Essay on the poem “sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar.

By Sonia Diaz.

The poem “sympathy” written by Paul Laurence Dunbar is about freedom vs. oppression. Oppression is one of the problems that affect people around the world. Nowadays, people are oppressed for many different reasons. People are oppressed for their jobs, families, school religion etc. but some of them look for the opportunity to get freedom.

There are different types of oppression. The societies that we are living now demand that people do many things to get their aspirations. Almost everybody make efforts to achieve goals even when they have to work for someone else. Another type of oppression can be political oppression. They use their power to oppress people. Also there is religious oppression. This type of oppressive people tries to convince people to stay with them even when people do not believe in their ideals. The poet shows this situation when he writes “I know why the caged bird beats his wing”.

Certainly, people can be affected when they are oppressed. But fortunately, there are people who decide to fight hard in order to show people need to be free. A lot of people contribute with all who need help during difficult situations even when people do not know they are helping them. This kind of people, find the way to show another people feeling. Paul Laurence Dunbar shows this situation when he writes “I know what the caged bird feels”.

Besides, many people are angry. They are suffering oppression. But some people decide not to wait until the end of their lives. They call their oppressor’s attention expressing anger. Paul Laurence Dunbar shows this situation when he writes “When he beats his bars and he would be free”

Finally, I can say that freedom and oppression are opposite. This can be one of the reasons why people are unhappy. Also there are people who think that freedom is not as important as the position they get in society. They prefer to have the higher position in the society instead of freedom. Even though they do not have the opportunity to be themselves. This make them feel frustrated. On the other hand, there are people who decide to manage their lives themselves without oppression. This make them feel satisfied. Paul Laurence Dunbar message is to live without freedom is not a real life. I agree with him because people have to fight hard to get freedom. They have to use whatever resource at hand to show they are not going to continue oppressed.