I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Research Paper

Kathryn Eifert
DeLotell 1
August 8th, 2014
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings tells the story of Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Anne Johnson on April 4th, 1928. Maya was sent at three years old from her home and parents in St. Louis, Missouri alongside her older brother Bailey, from whom which she acquired the name Maya, to live with their paternal grandmother Annie Henderson and her disabled adult son. Annie Henderson lived in the rural, segregated town of Stamps, Arkansas. Enduring the abandonment of their parents and the prejudice of whites living in the town, Maya and Bailey spend most of their time in Arkansas in The Store. From there they learn the hardships of being a couple of the few Blacks

Louis, and is attacked by a man many times her age. One morning after Vivian has left the house, Mr. Freeman sexually molests Maya. Mr. Freeman threatens to kill both Maya and Bailey if they tell anyone of the accident. Later on, Mr. Freeman actually rapes her when Maya returns from running errands. Bailey finds Maya's bloodied underwear, which she hid, when trying to change the bed sheets. When Vivian takes Maya to the hospital, Bailey privately urges Maya to name the rapist. Maya reveals Mr. Freeman's name and the authorities arrest him. When the attorney asks her whether there were any sexual incidents with Mr. Freeman prior to the rape, she feels as if she has to lie. She fear rejection from her family, but does not want to lie. Mr. Freeman receives a jail sentence of one year but was temporarily released. Later that night, a white policeman visits to tell Grandmother Baxter that Mr. Freeman was beaten to death. After the incident, when Maya falls silent, Maya and Bailey return to Stamps. Bailey misses Vivian and St. Louis, but Maya is relieved to return to the rural town. Even though Bailey is upset that Maya won't talk, he understands her