Chains Themes
The main themes in Chains are memory and ancestry; slavery, freedom, and rebellion; and growth and coming of age.
- Memory and ancestry: Isabel has a powerful memory and connection to her ancestry, both of which help guide her in adversity but are threatened by loss and trauma.
- Slavery, freedom, and rebellion: While Isabel struggles to achieve freedom from enslavement for herself and Ruth, the colonies struggle to achieve freedom from British rule.
- Growth and coming of age: Isabel’s maturation over the course of the novel is reflected in her smuggled seeds and in her choosing her own new name, Isabel Gardener.
Themes: All Themes
Themes: Memory and Ancestry
The power of Isabel’s memory is a recurring theme throughout Chains. In the beginning of the narrative, she’s praised for it by others—her memory is remarkable enough that even Jenny, the woman who recognizes Isabel from her childhood and hasn’t seen her since then, mentions it when they meet at the inn where the sisters are sold to the Locktons.
When Isabel suffers a serious multipart trauma—the loss of her sister, Ruth, which leads to...
(Read more)Themes: Slavery, Freedom, and Rebellion
Throughout the book, Isabel’s actions are in service of one overarching goal: liberating herself and her sister, Ruth, from enslavement. This goal is especially urgent to Isabel, who now has to live knowing just how close the two came to achieving freedom—per the will of Miss Mary Finch, they were to be freed upon Miss Finch’s death. When Mr. Robert Finch denies them this promise in order to make money on their sale to the Locktons, the inherent...
(Read more)Themes: Growth and Coming of Age
Throughout Chains, plants can be seen as an analog to Isabel’s own growth and maturity.
When Isabel and Ruth are sold by the Locktons, Isabel realizes there’s only one souvenir small enough to covertly fit in her pocket: a handful of Momma’s seeds. When she arrives at the Lockton home, Isabel notes that the Locktons aren’t especially adept gardeners, and this foreshadows the inhospitable environment she and Ruth find there. After planting the...
(Read more)Expert Q&A
Main plot points and central themes of Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson follows Isabel, an enslaved girl in Revolutionary War-era America, as she fights for her freedom. Major plot points include Isabel's struggle with her cruel owners and her efforts to aid the Patriot cause. Central themes include the quest for freedom, the impact of war on individuals, and the strength of the human spirit in overcoming oppression.
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