Comparing Of Mice And Men And I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, and Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” express the hardships people and creatures are faced with, preventing them from succeeding. Angelou discusses an earnest comparison between a free bird and its counterpart, a “caged” bird and its desire to prosper freely. Both texts express how those who are exposed to restrictions yearn for the comfort of liberty.
In addition, Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men depicts the universal lesson of characters possessing relentless ambitions while remaining constricted to a life of hardship. George and Lennie share a common objective, living freely on their own land, being their own bosses, and tending woodland animals. During desperate times on the ranch, when men would begin to doubt their possibilities, Lennie would incessantly

remind others of their buoyant futures. During a negative period, Lennie pleaded for George to reminisce upon their vivid intentions, eventually stating, “Someday—we're gonna get the jack together and we're gonna have a little house and a couple of acres an' a cow and some pigs and— An' live off the fatta the lan.” Lennie and George consider the farm to be a place of security, stability, companionship, and a feeling of power. The notion of acquiring a farm results in escaping their labor pervaded lives. Steinbeck continues by allowing the other men to join Lennie and George in imagining a “perfect life.” Crook’s was exceedingly pessimistic towards the shared belief due to him being African American. However, as time passed, he distinguished his ethnicity not as negatively as others perceived it to be thanks to Lennie’s vivid illustrations. As Crook’s mind began to flourish with ideas involving the farm, Curley’s wife terminated his fascinations momentously, brusquely implying, “‘Listen, Nigger,’ she said. ‘You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’” Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself.” Curley’s wife’s statement left Crook’s with the realization that his miserable life could only be salvaged through simplistic imaginations.
Furthermore, Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” expresses how those who are interfered by limits discover ease in the idea of liberty.

Angelou identifies the bars of the “cage” as racism, sexism, and the powerlessness of their victims, whose disabling responses of “fear, guilt, and self-revulsion” merely become additional restraints. The poem uses singing as a form of attempted liberty and self-expression, that the bird endeavors to discover. In the second stanza, its states, “his wings are clipped and/ his feet are tired/ so he opens his throat to sing.” As the bird is restrained physically, his only attempt at acquiring freedom is with the assistance of singing. Angelou proposes the bird’s deepest yearning is to exist outside of the repressive cage, so it acts as though it were free by singing confidently. The third stanza states, “his tune is heard/ on the distant hill/ for the caged bird/ sings of freedom.” The bird displays his prominent ambitions in a manner that leaves readers acknowledging its main objective: freedom to soar the sky as it pleases to. Although the birds high-pitched notes appear fearful, it longs for liberty in a savage like

manner.
In conclusion, constraints lead a person or creature to pursue their ambitions openly. Of Mice and Men expresses the text’s universal message through characters dialogue. Steinbeck's literature is written in prose, while Angelou’s is presented through verses. Both the novella and poem provide readers with the knowledge to express themselves freely when drastic limitations are displayed. When life presents others with curtailment, their hankering for liberty increases drastically.