Mrs. Lockton In Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains

“Among all the species and degrees of slavery that have excited the attention of mankind . . . there is perhaps none more pitiable than that of the ill-sooted wife. She is bound by ties from which nothing but death can release her, and whatever her suffering and her wrongs is compelled by delicacy and a regard for personal reputation . . . to submit to them in silence, and conceal them from observation.” - Unsigned Colonial-era letter. This quote perfectly describes the situation in which Mrs. Lockton, a character from Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel, Chains, finds herself in. Her story takes place in a revolutionary war torn New York. The novel is centered in a loyalist household where Isabel is a slave to Madam Lockton. They both must resist the chains by which life and
Due to the racial biases at this time, Isabel, having black skin was considered a lesser person, and was a slave from the time she was born. Isabel started in a kinder household, where she came her closest to freedom, but had the chance taken away from her when she was sold to a new family. At a very young age Isabel began working for Mrs. Lockton, with her sister Ruth, and saw the true unfairness of slavery. She was mistreated and abused by her mistress. This time her masters went by the names of Mrs. and Mr. Lockton, this leads us to our next character, Madam Lockton. Even though she was wealthy, Mrs. Lockton was also born into a form of slavery. As a woman she was always the property of a man, whether it be her father, or her husband. She continually tried to stand up for herself, even though she was beaten because her husband saw her as property. Society thought that the man's life should be protected over the woman’s, because they are more valuable. “She stopped as Madam cried out in pain. ‘The master likes to be obeyed. He’s not happy she wants to head for Charleston. And she don’t want to stay here.” This is a quote from Becky, a servant in the Lockton household.