An analysis of ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou
The poem ‘Still I Rise’ is about hope, oppression and confidence. It references points in U.S. history, specifically the Jim Crow laws and slave trades during the majority of the U.S.A.’s past. The single most important and most repetitive phrase in the poem is, ‘still I’ll rise,’ or, ‘I rise,’ which overflows with self-confidence, hope and empowerment. Three poetic comparisons in the poem that are significant to this theme are ‘I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room,’ ‘I laugh like I’ve got gold mines diggin’ in my back yard,’ and, ‘I’m a black ocean,’ because they describe accomplishment, courage and invincibility.
The first significant poetic comparison in the poem I’ve chosen to discuss is the simile, ‘I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room.’ Oil wells were, and most likely still are, known to be incredible sources of income, considering how massive the oil industry is. Theoretically, having an oil well in your living room is an exceptional show of wealth and power. Walking like you have oil wells pumping in your living room is a show of confidence that engulfs a room with its strength. The reason this is so significant is because even after all the hardships Maya Angelou has gone through, she is still immensely confident and is not afraid to show it.
The quote itself, relative to the history that the poem so often references, gives the audience a sense of accomplishment and pride. Because African Americans were so unlikely to have owned almost anything at all during the times of slavery in America adds an extra layer of effect to this quote.
The next simile, ‘I laugh like I’ve got gold mines diggin’ in my back yard,’ has a very similar intention, but is subtly unique. I believe that this line is supposed to show that Maya Angelou makes the best of every moment, not because she has nothing to lose, but because she has accomplished so much and is satisfied just with the fact that she has the opportunity to do so. I think Angelou is trying to tell the audience that all of their hard work will pay off and is using her paid off hard work as an example. A black woman born in America in the early 1900’s who managed to become successful and wealthy with hard work and determination having the grandest time of her life using the money she worked impossibly hard to earn.
The third poetic comparison and one of the few metaphors in the poem I’d like to discuss is, ‘I’m a black ocean.’ I believe this is Maya Angelou empowering her audience, especially those like her, and showing that even though she has been oppressed and shot down constantly, she is still powerful and confident. She wants others to feel heard and respected, and one of the ways she does so is through metaphors and similes like this.
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