Memory means two critical things to Isabel in Chains. It's a natural skill she's carefully honed since childhood, one that she cannot make her way to freedom without, and it's also a source of comfort and guidance, as she often draws on memories of her parents and Ruth to guide her through challenging and painful situations. The importance of memories to Isabel is a powerful portrayal of how the past can literally be our salvation. For more on this theme, read up on family elsewhere in this section.
Questions About Memory and the Past
- How does Isabel's skill of remembering result in positive and negative outcomes in her experiences?
- Why is Isabel's memory so important to her quest to spy for the Patriots?
- How do memories of her family affect Isabel?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Without her perfect memory, Isabel never would have escaped from slavery.
Memories of the past save Isabel, but also hurt her as well.