History Main / CagedBirdMetaphor

** [[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Everett_Millais_-_Waking,_1865,_Perth.jpg "Waking"]], by John Everett Millais (1865)

[[folder: Comic Strips]]
* {{ComicStrip/Clemente}}: One of Clemente's lovers is Mimi, a sophisticated canary with impressive human legs that lives in an open cage. Probably because her restricted lifestyle and her dead-end relationship with [[TheCasanova Clemente]] are her choice, or maybe it symbolizes the freedom Clemente (who is a bird, too) would lose with a serious commitment. But maybe that was unintentional by the author.

[[folder: Web Animation]]

[[folder: Webcomic]]

* ''Manga/BeautyAndTheBeastOfParadiseLost'': The curse transforms Giselle's head in a cage, with a talking bird that represents her mind. Since the curse affects the castle denizens accordingg to their personalities or activities, it's obviously a metaphor for her former life. As a princess, she was repressed by her AbusiveParents, whom saw her only as potential tool for a political alliance through a marriage. Also, she became a reclusive to not see the man she loved pining for her oblivious brother. The curse made Giselle even more reclusive because she hates that people look at her cage head. In her bird form, however, she flies out freely and stays informed about everything that happens on the castle, so, ironically, the curse gave her more freedom than she had before.
* In ''Anime/LizAndTheBlueBird'', close friends Mizore and Nozomi are about to graduate from high school and separate. Together, they play a tone poem based on the eponymous story, in which a girl named Liz befriends a blue bird-turned-human, and then they part ways. Mizore compares herself to Liz, and doesn't understand why Liz would ever let the blue bird go free instead of staying together forever; this is reflected in her pursuit of Nozomi, who is represented as the blue bird locked in a cage. Later in the film, Mizore comes to the realization that [[spoiler:''she's'' the blue bird in the cage, unable to accomplish her own goals because she's "trapped" in her desire to stay with Nozomi. This revelation is accompanied with an animation of a blue bird being released from its cage and flying free]].

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Neji compares his Curse Mark as being similarly to caging a bird. His mark allows the superior branch of his family to keep him in line with pain. He's confined by his birth, not by his skill (or at least he was at first). Neji [[spoiler:committing a HeroicSacrifice and choosing his own death]] is signified with a bird flying free.
* In ''Anime/{{Penguindrum}}'', scenes about Tabuki frequently feature a visual motif of a birdcage. This is a metaphor for his troubled, high-pressure childhood--his mother abused him and forced him to play piano. Tabuki harmed himself in order to escape from from this, but it didn't work.

* {{ComicStrip/Clemente}}: One of Clemente's lovers is Mimi, a sophisticated canary with impressive human legs that lives in an open cage. Probably because her retricted lifestyle and her dead-end relationship with [[TheCasanova Clemente]] are her choice, or maybe it symbolizes the freedom Clemente (who is a bird, too) would lose with a serious commitment. But maybe that was unintentional from the author.

* ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail'': Prior to getting stuck in the Cerise Institute, Chloe had to improvise a talent show performance after her initial costume was ruined with red paint, which included a pair of angel wings from leftover props. But after that incident, her classmates dumped red paint to mocker her and in retaliation she bludgeoned the head bully with a paint can. The Professor thought it was [[SarcasmMode a smart idea]] to not give his daughter counseling like a teacher advised and made her go to the Institute for her own safety, completly ignoring how she hates being stuck in a place that only cares about Pokémon and not her. He pays for it ''dearly''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', this seems to be the theme of 4*Town's tour in the film. It is identified as the "breaking free" tour and the concert choreography features the band members breaking out of cages, sprouting wings and flying up into the air like birds breaking free from their cages. This extends to Mei breaking free from her mother's metaphorical cage of expectations.

** Later, we see her contemplating suicide again, ready to jump off a high-riser, with [[Music/LynyrdSkynyrd Free Bird]]'s solo wailing in the background.

* ''Film/TheGreatDictator'': As Hynkel's stormtroopers are beating up Jews in the ghetto (it's a satire of Nazi Germany), the camera zooms in to a bird on a cage.
* ''FIlm/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'': During Draco Malfoy's arc when he is agonizing over having been ordered to [[spoiler:kill Dumbledore]], he uses a pair of songbirds to test a teleportation device, and in one scene he appears framed through the bars of their spherical cage, perhaps suggesting that he, too, is not the master of his own fate. The bird he is most often shown handling matches his unusual hair color.

* In ''Film/ThePoorLittleRichGirl'', 11-year old Gwen is compared to a caged bird she owns. She's a LonelyRichKid forced to live in a GildedCage.

--> Kirsten looked carefully at the little toy. On one side was a picture of a bird cage. On the other side, a bluebird. When Kirsten spun the toy, the bird seemed to fly into the cage. There it was, safe an happy, like Kirsten in her new home. The secret good-bye from Mary and John made her heart even lighter, like a bird fluttering under her ribs.

* ''Series/TheGreat'': In the scene where Catherine first meets the vapid, illiterate, hopelessly sheltered ladies of court, a cage of cramped songbirds can be seen prominently displayed behind her and heard chirping.

** One scene of the music video for [[Music/{{reputation}} "Look What You Made Me Do"]] shows Taylor swinging on a perch in a massive bird cage, singing. This image is echoed in [[PunnyName Swift]]'s poem, "If You're Anything Like Me", which accompanied the album:

** The Judge makes reference himself to the trope in his incredibly creepy VillainSong "Johanna", noting that she wants to "fly away."

* A rare [[GenderFlip male example]] is seen in ''VideoGame/DeadSpace2''. When Isaac Clark goes to rearrange the solar array, to repower the Titan space station orbiting Saturn, he passes through the security office, and is greeted by a small flock of songbirds flying past him. By reading [[ApocalypticLogs the text logs left behind by Howard Philips, the late guard stationed in the security office]], it's stated that he wanted to be transferred back to Earth, as he feels too isolated aboard the space station, but the [=A.I.=] he interacted with, Artificial Network Transmitting Intelligence, [[FunWithAcronyms A.N.T.I.]], denied his request over twenty times. Eventually, Philips was able to get permission to get a small flock of songbirds after that request was denied a few times. Eventually, Philips became so exasperated from the isolation aboard the station, that he released the birds from their cages, and openly mocked [=.A.N.T.I.=]'s proclamation that he had broken protocol by having animals on the lose on his work station.

* ''Webcomic/MeganKearneysBeautyAndTheBeast'': When Beast faces his human self, he asks him why did the latter keep living abused and shamed by his mother and the society if he knew they would never love or approve him:
-->'''Beast:'''You could have walked away from that cage you lived in. The door was open. (...) I tried to rid myself from you and your unhappiness, but all it bought me was a different sort of cage.

* {{ComicStrip/Clemente}}: One of Clemente's lovers is Mimi, a sophisticated canary with [[ShesGotLegs impressive human legs]] that lives in an open cage. Probably because her retricted lifestyle and her dead-end relationship with [[TheCasanova Clemente]] are her choice, or maybe it symbolizes the freedom Clemente (who is a bird, too) would lose with a serious commitment. But maybe that was unintentional from the author.

* {{ComicStrip/Clemente}}: One of Clemente's lovers is Mimi, a delicated, refined canary with [[MsFanservice impressive legs]] that lives in an open cage. Probably because her limited lifestyle and her dead-end relationship with [[TheCasanova Clemente]] are her choice; but maybe that was unintentional from the author.

* Early in ''Film/{{Contagion}}'', the camera focuses on a small cage of colorful songbirds right before an infected man boards an elevator crammed with people wearing similarly bright-colored clothes.

-->'''Beast:'''You could have walked away from that cage you lived in. The door was open.

* {{ComicStrip/Clemente}}: One of Clemente's lovers is Mimi, a delicated, refined canary with [[MsFanservice impressive legs]]that lives in an open cage. Probably because her limited lifestyle and her dead-end relationship with the [[TheCasanova Clemente]] are her choice; but maybe that was unintentional from the author.

* ''Webcomic/MeganKearneysBeautyAndTheBeast'': When Beast faces his human self, he asks him why did the latter keep living abused and shamed by his mother and the society if he knew they would never love or approve him: "You could have walked away from that cage you lived in. The door was open."

* ComicStrip/Clemente: One off Clemente's lovers is Mimi, a delicated, refined canary with [[MsFanservice impressive legs]]that lives in an open cage. Probably because her limited lifestyle and her dead-end relationship with [[TheCasanova Clemente]]are her choice; but maybe that was unintentional from the author.

* ''Webcomic/MeganKearneysBeautyAndTheBeast'': When Beast faces his human self, hee asks him why did he keep living abused and shamed by his mother and the society if he knew they would never love or approve him: "You could have walked away from that cage you lived in. The door was open."

* ''Manga/BeautyAndTheBeastOfParadiseLost'': The curse transforms Giselle's head in a cage, with a talking bird that represents her mind. Since the curse affects the castle denizens accordingg to their personalities or activities, it's obviously a metaphor for her former life. As a princess, she was repressed by her [[AbusiveParents]], whom saw her only as potential tool for a political alliance through a marriage. Also, she became a reclusive to not see the man she loved pining for her oblivious brother. The curse made Giselle even more reclusive because she hates that people look at her cage head. In her bird form, however, she flies out freely and stays informed about everything that happens on the castle, so, ironically, the curse gave her more freedom than she had before.

* ''Manga/BeautyAndTheBeastOfParadiseLost'': The curse transforms Giselle's head in a cage, with a talking bird that represents her mind. Since the curse affects the castle denizens accordingg to their personalities or activities, it's obviously a metaphor for her former life. As a princess, she was repressed by her [[AbusiveParents]], whom saw her only as potential tool for a political alliance through a marriage. Also, she became a reclusive to not see the man she loved pining for her oblivious brother. The curse made Giselle even more reclusive because she hates that people look at her cage head. In her bird form, however, she flies out freely and keepss informed on everything that happens on the castle, so, ironically, the curse gave her more freedom than she had before.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Neji compares his Curse Mark as being similarly to caging a bird. His mark allows the superior branch of his family to keep him in line with pain. He's confined by his birth, not by his skill (or at least he was at first). Neji [[spoiler:committing a HeroicSacrifice and choosing his own death]] is signified with a bird flying free.

* In ''Anime/LizAndTheBlueBird'', close friends Mizore and Nozomi are about to graduate from high school and separate. Together, they play a tone poem based on the eponymous story, in which a girl named Liz befriends a blue bird-turned-human, and then they part ways. Mizore compares herself to Liz, and doesn't understand why Liz would ever let the blue bird go free instead of staying together forever; this is reflected in her pursuit of Nozomi, who is represented as the blue bird locked in a cage. Later in the film, Mizore comes to the realization that [[spoiler:''she's'' the blue bird in the cage, unable to accomplish her own goals because she's "trapped" in her desire to stay with Nozomi. This revelation is accompanied with an animation of a blue bird being released from its cage and flying free]].
* All of the Moriarty brothers in ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot'' have shades of this, but especially Albert during his [[spoiler:stint in jail. When he is released, we see Mycroft's pet burst free from its cage to settle on Albert's shoulder, emphasizing the metaphor.]]

* A rare [[GenderFlip male example]] is seen in ''VideoGame/DeadSpace2''. When Isaac Clark goes to rearrange the solar array, he passes through the security office, and is greeted by a small flock of songbirds flying past him. By reading [[ApocalypticLogs the text logs left behind by Howard Philips, the late guard stationed in the security office]], it's stated that he wanted to be transferred back to Earth as he feels too isolated aboard the space station orbiting Titan, Saturn's moon, but the A.I. he interacted with, [[FunWithAcronyms A.N.T.I.]] denied his request over twenty times. He was able to get permission to get a small flock of songbirds after that request was denied a few times. Eventually, he became so exasperated from the isolation, that he released the birds from their cages, and mocked [=.A.N.T.I.=]'s proclamation that he had broken protocol.

* In ''Theatre/{{Trifles}}'' this trope is used to represent women's roles in late 19th-early 20th century [=US=] society. A similarity is implied between Minnie, who is trapped and isolated in an abusive marriage, and her pet canary, which is killed by her husband.

* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Neji compares his Curse Mark as being similarly to caging a bird. His mark allows the superior branch of his family to keep him in line with pain. He's confined by his birth, not by his skill (or at least he was at first). Neji [[spoiler:committing a HeroicSacrifice and chosing his own death]] is signified with a bird flying free.

** ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers:'' What the Jail Monarchs are, to the point that their lairs are giant cages. The Mastermind has their desires distorted so that they would have no reason to leave the cages. If they attempt to, there is a barrier that contains the essence of their trama that would cause them to stay.

* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': Yukiko Amagi's Shadow is shown as a caged bird, symbolizing her personal frustration in being forced to inherit her family's inn instead of freely deciding her future.

* ''Series/MediciMastersOfFlorence'' uses this imagery with Simonetta Vespucci who is very beautiful but trapped by her husband in a loveless marriage. She also keeps a cage of birds in her front room and is said to like pretty birds.

* Played for BlackComedy in ''{{Theater/Twisted'', when the Princess frees the birds in her cage (as in the Disney version). As Ja'far points out, those were exotic species that don't stand a chance of surviving if not cared for.

* ''Miss Julie'' has the titular character plan to run away and start a hotel with her father's manservant Jean. As they prepare to leave, she brings her pet greenfinch, a clear metaphor for the fact she is stuck on a pedestal as an aristocratic lady. Jean cuts the bird's head off, [[SanitySlippage and as such, Julie has a breakdown.]] The count returns, the plan is abandoned and the only way Julie can escape her cage is to [[DrivenToSuicide kill herself.]]

* Appears in ''Literature/TheBloodyChamberAndOtherStories''. The protagonist in the Bluebeard story is likened to a bird in a cage, the Erl King keeps birds trapped in cages (who happen to be previous girls he's seduced and captured), the vampire in 'The Lady of the House of Love' also has caged birds and asks herself if a caged bird must always sing the same song or if it can learn a new one.