In the story Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, a young slave girl by the name of Isabel is sold to a Loyalists couple who live in a rebel occupied New York city. Isabel, 11, and her younger sister Ruth, 5, have lost their parents and their kind owner and are being sold away from everything they have known. Although Isabel is owned by a family of Loyalists, she continues to avoid choosing a side and claims to be only fighting for herself and her sister. After being treated horribly by the Loyalists, Isabel should support the rebels and help them win their way to victory because they both deserve their freedom and have similar goals.
Other readers believe that Isabel should not support the rebels because she is owned by a Loyalists couple. Isabel is just a slave; and her opinions do not matter. This is wrong. This gives her even more of a reason to join the rebels because she is treated badly by people who support the King. The Locktons beat Isabel, take away her sister, ban any privilege she is given, and do whatever is in their power to hurt her. The rebels treated her better…
The rebels promised Isabel her freedom and Colonel Regan denied it. He returned her to Madam Lockton, she has no reason to help him ever again. This is not true. Although he betrayed Isabel, it was against the law for Colonel Regan to take her from her rightful owner. The rebels have many higher priorities than Isabel but she was taught to never give up hope. Isabel should stay supporting the rebels because she will achieve her dreams much quicker. As the story goes on, Isabel continues helping the rebels in the prison. She is beginning to gain respect from important people on the rebel side, people are aware of what she is doing. Supporting the rebels is a better idea than obeying the Locktons because she will not attain the life she…
