I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Reaction Paper

My Reaction to I Know wherefore the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou once proclaimed in an interview, alone my work is meant to say, You whitethorn assail many defeats but you must non be discomfited (Anthology). This statement holds especially true in her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Her sacred coming of age story is filled with many defeats that shaped her into the independent and compassionate woman she became. after(prenominal) reading this obligate, I found there to be many meaningful areas that opened up my look and made me think again ab surface my own personal and sea captain development.In addition, it allowed me to inquire much questions and cute me to learn more about Maya Angelous path to greatness. there were many significant parts in Angelous autobiography that dealt with the issues of racism, sexism, violence, and loneliness. In my opinion, the parts that dealt with these various issues were most meaningful because they are controversial issu es that Angelou was undismayed enough to write about. From the start of the book, Angelou expresses her racist views when she is in church and fantasizes that one day she will stir up out of her black ugly dream. This part of the book foreshadows the rest of the racist events that will kick the bucket throughout the novel. For instance, the era when Angelou goes to the dentist with her Momma, the dentist says he would rather stick his hand in the tattle of a dog than in her mouth. Later in the book, Angelou discusses how she is raped by her mothers boyfriend. She does not speak for five years because of this sexual assault. Later on, when her silence is broken, Angelou is involved with a violent attack. This time it is her fathers girlfriend who stabs her with scissors out of pure jealousy.Throughout the book Angelou feels alone because she has insecurities about the modality that she looks and the color of her skin. Her loneliness is drawn out more after she is raped because she puts the blame on herself. All these monumental parts of the book are most meaningful because it shows Angelous endurance and how her life is not frayed by the unfortunate events that took place in her life. Throughout her childhood, Angelou experienced things that she should pick up never had to experience. It is estimable to think that with so many negatives in ones life Angelou was able to become such a roaring person.Reading about Angelous experiences led me to think about my development as a person. Maya Angelou turned out to be successful even through her harsh childhood. I then question myself about what is halt myself from developing in such sort with a normal childhood. Upon terminate I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, I took away many reasons why this book will help my personal and professional development. I never experienced a traumatic childhood quite the way Angelou did. at that placefore, I should be more thankful for the loving family I have, the non-prejud ice community I live in, my safety, and my college education.If Angelou was as victorious as she was all patch enduring major hardships, then there is no excuse for me not to be. This book has also taught me, even though I may not see it, that people do go through hardships. For example, when Angelou took a vow of silence after her rape, no one understood why she was doing it. There is always a reason for why a person acts in the way that they do. As a professional, I will do my best not to judge anyone on the outside because I have no idea what goes on in their personal life. As a future occupational therapist, I will try to have my clients open up to me.Therefore, I can find out what is exit on in their personal life and not judge them, but help them instead. I may have an impact on a clients life just by giving them an equal opportunity. There are many questions I raised and areas that I would like to learn more about upon finishing the autobiography of Maya Angelou. The novel ends in a positive picture of Maya with her newborn son. I question how ofttimes did Angelous life change with her newborn son and how she was able to accomplish so many things while taking care of her child?She, after all, was involved with the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and published many known works of literature. Was it hard for her as an African American woman to achieve so much while facing racism and sexism? Lastly, how does her story end? Does Angelou end up with a loving husband whom she couldve noteworthy all her achievements with? My response to this novel is a positive one. The most meaningful part of this book is the way that Angelou was able to find herself while enduring major conflicts such as racism, sexism, violence, and loneliness. In her wn words she did encounter many defeats, but that did not stop her from being the best that she could be. For that reason Maya Angelou is an inspiration and a component part model. From reading this book I know now t hat I am capable of developing myself more personally and professionally. I have not encountered many defeats in my life but if I were I know that I can brave the storm and not be defeated, just like Angelou was not. References Angelou, M. (1997). I know why the caged bird sings. New York, NY Ballantine Books. Douglass, F. (2004). The norton anthology of african american literature. (2 ed. ). New York New York W. W. Norton and company.