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Essay on I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

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Question Four Throughout her life, Marguerite experiences many different situations and people that all contribute to the way she grows up and the person she becomes. Despite some of her tragic circumstances, she learns a lot growing up, mainly because of the African-American women in her life who teach her all different life lessons. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Marguerite gets to absorb teachings from her mother (Vivian), Mrs. Bertha Flowers, and her grandmother (Momma). These women allow Marguerite to learn and grow as an African-American female, all while paving her own way. Marguerite and her brother, Bailey, are sent to live with their grandmother at three and four, so she had little experience with her mother, Vivian, …show more content…

Marguerite’s mother, while not the greatest role model for her children, did all she could to take care of them, and allowed Marguerite to see the life in a big and bustling city with a beautiful, strong, independent, and free-spirited woman. While she did learn a lot from Vivian, Marguerite mainly gets a new idea of what an African-American woman can be. It seems that these characteristics of her mother are part of what allowed the “real” Marguerite, Maya Angelou, to become a performer, as she worked as an actress and singer for a while. Her ability to put herself out there for entertainment and enjoyment, are probably attributed to her mother, in part. Once returning to Stamps, silent and traumatized, Marguerite meets Mrs. Bertha Flowers. Marguerite discusses her as “the aristocrat of Black Stamps.” (93) Marguerite looks up to Mrs. Flowers in many ways. She is beautiful and sophisticated and according to Marguerite, Mrs. Flowers “has remained throughout my life the measure of what a human being can be.” (94) Mrs. Flowers took Marguerite under her wing and into her home. She shared her books with her and allowed Marguerite to read from them, spend time with her, enjoy cookies, and lemonade, all while bringing her back from her silent ways after her rape. She encouraged Marguerite to be “intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy” as not everyone had the ability or luxury to become educated. (99) Marguerite was in awe of

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