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... This is illustrated in the novel Birdy, by William Wharton.
Birdy feels that knowing is being able to live free of society’s opinions. ... Birdy disagrees with society’s image of how men are portrayed and feels that typical gender roles should be more flexible. In fact, in Birdy’s dream life he is a female bird. Birdy does not feel that society should reserve certain activities for only one gender but welcome everyone regardless of sex.
Birdy feels that playing is enjoyable because it involves no rules. ... Games, on the other hand, involve everything Birdy does not want to face. ... Birdy cannot see how games can be considered fun or how anyone would want to participate in such an ordeal when they could simply play. ... 208) This is similar to how Birdy views civilization. ... Birdy prefers to ignore society’s expectations and drift into a fantasy world controlled by himself. ...
Birdy and his mother do not have a good relationship because they have different values. Birdy’s mother blames herself for her son’s social non-acceptance and she goes to extremes to attempt to force her son to be accepted. ... Birdy’s mother’s love for him is conditional. ... Birdy seeks his mother’s love, approval and acceptance but will not change who he is to gain her respect. ... 222) Birdy’s mother forcing him to go to his prom had no effect on his views of maintaining a traditional gender role. ... By attending the prom, Birdy did not feel any more accepted by society and if anything it turned him away from society. ... Birdy thought about his dream world the entire night and that kept him going. ... 226)
The baseballs that Birdy’s mother steal every time they land in her yard symbolize Birdy’s eggs. ... 305) Birdy’s mother thinks that taking away her son’s “eggs” will make him realize that having eggs is wrong and once his eggs are taken from him society will be able to accept him. ... Birdy knew that it was her fault he did not really have any friends and did not want to be rejected by the other children, so he made it seem like he was the one rejecting them. Birdy used his philosophy on preferring to play, which involved freedom and solidarity, than participating in games, which involved rules and teams, as a cover up for how much he wanted to be included but could not because his mother ruined his chances. ... 45)
As soon as Birdy’s mother finds out that he has been collecting pigeons, she immediately has his pigeon loft destroyed. ... She has no real explanation of how and why society’s laws permit and forbid different behaviours and as a result Birdy thinks that his philosophies are correct. ... 44) Birdy feels that the traditional gender role society places on people is pointless. ... Birdy feels that being macho for his mother’s sake, more than for his own, does not make him feel accepted by society. ...
Though they hardly speak to one another, Birdy and his father have a good relationship. It is easy for Birdy to relate to his father because they both share Birdy’s mother’s disapproval which is society’s disapproval. Birdy senses society’s disapproval for his father yet Birdy also senses his father’s inner satisfaction. Birdy’s father is a role model to him because he is able to live through knowing, despite society’s opinions, and still maintain a sense of inner fulfilment. ... 62) Birdy’s father is a janitor. ... If Birdy’s father truly cared about society’s approval he would find a job that satisfied society, even if it did not satisfy himself.
Approximate Word count = 2972
Approximate Pages = 11.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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