Revolution - Diplo ft.

Faustix, Imanos & Kai

I chose this song because I felt that it represented Isabels journey throughout the novel.
Towards the beginning come the lyrics Its never too late to change our luck. This represented
to me Isabels revelation that she needs to leave the Locktons home and find Ruth. This is when
Isabel decides that it is up to her to change her own luck. The song continues, Dont let them
break your stride/There is light on the other side/And youll see all the raindrops falling behind.
This quote from the song makes me think of Isabel and her journey because it talks about there
being good at the end of all the bad. Isabel has to realize that she needs to put the Locktons
physical and emotional abuse behind her and go on.
This song also makes me think of the war that was going on throughout the book. I
imagine this song when thinking of the Patriots. They also overcame difficulties including being
an untrained army and having little money. They put these things behind them and fought,
leading to a victory. They also had to change their luck and get past their many defeats and
fight for what they believed.

One Heart/Million Voices - New Empire

To me, this song represents the love between Isabel and her sister Ruth. It particularly
highlights for me, their relationship after Madam sells Ruth. The song illustrates Isabels hope
that one day she and Ruth will be reunited. It may be over for now /But I am sure I'll see you
again/One day my friend /When lights fade away/The memory remains. These lines speak to me
as showing a bond between two people who are close but who have been separated.
Also, the title of this song makes me think of aspects of the book in many ways. The
One heart could represent groups such as the Patriots, the Loyalists, or the slaves. These are all
groups comprised of many people from different backgrounds leading different lives who each
have their own Voice. This heart has many different voices within it, as stated in the song
title. For these reasons, I felt that this song well fit the novel Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Read All About It Emili Sand

*the only version I could access on Spotify is performed by Part 3
You've got the words to change a nation/But you're biting your tongue/You've spent a
life time stuck in silence/Afraid you'll say something wrong. These words make me think of
Isabel when she is the Locktons slave. She feels like an object and not an individual. The
Locktons could punish her for saying something they did not agree with, so she is forced into
silence. This song represents that well. I wanna scream/I wanna shout/I want to scream til the
words dry out This represents Isabels desire to have the right to speak her mind, and to be free.
The song also could represent Isabels struggle within herself. Yeah, we're all wonderful,
wonderful people/So when did we all get so fearful?/Now we're finally finding our voices. This
makes me think of someone asking themselves why it is that they have been forced into silence.
To me, this is something that Isabel struggles with throughout the novel. She wonders why it is
that she is treated as property and not allowed to speak when she really is a person like everyone
else.

The Great Escape Mike Dignam

This song illustrates someone with a plan of traveling the world and making their great
escape. Although in the song it appears that the singer is planning to travel by choice, this
makes me think of Isabels great escape when she left the Locktons home to go find Ruth and
live freely. The song says, Some day soon, I'll travel to find me/And this abyss ain't as dark as I
feared. All of Isabels life, she has been told how to think and behave, and who to be. When she
frees herself, she is going to find herself, because she can now have the freedom to become who
she is. She is about to embark on the greatest journey of her life.

Savages Pocahontas
Savages is about people who think less of others because they are different. To me, this
song represents slavery in the 1770s, which was the main conflict in the novel. The reason that
Africans were taken as slaves was that the Europeans believed because they were different, thus
less human. This also represents the relationship between Madam Lockton and Isabel and Ruth.
Madam Lockton thinks that she can abuse the girls because she thinks that they are less human.
In the song, both groups seem afraid of each other. I think that this also was the case for the
slaves and their masters. The slaves were afraid of punishments by their master for misbehavior
and the masters were afraid of their slaves rebelling.

Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley

This song is about a party in a jailhouse. Although a party never occurs in the jail in
Chains, this song relates to the novel. Nearly every day, Isabel visited the jail where Curzon was
being held. The conditions were treacherous and Isabel bringing food for the prisoners could be
considered a party for them, since it was a time that they got to be treated well. The jail could
also be a metaphor for slavery. The slaves had to find positivity in their lives so that they could
party.

Chazak Dan Nichols and Eighteen

As the last song on my Chains playlist, I chose my favorite camp song, Chazak, which
translates from Hebrew to strong The song states Cha-zak, cha-zak, vnit cha-zeik, A
common term in Judaism which means Were strong, were strong, were getting stronger.
Throughout the story, Isabel has to continue to gain strength both mentally and physically.
The song also says Be strong, let us strengthen one another. Many people in the book
Strengthen one another. One example is Isabel and Ruth. Their love and bond help to
strengthen one another. Isabels care molds Ruths personality and attitude, while being
responsible for Ruth makes Isabel more responsible and loving. Another example is Isabel and
Curzon. Isabel physically strengthens Curzon by bringing him food and fighting for him to get
his rations. He strengthens her by giving her something to be responsible for. In a way, even
Madam Lockton and Isabel strengthen each other. Madam Lockton forces Isabel to grow up and
to find her inner strength, and Isabel unfortunately is the victim of Madam Locktons physical
strength.