Aug 31, 20 in many respects, 12 years a slave works like a horror movie, beginning with a sawstyle abduction and proceeding through subsequent circles of hell, the tension amplified by a score. Naturally a joyous creature, a laughing lighthearted girl, frequent beatings and abuse made her despondent and suicidal as the years went on. Solomon northup is the author of twelve years a s lave. Born a free man in new york in 1808, he is kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841. The movie twelve years a slave was based on the slave narrative written by solomon northup. I hope my film can play a part in drawing attention to this important book of courage. The protest without hatred 12 years a slave is a book about the slavery in the precivil war south. Another slave, solomon northup who was later freed, wrote about her in his book twelve years a slave.
With chiwetel ejiofor, michael kenneth williams, michael fassbender, brad pitt. Bass argues against slavery with epps, who laughs in the book twelve years a slave, epps describes platts popularity and inventiveness to bass, calling platt a genius, while also defending slavery. Revolution to the civil war 17831861 african americans biography. Twelve years a s lave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by american solomon northup as told to and edited by david wilson. Patsey is a twentythreeyearold, beautiful slave girl belonging to edwin. Introduction the movie 12 years a slave was released in 20, covering the precivil war period in america, this astounding award winning motion picture film, tells the story of a free man sold into slavery and regaining his. Oct 28, 20 12 years a slave is just such an oral account. Eliza berry character analysis in 12 years a slave litcharts.
Oct 23, 20 it tells the story of solomon northup chiwetel ejiofor, who lived as a free african american in saratoga springs, new york in 1841 when he was kidnapped, and sold into slavery for 12 years. It would be very hard to include all the details of the book in the film. Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and. All other slave narrators had been born into slavery. Steve mcqueen, director of 12 years a slave, from the foreword. Slavery didnt persist for decades because every living free man and woman in the united states was an irredeemably evil person. Solomon northup is the author of twelve years a slave. Screenplay by john ridley based on a twelve years a slave by solomon northup. He was in bondage for 12 years in louisiana before he was able to secretly get information to. Although i do think it should and deserves to win plenty of awards, 12 years a slave wasnt perfect for me. Narrative of solomon northup, a citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river in louisiana. The fact that only two of them solomon northups 12 years a slave and alex haleys roots. Some of the characters were omitted and some were interchanged. Though northup was literate, his autobiography was written by david wilson, a white lawyer and state legislator from glens falls, new york.
His abduction as a free man, his resulting transformation into a slave and his detainment as a slave irreversibly altered the course of his life. The author of the memoir 12 years a slave, he chronicled his experience and. For the first two years, solomon works for epps on a plantation that epps leases or rents from his wifes uncle, joseph b. We continue our analysis of the script 12 years a slave by considering the. The narrative twelve years a slave is a mesmerizing memoir of the life of solomon northup. Twelve years a slave 57th bfi london film festival 15 telluride film festival day 3 12 telluride film festival day 2 8 photos from the envelope screening series 8 exclusive photos from 12 years a slave 7 stills from 12 years a slave 6 actors and actresses nominated for the 2014 golden globe awards 3. This study guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of twelve years a slave. Meets unscrupulous characters, is betrayed and kidnapped. Code switch solomon northup, an africanamerican musician from new york, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841. Response to 12 years a slave essay 41 words 5 pages. Northups book was published in 1853, less than a year after his liberation. Solomon northrup was a free man born july of 1808 in the north this is stated on page18. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Here is a list of the key characters from the script in order of appearance. To understand a historical development, however, a literary analysis of the works isnt sufficient to uncover all tendencies and reasons for before mentioned development. Major characters solomon northup, aka platt a free black man who lived in the northern. An illustration of patseys whipping from the book 12 years a slave. In twelve years a slave northup wrote that as he was about to leave the.
Most slave owners or individuals that agreed with slavery thought that paternalism was a good thing. Born free and illegally kidnapped, he spends 12 years in slavery before achieving his freedom. She was a victim of repeated rapings by edwin epps and also of the jealous cruelty of epps wife. Twelve years a slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by american solomon northup as told to and edited by david wilson. And for years to come the relationship between whites and blacks where influenced by slavery. The true story of freeborn africanamerican, 12 years a slave chronicles solomon northups journey from personhood to inhumanity and back again. Solomon was married to anne hampton northup and with her had three children. Mar 02, 2014 an illustration of patseys whipping from the book 12 years a slave. The online edition has duplicate pages and is missing several pages e. Animal pen day we are outside of a smallish animal pen. Northup a white man, related to the family that owned solomons father as a slave, and from the family from which solomon took his last name. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
I basically made it my passion to make this book into a film. Jan 10, 2014 as steve mcqueens oscar favourite 12 years a slave opens at cinemas, sarah churchwell returns to the 1853 memoir that inspired it one of many narratives that exposed the brutal truth about. Eliza fellow slave whose son and daughter are sold and taken away from her. Lesson plans and resources for twelve years a slave. Paternalism to them was that they were doing to salves a favor, owning them was in the slaves best interest, but to african american it was a. Oct 17, 20 the true story of freeborn africanamerican, 12 years a slave chronicles solomon northups journey from personhood to inhumanity and back again. Twelve years a slave by solomon northup free ebook.
Epps is solomon s third and most inhumane master, whom solomon serves for ten years. Twelve years a slave is a captivating narrative of the life of freedom and slavery experienced by one african american man prior to the american civil war. But was the third child of anne and solomon may 30, 1834. There were the highest expectations for the film 12 years a slave 20, the motion picture about the enslavement of africans in america by the black british visual artist and film director steve mcqueen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Other characters in the film were also real people, including edwin and mary. Norris, the films costume designer, was simply working to get clothes on the actors. Elizabeth was not mentioned in the book or the movie. One of the sailors attempts to rape a female slave, but is stopped by a male slave. The movie won the bafta award and the academy award for best picture as well as the golden globe award for best drama.
It is one of the most important of the slave narratives because it was published shortly after harriet beecher stowes immensely popular and influential. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before. He was in bondage for 12 years in louisiana before he was able to secretly. Though northup was literate, his autobiography was written by david wilson, a white lawyer and. Patsey was an africanamerican slave who lived in the mid 19th century. Next, the fact that slavery were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names us house representative, 2008 was convincingly demonstrated in series of events and scenes from the movie twelve years a slave. In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery.
He frequently rapes a female slave on his plantation, patsey, which is a. The book is detailed in its account of life on a cotton and sugar plantation and the daily routine of slave life during the first part of the 19th century. This is the true story of solomon northup, who was born and raised as a freeman in new york. Rex d irected by the british artist and filmmaker steve mcqueen, 12 years a slave. Google digitizing the worlds books seems like an excellent idea, but if the results are as poor as this.
Twelve years a slave plot differences between the film. Clashes with eliza and other slaves who dont trust whites midpoint. The saga of an american family managed to attract popular attention and enter mainstream media may be somewhat dismaying for such. A free black man born in the state of new york in july 1808, solomon northup is a kind, respected, and. Born in july 1808, he was the son of an emancipated slave. The book has a lot of information from solomons cunning ways for survival to a very detailed description of agriculture in the red river area. The book twelve years a slave is one mans account of his kidnapping and being sold into slavery. His book was reissued in a scholarly edition in 1968, and it was what prompted this film.
As steve mcqueens oscar favourite 12 years a slave opens at cinemas, sarah churchwell returns to the 1853 memoir that inspired it one of many narratives that exposed the brutal truth about. Ive been to upstate new york, and it was full of a lot of big dead fish. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before being released. Solomon serves epps for ten years, and epps is the most cruel and inhumane of masters. Kept in bondage in louisiana for 12 years, enduring backbreaking labor, unimaginable violence, and inhumane. Patsey a 23 year old black slave of edwin epps, and the most tragic figure in 12 years a s lave. Finding the real patsey of 12 years a slave vanity fair. Solomon northup, aka platt a free black man who lived in the northern united states in the 1800s, solomon was kidnapped in 1841, at age 33, and sold into slavery in the south, where he lived until he was rescued by friends in 1853. Based on the true story of solomon northups precivil war journey from freedom to slavery and back again, 12. Twelve years a slave solomon northrup character analysis. Ray velcoro beats up bullys dad true detective season 2 duration. Mar 10, 2014 ex slaves talk about slavery in the usa duration. Need help on characters in solomon northrups 12 years a slave. What happened was a national version of the personal denials shown in 12 years a slave.
He was guilty of frequently raping and whipping the slave girl patsey. Mcqueens 12 years a slave, a dramatization of northups own book by that. He takes pride in breaking the spirit of the slave with the lash and other degradations. The twisted relationship dynamics between the two lead female characters patsey lupita nyongo and mistress epps sarah paulson in 12 years a slave are a horror a painfully vivid. Mistress epps character analysis in 12 years a slave litcharts. The uniqueness of northups book lies in the fact that unlike other slave narrated books. The film is based on the memoir written by solomon northup, which reveals what happened after solomon played by chiwetel ejiofor a free black man living in new york in precivil war america was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The build and design is that of early 19th century american. During his time as a slave, he keeps journals outlining everything he experienced, making the faithfulness to. The author of the memoir 12 years a slave, he chronicled his experience and ultimate emancipation as part of the abolitionist movement in the mid1800s. The story was a violent protestation, but also full of love without any hatred of black people, who were being slaved for all their life.
In chapters i and ii, northup tells of his life as a free black man living in upstate new york. Was upstate new york really that utopian back then. The staking out and flogging of the girl named patsey. Epps is married to mistress epps, and the two have at least two children, although only one, young master read full character analysis bass is a kindhearted white carpenter from canada who works on a construction project for edwin epps. The book is detailed in its account of life on a cotton and sugar plantation and the daily routine of slave life during the first part of. It was written based on a true story that happened to solomon northup who is also the author of the book. Twelve years a slave 1853, i have a dream 1963 and 12 years a slave 2014. This dream is fulfilled at the end of the book, when solomon returns home to new york to find his wife and children alive and well.
Northup, a black man who was born free in new york state, details his being tricked to go to washington, d. Based on the autobiographical narrative 1853 of solomon northup. There are many disturbing scenes in steve mcqueens new film, 12 years a slave. Chapter 3 during his two weeks in williams slave pen, solomon meets eliza, the mother of the young randall whom solomon had. Born and raised a freeman in new york, with a house, a loving wife and two children, northup was offered a shortterm engagement as a violinist in washington d.
Then one day he was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery in the deep. Solomon northups twelve years a slave essay 2715 words. The 12 years a slave quotes below are all either spoken by mistress epps or refer to mistress epps. I saw the movie first and read the book shortly after. It was twelve years before his legal rights as a free man could be asserted. Theres no doubt that oscar nominations and possibly some wins lie ahead for director steven mcqueens acclaimed drama, 12 years a slave. From the moment the film first screened at the telluride film festival in colorado last august, critics and culture writers were calling 12 years the. Choose from 500 different sets of 12 years a slave characters flashcards on quizlet.
Learn 12 years a slave characters with free interactive flashcards. While the director steve mcqueen grappled with the emotional, social and political struggles that went into 12 years a slave, the story of a free black man solomon northup kidnapped into slavery in the antebellum south, ms. Nov 25, 20 in the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Twelve years a slave was recorded by david wilson, a white lawyer and legislator from new york who claimed to have presented a faithful history of solomon northups life, as i received it from his lips p. The s word, the d word, and 12 years a slave sojourners. Patsey is a twentythreeyear old, beautiful slave girl belonging to edwin epps. He lived the american dream, with a house and a loving family a wife and two kids. It continued because people got used to it and compartmentalized it. Mistress epps character analysis in 12 years a slave.
13 548 246 1194 703 78 755 60 809 1127 47 714 1115 265 371 140 1268 1101 797 497 1101 1035 1413 1496 82 195 440 1322 560 682 672 1287 553 571 842 145 470 850 1472 1416 1136 53