the Mask” and “Sympathy”. Dunbar expressed the unfilled desire to be free in both writings. African Americans had to stay behind the mask and conceal their true feelings or suffer the abuse and imprisonment like the caged bird in sympathy. Knowing not two people are alike but they faced the same fares during the time this poem was written. Dunbar was very brave writing these poems that could’ve gotten him killed. Since society was still full of racism. He showed African Americans a way to express their