Have you ever read a story about a slave who stands up to her owner? If not, Laurie Halse Anderson’s award winning novel “Chains” is a good read for you. Isabel and her sister Ruth are young slaves during the American Revolutionary War. They are denied their right to freedom promised in a will, after their owner dies. Ruth gets taken away and sent to Charleston. Isabel struggles to gain freedom and find her sister Ruth. Isabel’s altruism, bravery and cleverness enables her to escape her new owner and gain her right to liberty.
Isabel is an altruistic girl who will put her life on the line for her sister. An example of her altruistic nature is when she took a beating for her sister. “I threw myself on top of my sister, the broom came down on my head” (pg 94). When Ruth had …show more content…
She was brave when asking Madam Lockton the whereabouts of Ruth. “Answer me you miserable cow” (pg 134) Isabel said this because she was not afraid of Madam Lockton and demonstrates bravery when addressing her. It is this bravery which drives her fight for freedom. However, one can also view her bravery as insolence, just as Madam Lockton does. “I prefer the girl be branded with the letter I for insolence. It will alert people of her tendencies and serve as a reminder for her weaknesses.”(pg 145) It is considered very rude to address your owner in that manner. On the other hand, Madam Lockton doesn't understand Isabel. What Lockton views as insolence is actually bravery and intelligence. This trait is derived from the fact that she is literate, unlike other slaves. She also watched her father fighting back against the people who were selling him. “I am a man [...] Poppa fought like a lion when they came for him, the strongest lion, roaring;” (pg 11) Isabel sees her father as a role model and admires his bravery to fight for what she believes in. Thus, she is very brave when approaching
Isabel is an altruistic girl who will put her life on the line for her sister. An example of her altruistic nature is when she took a beating for her sister. “I threw myself on top of my sister, the broom came down on my head” (pg 94). When Ruth had …show more content…
She was brave when asking Madam Lockton the whereabouts of Ruth. “Answer me you miserable cow” (pg 134) Isabel said this because she was not afraid of Madam Lockton and demonstrates bravery when addressing her. It is this bravery which drives her fight for freedom. However, one can also view her bravery as insolence, just as Madam Lockton does. “I prefer the girl be branded with the letter I for insolence. It will alert people of her tendencies and serve as a reminder for her weaknesses.”(pg 145) It is considered very rude to address your owner in that manner. On the other hand, Madam Lockton doesn't understand Isabel. What Lockton views as insolence is actually bravery and intelligence. This trait is derived from the fact that she is literate, unlike other slaves. She also watched her father fighting back against the people who were selling him. “I am a man [...] Poppa fought like a lion when they came for him, the strongest lion, roaring;” (pg 11) Isabel sees her father as a role model and admires his bravery to fight for what she believes in. Thus, she is very brave when approaching