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.
