Worldview And Conflicts In Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains

Like a slave escaping, writing is a journey of chance. In the novel Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, Isabel is a slave sold by a relative of the deceased Miss Mary Finch. Robert Finch sells her to a cruel dysfunctional Loyalist couple, The Lockton's. With an abusive husband, Madam mirrors the same behavior towards Isabel and her sister Ruth. as the While reading the novel Chains, the daily lives of slaves, indentured servants and members of the loyalist gentry intersect, revealing a great deal about the varied living conditions, worldview and conflicts experienced by colonists during this time period.

Isabel's packed daily life, atrocious living conditions, and cruel conflicts are clearly depicted in the novel. One night "When Madam

After Isabel gets back from Lady Seymour's; from getting branded Madam puts her eight back to work: "Tell the girl the hearth needs sweeping"(157) she said this to Becky because she didn't want to talk to this 'Insolent' child. This is a great example of Madam's selfish cruel ways. Madams living conditions are also extraordinary as Isabel says while cleaning up there as Mdan had ordered, "It was another parlor, three times the size of the one downstairs." (69). But Master Lockton is extremely aggressive towards her like "when he without warning, hit Madam with all the force in his arm. She flew into the bookcase, causing several books to tumble to the ground.” (109). This somehow explains her actions towards Isabel even though that's not a valid excuse. The theme of her conflicts, daily life and living conditions seem to be very similar to her husband… The

Master Lockton Daily Life usually consists of meetings in his office that is"the same size and shape of the parlor",(84) their fancy room for when they hosted any kind of guests. Except "two of the walls had bookcases in them"(84). This shows Lockton's careful daily life as his meeting with fellow loyalists are held here in secret. Master Lockton's conflict may be minuscule but his retaliations are unbelieveable. When Madam shouts "I will not! I will not be left at the mercy of our enemies while you slink away."(108) He then proceeded to hit Madam causing her several wounds. Lockton also has a very expensive bedroom that he eventually puts Lady Seymour in it was "a large room made small by the four-post canopy bed that sat as high as a carriage"(132) This shows his amazing living conditions through the soze of his room and his very tall bed. Master Lockton has amazing potential to do something good with Shia dvantages but chooses to be mean, cruel and selfish