why the caged bird sings for freedom
Answers
This philosophical question is at the heart of Maya Angelou's poem, and her autobiographical novel as well. However, the answer is complex and multi-layered, and ultimately is quite subjective.
The poem bounces back and forth between two birds: one free and the other caged. Primarily, it is told from the caged bird's perspective. This perspective then lends eyes to reader, to see the idea of freedom from one who does not have it; to experience the longing of casual choice from one with very few options.
"A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange sun's rays
And dares to claim the sky."
Here we experience freedom through the evocative imagery infused in this short stanza: "leaps on the back of the wind, floats downstream...dips his wing in the orange sun's rays and dares to claim the sky." Freedom leaps, floats, dips, and dares; it rides the wind, follows streams, and claims the sky! Meanwhile, the caged bird with wings clipped and feet tied, nearly blinded by bars of rage, can merely "stalk down his narrow cage."
From this examination of the first two stanzas we can see that freedom, to the caged bird, is as much emotional as it is physical. And we are meant to consider the singing of the caged bird. This bird's voice is the only part of itself that can escape the cage and be free. It's voice can reach the "distant hills" and play among the "sighing trees". Yet it lives upon a "grave of dreams" where dreams and hopes of a different, better life have died, with "nightmares" taking their place.
With these ideas of freedom, we have looked at a layer or two (physical and emotional) of what freedom means to the caged bird. From this foundation, you can try to uncover others.
The caged Bird sings of freedom because he has been trapped and caged in a very small place as compared to the open sky where he belongs to.His feet are tied wings are clipped and all his freedom is taken away and so in such a condition he has no other option but to sing.So he opens his throat to sing for his freedom.And because he is singing for freedom his voice could be heard from a very far distance .