The core of Chains might be Isabel's battle against the evils of slavery (and Madam Lockton), but we can't get the whole picture of her story without looking at the larger battle taking place in the background: the American Revolution.
Whether it's the brutal honesty of All Quiet on the Western Front or Kurt Vonnegut's time-shifting Slaughterhouse Five, literature has a long tradition of novels about the horrors and sacrifices of battle. What makes Chains' rendering of war different, though, is that it reveals these details through the eyes of children. Isabel and Curzon's interpretations of the battle for independence give readers a unique, haunting perspective on this period of history.
Questions About Warfare
- What does Isabel know about the war before she comes to New York? How does her knowledge of the conflict change throughout the book?
- How do Isabel and Curzon's experiences of the Revolution teach readers about its events?
- What events in the story advance Isabel's understanding of the war for independence? Make a timeline of the experiences that teach her what the Patriots are fighting for.
Chew on This
Despite her low social status as a slave, Isabel is one of the most knowledgeable characters in the story in regard to her understanding of the war.
In spite of their ages, Isabel and Curzon's experiences present an all-inclusive picture of the rationale, sacrifice, and suffering of the Revolution.