It is Worth the Struggle

A detailed Summary of It is Worth the Struggle

In the autobiography I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, a question is posed about growth and outlooks on life based upon surroundings alone. If society is formed based on its ethics, then the people in them have no choice but to be caged birds. The main character Marguerite, also known as Maya, pushes the false images of struggle and hardship out of her way, blossoming into a strong and prosperous young woman.

"The sounds of the new morning had been replaced with grumbles about cheating houses, weighted scales, snakes, skimpy cotton and dusty rows. In later years I was to confront the stereotyped picture of gay song-singing cotton pickers with such inordinate rage that I was told even by fellow blacks that my paranoia was embarrassing. But I had seen the fingers cut by the mean little cotton boils, and I had witnessed the backs and shoulders and arms and legs resisting any further demands." (Angelou 7) Stamps, Arkansas was Maya's cage. At a young age she truly knew nothing else but the perch of prejudice she stood on. However she knew it was wrong, and it was not the place she wanted to be. Maya's eyes are wide open to the prejudices around her, not the ones placed by white people, but from black people themselve

The vulnerability of a child and the trust that they hand out does not make something so morally wrong and sickening right. Neither does the time, place, people, culture nor circumstances. To question what is right and what is wrong is easily justified. To say an adult's answer, to any question, would vary from a child's answer is as well. However if a child knows that rape is wrong, then an adult can recognize its unlawful manner in a list one hundred pages long. Young Maya did not know exactly what Mr. Freeman had done to her, but whatever it was muted her to Bailey, an incredible task. Through her pain, Maya fought telling her Mother about Mr. Freeman because she was afraid " If I told him, would he still love me?" (Angelou 69)

Somewhere inside of her, a longing for love from a man stirred. A love that neither Bailey or Momma could provide. It was a love that would not go to California and it was definitely not a love that would be dodged and replaced by " God is love. Just worry about whether you are being a good girl, then he will love you." ( Angelou 47) Through the molestations from Mr. Freeman, Maya's eyes were only open to one part. " He held me so softly that I wished he wouldn't ever let me go. I felt at home. This was probably my real father and we had found each other at last." (Angelou 61) Maya's paternal need was stronger than ever and Mr.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 921
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels