Cages

            
             The title Cages refers to both the concrete objects that resemble cages and psychological barriers people have in their lives as with the ones the characters in this story impose upon themselves and each other. These characters, as all people, have roles within their family and community that place restrictions on their behaviors and interactions. The concrete objects described as cages in this story, and some of the characters" perception of them, are symbolic of their individual psychological cages.
             There are two physical cages in this story, the elevator that takes the father, Mr. Simpson, to his work down into the mines and the jail cell near the end of the story. Calling the elevator a cage symbolizes the father's feelings of working at a dead-end job. He also uses this "cage" as a threat to both of his sons as a horrible place that they will end up if they don't succeed in their education. The impact this threat has on Billy was evident the time Mr. Simpson wanted to take his boys to the mine when it was open for tours. Gene was not at all interested in going and bluntly said as much, but Billy didn't want to hurt his dad's feelings so he went even though he wasn't interested. " it was up to me to slobber and grin like some half-wit over the idea, to perk him up, see?" (pg 369). Within Billy's psychological cage was the need to please his father and care for others. While riding the elevator down into the mine, Billy became claustrophobic and had to be taken back up without seeing the mine. Another physical cage in the story that caused Billy to have the same panicky, claustrophobic reaction was the cell at the police station in which Billy almost spent the night. Billy describes being locked up as torture as he feels sick and dizzy. .
             Gene and his mother's psychological cages are quite similar as are Billy and his father's. Gene and Mrs. Simpson appear to have very little behavioral restrictions and tend to be quite egocentric.