Chains By Laurie Halse Anderson Analysis
Chains, a work of historical fiction by Laurie Halse Anderson is about a young slave girl named Isabel living at the time of the American Revolution. She and her younger sister, Ruth are living a happy life in Rhode Island with their kind master, Miss Mary Finch, until she dies and they are turned over to her mean nephew. They are promised their freedom in Miss Mary Finch’s will, but do not receive it because nobody respects them enough to check. When they are sold to a Loyalist couple called the Locktons who live in New York City, Isabel still dreams that one day she and Ruth will become free people. Awhile later, Isabel decides to become a spy for the Patriot army, hopeful that if she helps them, they will reward her and her sister with their
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When Isabel spies for the Patriot army and tells them about the Lockton’s plan to bribe people into becoming a Loyalist, she eagerly waits for Bellingham, a Patriot officer to come to her rescue by arresting the Locktons and setting her and Ruth free.
As I gathered in the sheets, I watched the gate, waiting for the rebels to arrest the Locktons and reward me with our liberty. We would be given proper cabins on the ship, I was sure of it. No more riding in the hold with barrels of salt cod. Ruth and me would have a cabin fit for ladies, with bunks and blankets and pillows and three meals every …show more content…
The last part of the book is when Isabel bursts out of the potato bin that Madam had locked her in and runs away to find her friend, Curzon. The two then steal a boat and cross the Hudson River to New Jersey. Isabel feels the satisfaction of setting herself free, instead of waiting for somebody else to do it for her. When she wakes up on the shore of New Jersey, she realizes that she has freed herself. She says, “The sun rose beyond the water, at the other side of the river. I was on the west bank. I was in Jersey. I had set myself free.” (Anderson 300)
This quote, although short, does a great job at concluding the story and proving that Isabel has in fact taken matters into her own hands. Instead of trusting others to reward her if she succeeds, she decides to take charge and hold the reins for once. Because of her bravery and strength, Isabel is finally free from all the harsh treatment and disrespect that she has been subject to almost her whole
When Isabel spies for the Patriot army and tells them about the Lockton’s plan to bribe people into becoming a Loyalist, she eagerly waits for Bellingham, a Patriot officer to come to her rescue by arresting the Locktons and setting her and Ruth free.
As I gathered in the sheets, I watched the gate, waiting for the rebels to arrest the Locktons and reward me with our liberty. We would be given proper cabins on the ship, I was sure of it. No more riding in the hold with barrels of salt cod. Ruth and me would have a cabin fit for ladies, with bunks and blankets and pillows and three meals every …show more content…
The last part of the book is when Isabel bursts out of the potato bin that Madam had locked her in and runs away to find her friend, Curzon. The two then steal a boat and cross the Hudson River to New Jersey. Isabel feels the satisfaction of setting herself free, instead of waiting for somebody else to do it for her. When she wakes up on the shore of New Jersey, she realizes that she has freed herself. She says, “The sun rose beyond the water, at the other side of the river. I was on the west bank. I was in Jersey. I had set myself free.” (Anderson 300)
This quote, although short, does a great job at concluding the story and proving that Isabel has in fact taken matters into her own hands. Instead of trusting others to reward her if she succeeds, she decides to take charge and hold the reins for once. Because of her bravery and strength, Isabel is finally free from all the harsh treatment and disrespect that she has been subject to almost her whole