How Does 'Catherine, Called Birdy' End?

The ending of 'Catherine, Called Birdy' is both satisfying and bittersweet. Catherine, after resisting countless suitors her father tries to force upon her, finally outsmarts him. She manipulates the situation so that Shaggy Beard, the most repulsive of her potential husbands, ends up marrying her father's preferred choice instead—leaving her free. But freedom comes with a twist. She agrees to marry Stephen, a kind and gentle suitor she actually likes, showing her growth from a rebellious girl to someone who understands compromise. The book closes with her looking forward to her new life, still spirited but wiser.

Karen Cushman wraps up 'Catherine, Called Birdy' with a clever resolution that stays true to Catherine's fiery personality. Throughout the novel, Catherine fights against the medieval expectations placed on her as a nobleman's daughter. Her diary entries reveal her disgust at the suitors her father parades before her, especially the grotesque Shaggy Beard.

In the end, Catherine uses her wit to avoid marrying him. She orchestrates events so Shaggy Beard marries another woman, leaving her father frustrated but unable to force her into a match she hates. The real victory comes when she chooses Stephen, a man she respects and might even love. This isn't just a happy ending—it's a triumph of intelligence over brute force, showing how a clever girl can navigate a man's world.

The final pages hint at her continued adventures, suggesting marriage won't dull her sharp tongue or curiosity. It's a fitting conclusion for a character who spends the entire book railing against her fate while secretly longing for agency.

As someone who adored Catherine's rebellious spirit, I found the ending of 'Catherine, Called Birdy' perfectly aligned with her character arc. After pages of hilarious and heart-wrenching diary entries about her dreadful suitors, Catherine doesn't just escape—she engineers her own happy ending. Shaggy Beard, the worst of them all, becomes someone else's problem thanks to her scheming.

What’s most striking is how Catherine’s defiance softens into pragmatism without losing its edge. She doesn’t reject marriage outright; she rejects bad matches. When she accepts Stephen, it feels earned because he sees her as a person, not just a prize. The book’s final lines, with Catherine musing about her future, leave room for hope without sugarcoating medieval life’s challenges. It’s a reminder that growing up doesn’t mean surrendering—it means choosing your battles.