Catherine, Called Birdy

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1994

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-11

Chapter 12 - Author’s Note

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Character Analysis

Catherine, or Birdy

Catherine, referred to throughout by her nickname Birdy, is the dominant voice throughout the book. The protagonist is writing a diary of the events of her life during her 14th year—1290 to be exact—in the village of Stonebridge in England. Because she is so young and relatively naïve, her narration can be considered unreliable, filtered through the biased lens of her stubbornness and inexperience.

She resists her training to become a lady, preferring instead to seek the company of the goatherd, Perkin, and wishing for adventurous travels rather than domestic chores. She harbors crushes on her Uncle George, because of his handsomeness and his tales of the crusades, and on Geoffrey, a young knight in training who she finds physically attractive but intellectually incompatible. Like many young teenagers, Birdy’s emotional state and desires fluctuate. On one hand, she can reveal herself to be self-centered and childish, as when she curses Uncle George and Aelis for their attraction to each other. On the other hand, she can be incredibly thoughtful and generous, as when she paints granny’s portrait for Perkin or stays by her mother’s side after the birth of her younger sister.

Birdy is also troubled at injustice, in what she perceives as unfairness toward herself and in the inequality she witnesses between classes. The prospect of a potentially unjust hanging disturbs her, as does the mistreatment of her beloved birds. She has a tender heart underneath her tomboyish exterior, revealing a growing maturity that will allow her enough freedom and sense of self to survive and even thrive within her medieval world.

Lord Rollo and Lady Aislinn

Birdy’s father and mother are contrasting characters in the background of her life. All of the secondary characters are viewed primarily through Birdy’s eyes; thus, they are not so much fully realized characters as they are representations of Birdy’s own dilemmas and desires. Birdy sees her father, Lord Rollo, as a brutish and coarse man who cares only about money, land, and ale. He hits her often and wishes only to have her married and off his hands, to his financial advantage—at least from her initial point of view. As the narrative progresses, Birdy finds that there may be more compassion in her father than she tends to see, especially when she considers the caring way in which he treats her mother. Her mother, Lady Aislinn, represents kindness and gentleness, executing the duties and cultivating the qualities of a true Lady with elegance and grace. She is the antithesis of Birdy’s stubborn and tomboyish persona and the perfect foil for Lord Rollo’s brash and bold behavior.

Uncle George

Birdy’s Uncle George represents many things to her: First, he has recently come back from the crusades, so he symbolizes bravery and the spirit of adventure to Birdy, despite his protestations that the crusades were dirty, dangerous, and ill-advised. Second, his namesake is the patron saint of England, who rescues the country from the dragon; thus, Birdy views him as her potential savior from the dragon of a mismatched betrothal. Third, he is her first crush, handsome and full of fanciful tales—at least at first. George sinks into a depression over his inability to marry Birdy’s friend, Aelis, and drinks too much to cover his disappointment at his impending marriage to Ethelfritha.

Uncle George represents the paradox of adulthood to Birdy: he seems free to do what he wants, gallivanting off to the crusades in search of fortune and adventure, but he is stymied by the rules of medieval society in his personal desire to marry Aelis. Ultimately, he finds a kind of happiness with his wife, Ethelfritha, who is good and kind despite her mental illness. Uncle George symbolizes the compromises that people make to satisfy social demands.

Shaggy Beard and Stephen

Shaggy Beard is as an antagonist within the book, alongside Birdy’s father and her least favorite brother, Robert. He might even be considered the villain of the piece, though readers learn little about him except the descriptions Birdy gives of his horrific manners and casually cruel behavior. He symbolizes the loss of her freedom and the beginning of her confined status as a married woman.

Like Lord Rollo to Lady Aislinn, Shaggy Beard is contrasted to his son, Stephen, whom readers also learn little about save from his differences to his father. He is younger and thus more suitable to Birdy, and he is rumored to have better manners and a greater degree of learning. He sends Birdy what she views as an appropriate gift, the knife lettered with “Think well on me,” in juxtaposition to his father’s unwelcome gifts such as a sewing kit.

It is notable that neither ever get a voice within the text. The author never allows them to speak for themselves; rather, Birdy gets the first and the last word on their characters. While women may be silenced in actual medieval marriage arrangements, the fictional Birdy is permitted to speak her mind and preserve her thoughts.