Summary:
"Graduation" is an excerpt of the autobiographical book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou. While the book is autobiographical in nature, this particular excerpt is much discussed amongst literary circles because of Angelou's use of both objective and subjective narration.
"Graduation" is an excerpt of the autobiographical book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou. While the book is autobiographical in nature, this particular excerpt is much discussed amongst literary circles because of Angelou's use of both objective and subjective narration.
Objective narration describes the culture of Angelou's local community, Stamps Arkansas. The passage depicts the entire community of Stamps preparing for, and experiencing, graduation ceremonies at the local black schools. Children are described as trembling "with visible anticipation" and the teachers have now become "respectful of the now quiet and aging seniors." Wealthy families will buy new, custom made garments and poor families will pick out their best and ensure that the clothes are freshly scrubbed and pressed.
The passage is then intertwined with the use of subjective narration. Angelou uses the subjective form to describe her place within the Stamps community. She will be special as compared to the rest of the graduating class. While the class "was wearing butter-yellow pique dresses," her "Momma launched out on" her dress by "smok[ing] the yolk into tiny crisscrossing puckers,... shirr[ing] the rest of the bodice, ...[and adding] a crochet cuff on puff on the sleeves, and a pointy crocheted color." Moreover, she will be graduating at nearly the top of the class.
By using the subjective form, Angelou has separated herself out from the community as a whole and described her position within the community. In terms of economic class, it can be concluded that she and her family are a bit wealthier then others because they are able to afford material for a new dress and even a little bit of extravagance. Yet, her family is not among the wealthiest as they are not able to afford to have the dress custom made. In terms of intellectual ability, it is clear that she is better achieved than the majority. She stands at nearly the top of her class, beaten only by Bailey. In terms of aspirations, she clearly dreams of more than being an athlete as suggested by the White politician giving the commencement speech.
Very few literary reviews seem to consider that Angelou's intertwining use of the objective and subjective narrative is an elegant self-analysis of her rank and importance within Stamps. It is important to understanding oneself to be able to understand the culture of the local community--the community's aspirations, history, beliefs, habits, values, etc. But, then one must then be able to commit to an honest self-evaluation to determine one's own place within that community culture. In this passage, it is clear that Angelou is carrying out the community's traditions, but she departs from the community by wearing special clothes and holding greater aspirations.
That the intertwining narrative is used to conduct a self-analysis is further confirmed through Angelou's reflection on her position in the class and her competitions with Bailey. Bailey is the only student to have outranked her. Angelou toys with the idea of whether she is ultimately defeated because of sure ability; or, was it a matter of greater effort and work on behalf of Bailey that lead to her ultimate defeat. The use of the intertwining narrative, however, achieves the same level of self analysis and reflection only in a more subtle form.
This is the complete article, containing 542 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
