Chains

June 16, 2017

 

Chains is a historical fiction written by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was published in 2008 and has won the National Book Award Finalist and the 2009 Scott O’Dell Award.  She is a descendent of many soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War. American history is her passion and she has written several historical fiction novels that are used throughout the nation in classrooms today. Currently, she lives in up state New York where she works in her cottage on a variety of young adult and historical fiction books.

Summary

Chains follows the story of a young slave girl, Isabel, during the American Revolutionary War. The story opens with her visiting her mother’s grave on the way to bury her current master. She is nervous about what is in store for her and her sister, Ruth, because her deceased master wrote in her will that they are to be freed. The lawyer that possess the will has fled and instead they are sold to a new master, the Locktons. The Locktons are rich Loyalists that are cruel to Isabel and Ruth. They take them to their house in New York City on the southern part of Wall Street.

Upon arriving, Isabel meets a young slave, Curzon, whose master is a rebel. Curzon is her only friend in the new city and tries to sway her to the side of the rebels. Madam Lockton does her best to dehumanize Isabel. She strips away her name, ” ‘Ridiculous name,’ Madam said. She opened her fan and waved it in front of her face. ‘You are called Sal Lockton now. It’s more suitable.'” (p. 55) and uses Ruth to control her. Isabel decides to listen to Curzon and help the rebels because of the promise of freedom. While spying on the Locktons Ruth has a seizure and is sold by Madam. Isabel threatens her master and runs, but is denied any help from the Patriots. She is then beaten, put on trial and branded with an “I” for insolence.

Curzon leaves to fight with the rebels, leaving Isabel by herself. She then turns to the invading Redcoats in search for freedom. She is denied freedom because her masters are Loyalists and they are only providing freedom to slaves of Patriot masters. During this time she grows close with Lady Seymour who saved her life once. The Redcoats start to win more battles and capture many Patriot soldiers, Curzon being one of them, and throws them into holding cells. Curzon is on his deathbed and Isabel stops in the morning to feed them scraps. When Madam finds out she threatens Isabel saying, “‘But she’ll be soon gone, one way or another, and Elihu will be in England… That is the day you should fear, girl.'”. (p. 245)

She decides she cannot stop helping Curzon and is drawn in again to the Patriot’s side. She is caught by her Loyalist mistress and runs for her life. She frees Curzon on the way and sails across the Hudson River to freedom.

Language

This book is heavy with figurative language. Anderson uses similes, metaphors, idioms and symbolism to help the reader understand. It is difficult for a young modern reader to fully understand the setting of 1776. There are so many differences that a reader would have difficulty comprehending such as electricity, the houses, transportation, treatment amongst genders and race are different. The author has to paint a picture for the reader to gain a true understanding of the story and the characters perspective that figurative language is a great way to do that.

Lessons

This book would be more for upper elementary, middle and high school grades. If used in upper elementary I would suggest as a read aloud so the teacher can help explain the tough subjects of slavery, war, gender roles, old English language, and the figurative language. In the upper grades I would use this for the entire class to read or in literature circles. A teacher can pull in informational text to supplement the story. Just by looking at the primary document excerpts at the beginning of each chapter helps the students understand this was a real event for people. The teacher could focus on the figurative language used in the book, the character development, plot, or theme.

This book is written to gain the readers attention on slavery during the American Revolutionary War. It is a fun way for students to learn about the topic. The teacher then can enrich the students understanding by pulling in those primary documents and informational text to supplement and support what Anderson has written.

I would be cautious about the reality of war and slavery presented in this book. Anderson did not sugarcoat slavery. There was no hero for the protagonist to turn to. There were people who were nice to her, but no true hero. Also, she showed the affects of war; prisoners of war, rampant disease, starvation, wounds, and death.

What information does the author assume the reader knows?

The author expects the reader to have a basic understanding of the American Revolution. She describes a few things, but to start reading this book without any knowledge of two sides, politics or slavery would be very confusing.

Are sex roles incidental or critical to characterization or plot? Could the story be told if the sex roles were reversed?

The sex roles for this time period are critical to the characters. Madam Lockton is abused by her own husband and told what she can and cannot do. In turn she then shows the little power she does hold over Isabel. Also, Isabel pleaded with Colonel Regan to take her, but he said he needed men for ditch digging and not a woman. My heart sunk when I read that line. There was a chance she could have escaped if she were a man instead of a woman.

Who has the power? How is this power shown?

Isabel holds absolutely no power. The most powerful are rich, white males. The males make all of the decisions and rule the government and military. Even amongst those that are in the military, officers held more power are thought of as gentlemen versus the regular soldiers. The officers were put under house arrest while the soldiers were crammed into holding cells with no food. The women during this time period held no power either, they were technically owned by their husbands. A slave had the least amount of power of all. Isabel learned that she did have some power and was able to change her fate because of her education. She was taught to read and write and this helped her escape the confinements of slavery.