During centuries ‘freedom’ was considered as the most precious thing a human being can possess. People were scared to lose it, so struggled for it, and protected it. Freedom was and still remains the highest value. It was sung in songs, depicted in literature and poetry. But really rear the authors of that works lived through all the suffering imaged. Of course, there are a lot of exceptions and Paul Laurence Dunbar is one of them. His one of the most prominent poem Sympathy touches the issue of freedom and is closely connected with his own life.
Paul Laurence Dunbar was an African-American poet, novelist and playwrights. A lot of his works were written in a Negro dialect. Despite the color of his skin, he managed to establish a national reputation, the road to which was very long and anguished. He had a tough childhood as his parents were former slaves. It means that the family had constant material problems. All these issues of poverty, slavery and plantation life were the main themes of his literary works and were reflected in them.
Paul Laurence Dunbar got a proper education at the Central High School in Dayton. He was the only African American there but in did not prevent him from attending classes with other children and receiving a good knowledge. He even became a member of debating society, president of the literary Philomathean Society, editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, and class poet. (Valenti 2014) Despite being a diligent student, Paul Laurence was unable to attend college because he did not have enough money for additional education. So he had to take a job as an elevator operator to earn a living, as a job prospects for a young African American were limited at that times. Racial discrimination still existed, although, the government of the United States tried to deny it.
The issue was widely reflected in Dunbar’s poem Sympathy that was published in 1899. The same year antipathy towards black people was widespread in the USA. It is a complete truth that the Civil War had liberated black people from slavery, and the government had given them the right to vote, to own property, and so on. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution approved in the post-Civil War era – granted black Americans basic rights as citizens, as did the Civil Rights Act of 1875. (Cummingsstudyguides.net 2014) However, later court and the country's supreme legislative bodies’ decisions unbraced the legal protection of black people. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1896 (Plessy v. Ferguson) that it was legal to provide “separate but equal” accommodations for passengers of Louisiana's railroads. This ruling set a precedent that led to segregated schools, restaurants, parks, libraries, and so on. (Cummingsstudyguides.net 2014) Hatred for black people still continues in the 21st century and prejudice against them remains strong in the society. Although the country is democratic, colored people do not feel a full freedom. Therefore, Dunbar’s poem Sympathy remains relevant nowadays and schools continue to include it in curriculum.
In the poem the author identifies himself with a caged bird. It wants to fly, to spread its wings, but cannot do it, as it is trapped. It is painful for a bird to observe all the beauty of the nature and to know that it cannot take a pleasure in it. The author uses visual and auditory imagery in order to transfer the emotions and to pertain to senses of hearing and sight: “When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;/ When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,/ And the river flows like a stream of glass;/ When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,/ And the faint perfume from its chalice steals” (Dunbar 2014)
The plot may be compared with the incident in the life of Dunbar when he wanted to continue studying but could not, because of the color of his skin. He saw all the opportunities but could not use them. As the bird “[] beats his wing/ Till its blood is red on the cruel bars.” (Dunbar 2014), same is the author was trying to get ahead in life, and unfortunately there were some failures and misfortunes, and “a pain still throbs in the old, old scars”. (Dunbar 2014) Alliteration in the They both cannot escape: the bird from the cage and the author from the inequality and injustice in the society.
The poem Sympathy is capable of a more universal interpretation. The caged bird, as a symbol, can be identified with black people and their cry for help. They are oppressed with intolerance, unfair laws and prejudice. All they want is to lead a normal life on a par with white people, to be able to have all the liberties the whites have.
Works cited
Cummingsstudyguides.net, Paul Laurence Dunbar's Sympathy: A Study Guide. N.p., 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides4/Sympathy.html
Dunbar, Paula Laurence. Sympathy: The Poetry Foundation. Poetryfoundation.org. N.p., 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175756
Valenti, Philip. 'Schiller Institute- Article - Paul Laurence Dunbar And American Classical Cutlure'. Schillerinstitute.org. N.p., 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. http://www.schillerinstitute.org/educ/dunbar.html
