The time period of the book’s setting is in a time of discrimination in the U.S. between blacks and whites. Maya Angelou, the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings gives examples of “name calling,” both good and bad. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou shows the reader how powerful and impacting names can be.
One example of this would be when, Maya Angelou writes about how the used to be sheriff calls the Ku Klux Klan the “Good ole boys”(17). As if the man who used to have authority doesn’t care about the atrocities they commit. It seems as if he even likes what they do. What the KKK does is horrible to blacks, but the name they have, “the good ole boys” makes me think that the white people in stamps don mind or even somewhat …show more content…
Cullinan calls her maid, named Hallelujah, “Glory.”(107) This is disrespectful because Mrs. Cullinan is changing Hallelujah’s name for her significance, she doesn’t care what her maid thinks or feels. Peoples name are important to them, it’s their identity! Mrs. Cullinan is wrong for doing this and i feel that she’s taking away Hallelujah’s dignity and identity.
Lastly, Maya Angelou writes about how Mrs. Cullinan takes Marguerite’s name and disgraces Marguerite by changing her name also! (108) Maya shows us the effect this can have on people with Marguerites actions. Marguerite breaks Mrs. Cullinan’s expensive china when she calls her “Marry.” It’s insulting to change someone's name. Especially when you say “it’s too long.” This is another example of Mrs. Cullinan changing someone’s name for her significance, not considering Marguerite as a person. Marguerite felt hurt, and disgraced, so she purposely dropped the dishes.
Overall, these are some of the effects, and impact names can have that Maya Angelou portraits to us. Some of my own experience with names is when someone i was fond of didn’t remember my name. It hurt my feelings and i felt unwanted. Remembering someone’s name can mean a lot, and calling someone by their correct and true name is mutual respect. Maya Angelou shows us how it can feel when that mutual respect is
One example of this would be when, Maya Angelou writes about how the used to be sheriff calls the Ku Klux Klan the “Good ole boys”(17). As if the man who used to have authority doesn’t care about the atrocities they commit. It seems as if he even likes what they do. What the KKK does is horrible to blacks, but the name they have, “the good ole boys” makes me think that the white people in stamps don mind or even somewhat …show more content…
Cullinan calls her maid, named Hallelujah, “Glory.”(107) This is disrespectful because Mrs. Cullinan is changing Hallelujah’s name for her significance, she doesn’t care what her maid thinks or feels. Peoples name are important to them, it’s their identity! Mrs. Cullinan is wrong for doing this and i feel that she’s taking away Hallelujah’s dignity and identity.
Lastly, Maya Angelou writes about how Mrs. Cullinan takes Marguerite’s name and disgraces Marguerite by changing her name also! (108) Maya shows us the effect this can have on people with Marguerites actions. Marguerite breaks Mrs. Cullinan’s expensive china when she calls her “Marry.” It’s insulting to change someone's name. Especially when you say “it’s too long.” This is another example of Mrs. Cullinan changing someone’s name for her significance, not considering Marguerite as a person. Marguerite felt hurt, and disgraced, so she purposely dropped the dishes.
Overall, these are some of the effects, and impact names can have that Maya Angelou portraits to us. Some of my own experience with names is when someone i was fond of didn’t remember my name. It hurt my feelings and i felt unwanted. Remembering someone’s name can mean a lot, and calling someone by their correct and true name is mutual respect. Maya Angelou shows us how it can feel when that mutual respect is