Hemanth Venkataraman

In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou's tone in describing her experiences fiercely conflicts with the mood it elicits in the reader. The objective manner used to describe many serious and traumatic events does not correspond to the emotions and sentiment sparked in the reader, who feels a shock which is not found in the words of the book.

In one of the most negative, yet significant moments of her life, Angelou discusses her rape by Mr. Freeman in a simplistic manner. Neglecting the severity of such a crime, she focuses more on her loss of Mr. Freeman's affection after the rape. However, the reader is automatically disgusted by such a heinous act against a child.

Another serious topic, the blatant racism against southern blacks, is handled mildly. Angelou describes Ku Klux Klan activity as commonplace. She does not realize that her employer, Ms. Glory, treats her in a demeaning way. She is oblivious as a child to the harsh conditions blacks must endure simply because of their race. But the reader can easily interpret her observations as demonstrating serious hatred and racism. The reader experiences much more sorrow than Angelou did as a child in the story.

In meeting her father, Angelou's tone is boastful. She idolizes him initially and imagines him as perfect. But it is evident that her father is a simple man who is neither wealthy nor refined. The mood is not one of great pride as depicted by the young Angelou. The emotions brought out are those of indifference towards the father, who has not been sufficiently responsible for Angelou's upbringing, and sympathy towards the misguided child.

These examples summarize the childlike innocence Angelou utilizes throughout her autobiography. They are in striking contrast to the feelings and senses stirred up in the reader. The tension between tone and mood serves a dual purpose. It allows the reader to delve into the mind of an innocent, yet bright and observant, young girl. At the same time it allows for a more complicated interpretation, which involves social consequences and various other emotional issues. The two opposing perspectives merge beautifully in Angelou's tale, conveying her messages powerfully.