Final answer:
Loyalists like the Locktons in the Revolutionary era were loyal to the British Crown, while the loyalties of a slave character like Isabel would likely center on personal freedom and the safety of loved ones. Clashing loyalties in this context often drive the plot and character development in novels set during this period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Loyalists and Loyalties in the Context of the American Revolution:-
Elihu and Anne Lockton, mentioned as 'Loyalists,' were loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War. Loyalists, also known as Tories, supported the British government for various reasons, including business associations, the belief in British constitutional authority, or distrust towards the Revolutionaries. They could be royal officials, merchants, or residents who preferred the existing British rule to the uncertain future proposed by the American Revolution.
Isabel's loyalties, in contrast, would be shaped by her personal circumstances as a slave. For one like Isabel, loyalty might lie in seeking freedom, security, and the well-being of those close to her rather than a political allegiance. In novels set in this period, clashing loyalties often serve as a driving force for the characters' decisions and development, reflecting the divided loyalties that real individuals faced during the tumultuous times of the American Revolution.
The concept of loyalty plays a significant role in such narratives, often challenging characters to make difficult choices between personal convictions and survival, between allegiances to causes or individuals, and can ignite internal conflicts reflective of the larger societal divisions of the era.