The Impact of Names and Identity in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

🔑Maya's outrage at being renamed by Mrs. Cullinan demonstrates her growing sense of self-worth.

🌟Giving a person a new name is a way of exhibiting power and control over them, as Maya experiences.

💪Maya's attempts to assert her identity by getting herself fired and breaking glassware reflect her determination to resist oppression.

🔍Maya is sensitive to how African Americans are disrespected by white people who use only their first names.

🙌Maya's conflicted feelings about her job and her mother's lack of understanding highlight the complexities of navigating racial dynamics.

Why is Maya upset about being renamed by Mrs. Cullinan?

—Maya sees it as an infringement on her identity and a disrespectful exercise of power.

Why does Maya try to get fired from her job?

—Maya wants to quit the job but knows her mother wouldn't allow it. So, she attempts to get fired instead.

What does breaking Mrs. Cullinan's glassware symbolize?

—Breaking the glassware is an act of rebellion and a way for Maya to reclaim her sense of self.

Why does Maya feel sensitive about African Americans being called only by their first names?

—Maya sees it as a form of disrespect and a demonstration of racial hierarchy.

How does Maya's experience in the white woman's kitchen highlight racial dynamics?

—Maya's conflicted feelings and her mother's lack of understanding reveal the complexities of navigating racial dynamics and societal expectations.

00:01[Music]

00:09In chapter 16 of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya takes a job in a white woman's kitchen.

00:19Maya feels sorry for Mrs. Cullinan, who cannot have children, but is outraged when she is renamed Mary instead of Marguerite.

01:09Maya tries to get herself fired but ends up breaking Mrs. Cullinan's glassware.

01:27This chapter explores the theme of names and identity in the context of racial dynamics.