Why doesn't Cathy want Libertie to marry Emmanuel Chase? What does she fear for her daughter?

Why doesn't Cathy want Libertie to marry Emmanuel Chase? She says to Libertie, "You chose your body over your mind." Do you agree with her assessment of Libertie's decision? What does she fear for her daughter?

Cathy tells Libertie that she is weak, she has ruined her future, and she has ruined their plans. The plan was really Cathy’s goal for them. Cathy also does not know that Libertie does not want to be a doctor and has failed as a student.

Cathy is ignorant of the fact that Libertie has been dismissed from the college, thus she feels Libertie is throwing away her opportunity to succeed. It also kills Cathy's dream of them being a team some day. She fears what her daughter will face in Haiti, and she fears what she herself will lose with Libertie gone.

As others have said, Cathy’s reason for not wanting Libertie to marry Emmanuel was selfish. She wants Libertie to be a part of her medical care goals. She assumes Libertie wants to marry for physical attraction but is unaware that Libertie’s failure in school is motivating her to flee with Emmanuel for a new life. I also wonder if Cathy’s close working relationship with Emmanuel provided insight into his attitude toward women. Because Cathy was not one to be “controlled” she assumed her daughter would be the same way. And she was right!

That is it, control. Cathy loses control, if Libertie marries Emmanuel.

I think Cathy would have opposed any marriage Libertie wanted. She viewed failure to use her education as weakness and failure. Cathy did not acknowledge that the goal of Libertie becoming a doctor was a goal for Cathy alone, and was not aware of Libertie's rebellion against her mother's pushing a medical career.

I agree with previous comments that is about control. I wonder if moving to Haiti would also feel like a step backwards for her.

I agree that Cathy is controlling and wanted to try and control every aspect of her daughter’s life. On the other hand, she is a mother who knows that her daughter is capable of so much more in life. Since mother-daughter communication was practically non-existent, neither one understood each other’s feelings. Based on the little Cathy knew, she assumed it was not a marriage based on love, but lust and she wanted to warn her daughter away from the effects that can have.

As others have said, Cathy would have to give up control of Libertie if Libertie married Emmanuel.
The reason is best summarized in this conversation between Libertie and her mother:
Cathy: "You've given up your dream."
Libertie: "It wasn't mine," I said. "You dreamt it for me."
Cathy: "It was ours."
Libertie: "I cannot join you," I said, "I am sick of the smell of other women's blood, Mama. Please."

I believe some of her feelings were selfish, she wanted to keep Libertie with her as they had planned. I also believe she did not want Libertie to marry because she would be giving up her freedom to a man. She did not want that for her daughter.

I agree with nancyh and others who believe Cathy was controlling and selfish. Having grown up with a mother who had dreams for me rather than allow me to explore and have my own dreams, I can completely relate to Libertie.