A Psychoanalytic Study on Maya Angelou’s Autobiographical Fiction I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

ABSTRACT

I Know Why Caged Bird Sings (1969) has been penned by Maya Angelou and banks on feminist origin. The novel contemplates on the life of young African American girl who is riddled with struggles. The title is elucidated as a metaphor and depicted the life of Angelou from infancy to being a teenager and post adolescence. It illustrates the struggles of belonging to the weaker sex and being of coloured origin. The caged bird in the title has been used as a metaphor to illustrate her life’s shortcomings; it has been used to elucidate the fact that she has been a victim of oppression. Various theories have been used as a structuring pillar to engage in a detailed psychoanalysis of the novel. Enlightening major focus on contexts of selected novel I Know Why Caged Bird Sings of Maya Angelou, psychoanalytic analysis is elaborated thoroughly in context of the provided title. Through a set of developmental theories Maya bring forward the ugly realities along with the beauty of oppression and freedom. Erik Erikson’s developmental theories that are based on Freudian psychological theories have been illustrated. The developmental theories bank on moral development followed by sexual, social, physical and mental aspects of an individual. Personality growth of Maya is traced through the implementation of Erikson’s developmental theory. It highlights the disillusionment that has been exemplified based on the latent and overt racism. This paper highlights how African Americans were oppressed as victims of sexual abuse. Thereafter the results section indicates how the psychological theories have been instrumental in depicting the psychoanalysis of the novel. Lastly it can be concluded that Maya’s experience has been pivotal for her resurrection.

FULL TEXT