Theme of Freedom across Genres (Book Review Sample)

Student Professor Course Date Theme of Freedom across Genres The concept of being free, representing the capacity to think and act without undue inhibitions, has dominated diverse genres of writing and artistic expression since time immemorial. Since art is the purest and most tranquil form of human expression, it is no surprise that notable artists have delved into the theme of freedom with varying degree. Three of those artists are Maya Angelou especially through her famous poem Caged Bird, Alicia Keys through her song Caged Bird, and Paul Laurence through his poem title Sympathy. Through poetry and songs, the artists have subtly overtly explored the raw human feeling to be without restrictions and to enjoy life as seamlessly as a bird flaps its wings. However, for different circumstances, freedom remains simply a desired hence the effectiveness of the metaphor of a bird in a cage in the three works. This paper will explore Maya, Keys, and Lawrence work and demonstrate how the three artists have masterfully used language to express the inherent desire to be free. Lawrence’s Sympathy expresses the desire to escape the confinement that his society had created for African Americans. Like a caged bird, the persona hopes that his longing to participate in the beautiful and free world he sees from his cage would come to pass. However, the imprisonment persists and leads to rage as symbolized by the metaphor of helpless bird flapping its wings angrily. Markedly, the poem takes an empathetic tone especially with the exhaustion and despair that grips the bird in the third stanza. Despairingly, the poet’s desire for freedom ends in more frustration as the caged bird tires and lies helplessly. Concomitantly, Maya’s Caged Bird carries the same theme of freedom as the poet uses the metaphor of a caged bird to symbolize the longing for freedom. However, Maya desists from Lawrence’s empathetic and cynical tone in favor of a more optimistic and positive mood. The bird wants freedom but is fearful of the unknown. Strikingly, Maya points out that even as black people make progress in the fight for equality, they remain disadvantaged in that their wings are clipped and their wings clipped. They can neither fly nor walk away from things that imprisoned them such as poor education and healthcare because they lack the basic empowerment for personal and society advancement. In Alicia Keys’ Caged Bird, the artist delves into the theme of freedom by blending poetry and song. Through personification, the musician views herself ...