Sympathy Paul Lawrence Dunbar Analysis

Paul Lawrence Dunbar born June 27, 1872 in Dayton Ohio. Dunbar mother was a laundress and his father, a former slave, soldier and plasterer. As a student Dunbar was the only black in his senior class, nevertheless he was still nominated President of the class. During adulthood Dunbar eloped with Alice Ruth Moore, who was a teacher. Dunbar had no children. As editor of his own newspaper “Dayton Tattler” his writing inspiration surface. Many of his family experiences of slavery and plantation life influenced Dunbar later writing. Often there have been controversy about Dunbar dialect poetry, it was said to cruelty misread black history, and it was written for a white audience. Before his death on February 9, 1906 Dunbar was considered influential …show more content…
In comparing “Sympathy” to the video “Slavery after Slavery” (12 Years a slave documentary), the slaves felt caged by their master when they only wanted to be free. No matter how hard the challenges were they always motivated each other to complete their tasks. When all seem impossible for the slaves, they look for strength and wisdom through their belief and faith in God. The slaves were often beaten, so they became very angry. Although the bird in the poem “Sympathy” abuse himself, it was due to the anger he impelled against his owner. The Dunbar poem “Sympathy” shares some of the same themes as the video “Slavery after Slavery” (12 Years a slave …show more content…
Change; the slaves always prayed for a change to come so that they might be free one day as with the ships that pass at night, with each storm that brew there were hopes that the African American people could see a brighter future. Opportunity; the slaves could only dream of doing things that they would like to do, not what their master instructed them to do. At the beginning of the fifth stanza in the poem “Ships That Pass in The Night” it states that the night is pregnant meaning that there is opportunity and equality for the people of the African American race. Through the many works of Paul Laurence Dunbar great milestones have been paved for other African American Writers. His work has definitely influenced how writers write in today’s society. Paul Laurence Dunbar works can be related to issues which goes go in everyday life experiences. Many factors that Dunbar was faced with in the past has become somewhat more subtle in today’s society. African American Writers should realize the honor and privileges great writers of the past have bestowed upon