Loss of Freedom in Sedaris' This Old House and Angelou's Caged Bird

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Sedaris constructs his feelings through narrative writing, and Angelou explores her concerns through descriptive writing with the analogy of a bird, they still are exploring the similar topic of perceived loss. The loss of freedom, demonstrated by the demand to uphold a family image, versus the caged bird, remain very similar in both pieces due to perceived entrapment, disappointment and self-nonentity. Descriptive essays leave room for misinterpretation and confusion, where as a narrative essay is straightforward and to the point.

The loss of freedom was expressed quite literally for the caged bird, but in my opinion was also expressed for the young boy. Sedaris reminisces of his childhood, and reflects on the disapproval from his father to express himself freely through something simple, such as clothing. “The way I saw it, the problem wasn’t my outfit but my context. Sure I looked out of place beside a Scandinavian buffet, but put me in the proper environment and I’d undoubtedly fit right in”(Sedaris, 2007). If a person denied something simple, like the right to dress and express themselves, and their feelings, how can he know who he really is? “When I started buying clothes from Goodwill, he really went off, and for good reason, probably. The suspenders and knickers were bad enough, but when I added a top hat he planted himself in the doorway and physically prevented me from leaving the house” (Sedaris, 2007). In Sedaris’ “This Old House” he gives us insight of what his childhood was like, and how his mother’s Scandinavian buffet was the centerpiece of all the family gatherings. In the beginning he seemed perfectly content with his life that is until he starts watching a television show based in the Depression-era. It was thi...

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...e author actually lived through it, and as you are reading his story it is much easier to picture yourself in his shoes. The other great thing about a narrative, is that it leaves much less room for misunderstanding or misinterpretation allowing you to absorb the maximum amount of information the author has to offer his reader. When given a choice between a multi directional interpretation based descriptive essay, or a clear life reflective narrative essay, I am pleased to say, with taking all of these points into consideration, that I would choose a narrative essay every time.

References

Sedaris, D. (2007, July 9). This old house: The heart is a lonely managerie. The New Yorker. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/07/09/070709fa_fact_sedaris

Angelou, M. (1983). Caged bird. Retrieved from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178948

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