Sympathy Freedom and Confinement Quotes

In these first lines of the poem, the speaker sets up a contrast between a confined space (the cage that the bird is trapped in) and an open space (the "upland slopes" and the "springing grass" that the bird doesn't have access to). By setting up this contrast between the confined space of the cage and an open landscape, the speaker gives us a sense of just how restricted this poor birdie is. And what's more, by telling us that he knows how the "caged bird feels," he's also telling us that, like the bird, he isn't free.

These lines give us more of a sense of all the wonderful stuff that the caged bird is missing out on. For one thing, it can't go off and have fun with all the other free birdies out there (like the "first bird" that "sings"). This gives us a sense of its isolation. It's a lonely bird in its cage because it doesn't have companions. The description of the beautiful "perfume" of the flower bud is yet another pleasure of nature that the bird misses out on, because it isn't free. Here, again, the speaker reminds us that he identifies with this little birdie. He too feels like he's missing out on a whole lot.

The image of the bird beating its wing against the bars of its cage shows just how confined this bird is. The picture of him beating his wing shows us that his struggle is all in vain. He can try to fly, but he can't get away. All he can do is go back to his perch in the cage and "cling." Here the speaker also tells us that the bird would rather be out swingin' on a bough. That's a lot more fun than being stuck in a cage. By evoking the bird's confinement, the speaker here also evokes his own lack of freedom, because he understands "why" the bird is beating his wing.