Chains

Building up the novel’s theme of courage, Isabel shows immense bravery in these chapters—first when she defends her sister against Madam Lockton’s physical abuse, then in her decision to foil the assassination plot against Washington. Though her subjugation in slavery could have eroded her resolve, it has instead emboldened her to pursue freedom.

These chapters further ground the reader in the historical setting of a white society buttressing itself with chattel slavery. While Madam’s brutality against Ruth may seem outlandish to modern readers, such was the plight of enslaved persons. Beatings were ubiquitous as enslavers sought to break the will of their “property,” thinking it would prevent them from rebelling. Madam’s outburst, however, is borne of pure ignorance and fear. Eighteenth-century Western medicine was still largely rudimentary and relied on medieval diagnoses and treatments, and neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, were even less understood. Puritans brought a strong religious superstition to the colonies, where it long persisted, and colonists might have interpreted a seizure as some sort of demonic manifestation. Ironically, however, as her violence intensifies, it is Madam who behaves as though possessed by evil. Master Lockton’s intervention is fortuitous, considering some of his earlier actions, yet Isabel knows Madam remains intent on ridding their house of Ruth and her mysterious condition.

The mention of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia is a factual touchstone in the narrative, foregrounding the novel’s historical context as the plot’s rising action gains momentum, and the role of a spy takes a dramatic turn for Isabel. At her first meeting spent eavesdropping on Master Lockton, she was mostly bored. However, this meeting with the mayor moves Isabel to act swiftly. She is motivated not out of a sense of duty to Washington or the rebels, but always to herself and Ruth. She sees this moment as an opportunity to negotiate for her own freedom by bartering information that will aid the freedom of the colonies.

Now more than ever before, themes of courage and freedom are intertwined: Isabel can only secure liberty if she acts with tremendous courage, and the novel emphasizes this dynamic by ramping up a sense of danger. In breaking into the library and desk, Isabel is risking her life. On the journey to the Battery, she almost fails but is saved by the kindness of another enslaved person. The use of coded messages in songs was a common practice during this era. Enslaved persons would sing songs as they worked, and while this helped relieve the stress and anguish of their plight, it could also relay important messages such as directions to safe houses on the Underground Railroad. The song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” reveals directions using the North Star as a path toward free states and liberation. Isabel’s night journey is hopefully the first step in her pursuit of freedom.

For the first time in the narrative, Isabel does not stop to ask her dead mother for help or direction before making a decision or taking action. This demonstrates growth in her character as she becomes more confident in choosing the right path. She demonstrates bravery in boldly approaching Colonel Regan and demanding his help in exchange for information. She does not beg this white man to save her but boldly and resolutely lays out her conditions before divulging the information. Though she still may be naïve to the complexity of her emancipation, her tenacity and fortitude are admirable.

The secret password given to her is symbolic. Ad astra, from the Latin “to the stars,” was first used by Virgil in his epic Aeneid. Depending on the context, the phrase has specific meanings in Virgil’s Aeneid, such as “thus one journeys to the stars” and “desire to pursue the high stars on wings.” Isabel’s quest to save Ruth and herself from the jaws of slavery truly is the highest pursuit—to seek freedom not just of their bodies but of their minds and souls.