An animalization of champion of the world by Maya Angelou with six sources to support. (Essay Sample)

Name
Professor
English and Literature
Date:
Champion of the world by Maya Angelou
Animalization can be defined as a portrayal that depicts humans or other objects as animals. Additionally, it can be defined an act that depicts people as cruel and without normal human characteristics. Maya Angelou’s Champion of the world has several animalized scenes and can be characterized as an act that depicts human beings without the normal human being characteristics. The short story is set in a store in Arkansas. The store was a gathering place for black people in Arkansas. The story revolves around a fight between a black man named Joe Louis or “Brown Bomber” and an upcoming white boxer. Joe Louis was defending his title as the world champion against the white upcoming boxer. It is evident that this fight is not just a boxing match. The fight symbolizes the conflict that had existed between the white people and the black people. The people depicted in the story are only concerned about the fight and winning the fight. They are not concerned about the pain inflicted on other people and they lack the human characteristic of mercy and compassion.
As the story begins, Maya tells the audience that the store was packed with people. The fact that the store is full does not deter other people from coming into the store. Normal people do not enjoy being in crowded places (Sammons). They like their freedom and the ability to move around without any obstructions. However, the people who came to listen to the boxing match were undeterred by the overcrowding in the store. Additionally, Angelou writes that the young children perched on every lap available (Angelou). Perching is a characteristic associated with birds. It can be defined as the act of a bird alighting or resting on something. Using this term depicts the young children as small birds perching on trees. The first passage of the short story depicts humans as animals by using terms that are associated with animals and portraying them as lacking the normal human characteristics.