Chains

Just as the linen chest contains the secret of Tory bribery, the Locktons have secrets in their marriage. Not only do they conceal their political affiliation with the monarch, but they mask a turbulent and often violent marriage. When they appear in public, they pretend to be united and convivial—but behind closed doors, there are smashed dishes and bloodshed. Though Madam herself is abusive to those she enslaves, her place in the patriarchal system is sealed in when she is harshly disciplined by her husband for refusing subservience about leaving for Charleston. As tensions rise in the Lockton household, so do those in the city. Rumors abound about an imminent British invasion, and everyone rushes to fortify the defenses. Isabel remains focused on her deliverance, but she will have to remain patient as her plight is overshadowed by the inevitability of war.

Isabel’s first meeting with Lady Seymour is brief and overshadowed by Ruth’s fear and sadness, but their second meeting provides Isabel a brief respite from the chaotic tyranny of the Lockton home. Lady Seymour’s home is welcoming and cheerful with a red door and heart-shaped knocker, symbolizing the love and compassion housed inside. Lady Seymour’s presence is an oasis of humanity for Isabel, as Lady Seymour not only uses Isabel’s given name but also offers her food and drink. Lady Seymour is compassionate and owns no slaves, and she treats Isabel with dignity. Isabel returns home with renewed hope.

When Isabel plants her mother’s seeds, the gesture symbolizes anticipation. She knows not what will grow from them, but the connection with her mother is comforting. Just as she is uncertain what she will reap from her spying, she sows the effort anyway because at least she is doing something. Her midnight trip to the library, however, is the most liberating moment yet for the young protagonist. Relishing in her gift of literacy, she takes a risk in stealing into the forbidden library for a chance to immerse herself in a book. This is not just an ordinary pleasure of reading; many slave holders deny literature and even writing material to those they enslave, so this moment feels almost unimaginably extraordinary for Isabel. Her choice of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is ironic, for Crusoe, too, is trapped. The novel, published in 1719, tells the story of a man marooned on a desert island for 28 years. During his ordeal, he faces many life-threatening circumstances before finally being rescued. Isabel will find a kinship with Crusoe, as they are both stranded in perilous situations. She can only hope her deliverance will not take as long as his.