Cultural Values in Othello and Caged Bird

Throughout literature writers use various ways of showing the reader a new way of life with different values, rituals and customs. These aspects can been seen in the works of William Shakespers Othello, and Maya Angelou s I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings. These books are very good examples of showing the importance of value and different culture to readers.

In the Autobiography I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings Maya Angelou tells the story of her life. She tells of the typical African American tradition of church being a very important and positive influence throughout their lives.

She sets a mood of the importance and feeling toward religion, when writing about the service in the tent. She vividly describes the women being saved and tells of the women flaring their arms to God. They also hold family as being an important value among the people of Stamps.

Maya and Bailey have a close and traditional relationship because Bailey looks after and protects his younger sister.

They have a custom among the African American s of everyone helping to support the family, and Maya tells about how she used to have to help out in the family store. They valued their lives and family and faced the hardships of being black in a White World. The aspect held against the People of Stamps was also held against the main character Othello In William Shakespeare s Play Othello.

In Othello, the usual customs of that time period applies. Like other novel s written by Shakespeare Othello too shows a lot of traditional values customs and ideas.

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The values of money and power where the main aspect of many peoples life. In the first Act Two characters draw swords prepared to fight for power. This is a custom of the 1500-1600. If something was wanted, or a disagreement was made people would battle to the end. People of wealth would have power.

People did not value the colored and had racist views toward black and they were often called moors. Desdemona s father treated Othello harshly because of his black color. He thought is daughter would have more prestigious and wealth if she married in her own race. This was a traditional value that people held. The custom of fighting was something any man would do for his wife.

In the two works, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Othello both authors convey their thoughts of customs, values, and rituals. These works show the reader the traditions of two unique time periods along with great moral and value. Each was a unique, interesting, and different lifestyle for which the reader could learn and grow.