Summary Of Isabel's Life On The Plantation

Isabel is a young slave that worked on a plantation with her family. Being a slave was bearable on that plantation because Mrs. Finch was a good owner that treated her slaves with respect. While growing up, her mother raised her to be very spiritual. They honored their ancestors and tried to have a positive outlook. For example, Isabel’s dad got whipped one day for speaking out. Ever since then he has said those marks represent my country that I am from, which is Africa. However, everything wasn’t as jolly as it seemed because Ruth, Isabel’s sister, had what was called the falling disease. Once in a while, Ruth would have seizures that scared everyone around her. Years later Mrs. Finch died along with her mother and her dad was sold away. In
She felt that she was wronged as in Mrs. Finch’s will she was supposed to become a free young woman. She always imagined her and her sister, Ruth, living off of the land. This is demonstrated when Isabel thinks, ¨Ruth would love this. If we were free and at home in Rhode Island and these were our sheets and our laundry lines and our snow, she dance like an angel.¨ (pg. 267) This shows how much Isabel wanted to be free with her sister. It is because of this dream that she thought about escaping, but knew she would not make it past the guards. This idea is encountered when Isabel thinks, ¨If I tried to push the wheelbarrow over the cobblestones, we'd be arrested in an instant.¨ (pg. 296) It was because of the attack on the British from the Patriots that made British security so tight. Anyone who would try to sneak away would surely be caught. Isabel, however, kept pondering this idea because she wanted her freedom so
This was one of the reasons Isabel did not flee. She knew that if she tried to flee, she would be caught and brought back to Mrs. Lockton. If Mrs. Lockton knew she tried to flee Mrs. Lockton would beat both Isabel and her sister so hard they could possibly die. This is demonstrated when Ruth is sold away and Isabel tries to run away. This can be shown when the author narrated, ¨Becky dragged me down the steps and shoved me toward the open door.-Run!-she screamed¨ (pg. 135) Isabel was soon caught and branded with the letter I on her cheek. It stood for insolence. From that day on Mrs. Lockton was so mean to Isabel, Isabel feared what was going to happen. Mrs. Lockton would never look Isabel in the eye and would give her the worst chores