Analysis Of Karen Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy

“You change your life by changing your heart.” said Max Lucado. This is exactly what Catherine did in Karen Cushman’s Catherine, Called Birdy. Her experiences led to the discovery of the need for change. The interactions and experiences she had with the Jews, her mother, and a villager led to Catherine becoming more gentle, caring, aware of her surroundings, and more of herself than she was before. One way that Catherine changed was after her encounter with the old Jewish Lady. The old lady told her, “ ‘Little Bird, in the world to come, you will not be asked “Why were you not George?’ or ‘Why were you not Perkin’ but ‘Why were you not Catherine?’ ” (Cushman 17). Catherine didn’t fully understand what it meant at first, but the old woman’s words helped her later when it really mattered. When Shaggy Beard’s messengers came, Catherine ran to her Aunt Ethelfritha’s house in fear and desperation. While she was there, the old Jewish woman’s words finally gained some meaning. She realized that she didn’t have to be at her home to be herself, she would always be Catherine. This made Catherine more mature, she changed by knowing that she was, and would always be, herself. She says, “I am like the Jews in our hall, driven from England, from one life to another, and yet for them exile was no exile.” (Cushman 202). Even though she is going to be taken from her home, she knew in her heart that she would always be at home. Catherine also says, “I realize that Shaggy Beard has