Catherine Called Birdy, What's it All About?

Catherine Called Birdy, the historical fiction novel by Karen Cushman, is about a simple knights daughter dealing with the difficult life of the medieval times and the restrictions of being a lady. This novel deals with the themes of, freedom of marriage, gender suppression and the control of ambition. Catherine longs to be able to marry who she pleases, like the villagers. This is seen all throughout the book when she gets rid of all her suitors and wants to marry George or Geoffry, but knows she cannot because they do not have the certain amount of wealth that her father wants his son-in-law to have. Catherine is under great gender suppression. She cannot do anything because of her lady training. This stands out in the novel wheb she cannot stand more lady tasks and wonders why lady's cannot climb trees or throw stones into the river. The control of ambition relates to Catherines suppression. Because she is a woman she is not allowed to do anything apart from being a lady. In the novel, she always wishes to become a monk or a crusader.
All in all the medieval times were an extremely tough time, especialy for noble lady's. Catherine has a lack of freedom to marry whoever she wants, she is suppresed and she cannot fuful her lifes dreams. They are in the middle between the villagers who can do what they want and the royalty, who also can do whatever they want. Where Catherine is, the fathers treat the lady's like chattle.