Parenting In Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

What is good parenting? Many think good parenting consists of keeping a close eye on their child but this in many ways can be detrimental to the child. Personally, my mother was not present for most of my childhood. However, it in no way hindered my growth as a child, instead it brought me up and made me very independent at a young age. Similar to reality, literature depicts the complexity of the relationships between a mother and daughter as well. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Maya’s mother abandons her as a young child and is an inconsistent presence in her life. In Emergence: Labeled Autistic by Temple Grandin, Temple’s mother is constantly devoted to her and gives her the best opportunities possible. While both Maya

and Temple are influenced by their mother, Maya’s mother is absent for much of her life, making Maya independent and strong, whereas Temple’s mother is constantly devoted to her, making Temple sucessful but very reliant on others.
Maya’s mother abandons her as a child and later shows her what it is to be a self driven woman, which contribute to Maya becoming an independent and self reliant woman. In the middle of the novel, when Maya’s mother was completely honest with her about her job at bars and smoke shops, Maya says, “Mother’s beauty made her powerful and her power made her unflinchingly honest.” (Angelou 206). Maya’s mother is a very powerful and honest woman. She does not care for what other’s think of her but puts her honesty first. By doing this, she is teaching Maya that being an honest and powerful woman, especially in this time period, is admirable. Towards the end of the novel, when Maya wants to work as the first black female streetcar conductor, Vivian says, “‘That’s what you want to do? Then nothing beats a trial but a failure. Give it everything you’ve got.’... It was the most positive encouragement I could hope for.” (Angelou 265). Becoming the first female and black streetcar conductor in San Francisco is something that requires a lot of confidence and independence. Vivian gives her advice and tells Maya to be independent and determined, as Vivian has shown her to be. The advice gave Maya the push and motivation to pursue the job. Vivian giving Maya space and her example of independence contributes to the independence Maya has today.
Although the constant presence and devotion of Temple’s mother pushes Temple to reach a great potential, her devotion makes Temple reliant on others and not herself to reach success.

At the beginning of the novel, when Temple hits a girl in the eye with her textbook and is expelled, she says, “As usual, she stood up for me… I finally ended up going to a school with which mother had had considerable contact the previous year.” (Grandin 69). Temple’s mother constantly stands up for her, even when Temple inflicted harm onto another girl. Eustacia argued with the principal for expelling Temple when Temple did actually physically harm the other girl. She also in a way rewarded Temple by taking her to a new school with many privileges. At the middle of the novel, when Temple is failing many of her classes, she says, “Then Mr. Brooks, the psychology teacher, challenged me with the Distorted Room puzzle, which in turn, interested me in learning… Mr. Carlock, was my salvation…. He didn’t try to draw me into his world but came into my world.” (Grandin 90). Temple relies on others in order to raise her grades. She does not take initiative and help herself but she waits until others help her. This is because Eustacia does not let Temple help herself but she constantly helps Temple. Eustacia constantly is there for Temple which makes her successful but dependent on others to reach her

success.

The inconsistent presence of Maya’s mother makes her self-reliant, while the great devoutness of Temple’s mother lets her reach success but makes her dependent on others to reach success. In Maya’s situation, Vivian abandons her as a child but then shows her how to be an independent and self-sufficient woman. In Temple’s situation, Eustacia gives Temple many things and opportunities, making Temple rely on others more than she relies on herself. Both women are extremely successful and inspirational. However, it shows how different types of parenting can impact one’s life forever. So, next time you think keeping a very close eye on your child is for the best, think twice.