Analysis Of Solomon Northup s Twelve Years A Slave

Introduction Retold by Solomon Northup (and edited by David Wilson), Twelve Years A Slave is a memoir and slave narrative that captured the author s incredible story- he was a free black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold to the Southern of the United States as a subject to slavery from 1841 to 1853 before being rescued by the efforts of his family and friends. Using detailed imagery to recounted Northup s arduous experience as a slave, the book eloquently exposed important controversies associated with slavery to the public during the years leading up to the Civil War, which eventually abolished slavery nationwide. Synopsis Borned to a former slave, Solomon Northup had ever since breathed the free air at New York as a negro†¦show more content†¦Nevertheless, two years later, Ford’s financial difficulties had pushed Northup to Edwin Epps, an extremely cruel cotton and sugarcane plantation owner, where he endured and suffered the next 10 years of extreme physical and emotional abuses. Northup worn out by fulfilling his roles as a cotton picker, hauler and driver. In addition, his moral stance was greatly devalued when he was forced to punished his fellow slaves whenever they performed undesirable outcomes. Under the abyss of desperation and dead-silence for 12 years, Northup decided to unfolded his story to Samuel Bass, a white Canadian carpenter who was working under Epps’ plantation. Bass send Northup’s letters to his family and friends in Saratoga, and with assistance of Henry B. Northup, a white politician and attorney, Samuel Northup was finally released to freedom on January 1853. He filed a lawsuit against the men to captured him to slavery, but was unsuccessful. At last, after twelve years, Northup was able to reunited with his beloved family in New York. Why The Book Was Chosen Having the opportunity to watch the 2013 movie-adapted version â€Å"12 Years A Slave† in last year’s AP World History, I was completely struck by the torment that Solomon Northup and other slaves had to withstand during the pre-Civil War. However, the rigorous, fast-paced curriculum did not allow me to deepen my understanding about the issue of slavery in America. Since I was veryShow MoreRelatedA Man With Black Skin Essay1818 Words   |  8 Pagesthe painful lash of slavery. Solomon Northup, who presumably died with the same freedoms he entered the world with, spent twelve years imprisoned in a system that he knew of, but was not familiar with. This southern slave institution proved to have infested southerners with a mindset dissimilar to the ideals of the Constitution, but rationalized it with their capitalistic and Christian culture. This same rationalization would send Northup â€Å"downriver† to a twelve-year purgatory, one he struggled toRead More12 Years a Slave and Fruitvale Station Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pagesorder for justice to be truthful. Through analysis of present day motion pictures that stem from American history such as â€Å"12 Years A Slave† and â€Å"Fruitvale Station† reveals some of the legal and ethical concerns that are prominent today can be revealed: Historically law has been altered but the integrity of the law still remains in question. Literature Review Let’s start with some of the issues that were brought about in the film â€Å"12 Years A Slave†. After viewing the movie twice, not only didRead MoreBefore President Lincoln Issued The Emancipation Proclamation,1920 Words   |  8 PagesLincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, claiming a human being as property was the norm—slavery was completely acceptable. As portrayed in the film 12 Years A Slave, main character Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Throughout his twelve year, heartbreaking, journey as a slave, Solomon is stripped of his name, beaten, overworked, belittled, and dehumanized. Taking a sociological view of Solomon’s experiences, can lead to a different perspective