12 years a slave analysis

8/17/2019 12 Years a Slave Analysis

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12 Years a SlaveSolomon Northup

Solomon Northup’s 12 Years a Slave recounts the author’s life story as a free black

man from the North who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War

South !he son of an emancipated slave" Northup was born free #e lived" worked" and

married in upstate New York" where his family resided #e was a multifaceted laborer

and also an accomplished violin player $n 1%&1" two con men o'ered him lucrativework playin( )ddle in a circus" so he traveled with them to Washin(ton" *C" where

he was dru((ed" kidnapped" and subse+uently sold as a slave into the ,ed ,iver

re(ion of ouisiana .or the ne/t twelve years he survived as the human property of

several di'erent slave masters" with the bulk of his bonda(e lived under the cruel

ownership of a southern planter named 0dwin 0pps $n anuary 1%3" Northup was

)nally freed by Northern friends who came to his rescue #e returned home to his

family in New York and there" with the help of editor *avid Wilson" wrote his account

in 12 Years a Slave

Written by4 Solomon Northup 5as told to editor *avid Wilson6Type of Work: Slave narrative

Genre4 7utobio(raphy89emoir

First Published4 1%3

Settin !primary": !he ,ed ,iver re(ion of ouisiana

Settins !se#ondary": Sarato(a Sprin(s" New York: Washin(ton" *C: New ;rleans"ouisiana

$ain %hara#ters: Solomon Northup 5aka 6" ames # ?urch" William .ord" ohn9 !ibeats" 0dwin 0pps" =atsey" 9istress 0pps" 9r ?ass" #enry ? Northup

$a&or Themati# Topi#s: Slavery as a moral cancer: freedom: in@ustice: the inherentdi(nity of all humanity: the place of women in society: reli(ion and slavery: man’s

inhumanity to man: slavery’s toll on servant and master alike

$a&or symbols: Chains: the whip: the ?ible: water: the swamp

$ovie 'ersions: 12 Years a Slave 52A136

!he three most important aspects of 12 Years a Slave4 12 Years a Slave presents a

startlin(ly accurate and veri)able account of the common slave e/perience in the

Bnited States in the antebellum 5pre-Civil War6 South .rom start to )nish" basic facts

about the time" the places" the people" and the practices of the day are incorporated"

sometimes in e/cessive detail" into Northup’s story #e speaks with authority on all

sub@ects of his enslavement" namin( names and pointin( out landmarks alon( the

way $n doin( so" he dares skeptics to refute his story" knowin( that public records and

common knowled(e would defend it .or e/ample" when Northup accuses a wicked

slave trader of keepin( him captive in Washin(ton" *C" he not only names that

slaver" he names the slaver’s accomplice" identi)es e/actly where the slave pen is

hidden" and describes the physical structure of the slave pen in detail !he result*urin( the trial that took place after Northup had been freed" that slave trader

couldn’t deny havin( kept Northup as his captive in that now-e/posed slave pen

7dditionally" the accuracy of and factual detail in 12 Years a Slave have kept this book


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Solomon protests his captivity and asserts his right to freedom, Burch responds by beating him

into submission and threatening to kill him if he ever mentions his freedom again. At length,

Solomon is allowed to join the other slaves being held by Burch, and he discovers just how

hopeless his situation is. Surrounded by slaves and a few other kidnap victims, he is transported

downriver, eventually landing in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Solomon and the rest of “Burch’s gang” are transferred into the slave pen of Burch’s associate,Theophilus Freeman. Freeman changes Solomon’s name to “Platt,” thereby erasing any

connection to his past. Solomon is put up for sale, but his sale is delayed when he contracts

smallpox, which nearly kills him. After he finally recovers, he is sold, along with a slave girl named

Eliza, to a man named William Ford.

3. Solomon Northup: Slave

Next begins the third leg of Solomon Northup’s journey, told in Chapters VII–XI. Solomon is now a

full-fledged slave named “Platt,” working on the plantation and lumber mill of William Ford, deep inthe heart of Louisiana. Ford is a kindly master, devout in his Christian faith, and given to generosity

toward his slaves. Solomon finds it almost a pleasure to be in Ford’s service and even figures out a

way for Ford to save considerable time and money by transporting lumber via waterway instead of

by land. Solomon is well-liked by Ford in return. However, a series of financial missteps result in

Ford selling Platt to a cruel carpenter named John M. Tibeats.

Tibeats soon becomes Platt’s worst enemy, constantly threatening and berating him. While

working on a project, Tibeats becomes so enraged that he attempts to whip Platt. Platt is the

stronger of the two, though, and he turns the tables on his new master, whipping him instead. Hell-

bent on revenge, Tibeats twice attempts to murder Platt. Only the intervention of William Ford and

his overseer, Mr. Chapin, saves the slave’s life. Unable to kill him, yet bearing murderous hatred

toward him, Tibeats sells Platt to the notorious “nigger breaker,” Edwin Epps.

4. Solomon Northup: Slave Under Edwin Epps

The fourth phase of Solomon Northup’s12 Years a Slave, told in Chapters XII–XX, focuses on the

ten years he lived under the tyranny of Edwin Epps on two different plantations in Bayou Boeuf,

along the banks of the Red River in Louisiana. Epps is indeed a cruel master. A whip is his

constant companion, and he uses it almost daily on his slaves. Solomon describes his life under

Epps in detail, relating stories of abuse, humiliation, and deprivation among all the slaves.

Patsey, a slave girl, gets the worst of Epps’ treatment: She is repeatedly raped by him and also

whipped by him at the insistence of his jealous wife. At the worst point, she visits a friend at a

nearby plantation simply to get a bar of soap because Epps’ wife won’t allow her to have any.

When Patsey returns, Epps is furious, thinking her guilty of a sexual encounter. Platt is forced to

whip a naked, helpless Patsey while she screams for mercy.

The years pass by, and Solomon almost loses hope. Then he meets a carpenter named Bass, an

abolitionist from Canada who is hired to work on a building project for Epps. Bass learns of


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Solomon’s story and decides to help. He sends letters to Solomon’s friends in the North, asking

them to come and rescue the slave from his captivity.

5. Solomon Northup: Free Man Again

The final section of12 Years of Slave, Chapters XXI and XXII (and Appendix), tells of Solomon’s

escape from captivity. Thanks to the faithfulness of Bass, Solomon’s friends in the North arealerted to his location and come to set him free. Henry B. Northup, a white man who is a relative of

the person who once owned Solomon’s father, gathers legal support and travels to Louisiana to

find the slave. After some searching, he finds “Platt” and, with the help of a local sheriff,

emancipates him from the clutches of Edwin Epps.

They travel back to New York, stopping for a time in Washington, D.C., to pursue legal charges

against James H. Burch for his role in the kidnapping of Solomon Northup. In the end, though,

Burch is acquitted because of false witnesses and racist bias in the courtroom. After that, Solomon

is finally reunited with his family in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he finds that his daughterhas married and he is now a grandfather. His grandson has been named in his honor: Solomon

Northup Staunton.

Character List

Major Characters

Solomon Northup, aka “Platt”A free black man who lived in the northern United States in the1800s, 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. Solomon was married to Anne (Hampton) Northup

and with her had three children: Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo. The author of the memoir12

Years a Slave, he chronicled his experience and ultimate emancipation as part of the abolitionist

movement in the mid-1800s.

Henry B. NorthupA white man, related to the family that owned Solomon’s father as a slave, and

from the family from which Solomon took his last name. A lawyer, he journeyed south to rescue

Solomon from captivity.

Merrill BrownOne of two white con men who, with Abram Hamilton, deceived Solomon Northup

and orchestrated his kidnapping. About 40 years old, short, and thick-set, Brown, with Hamilton,

promised Northup lucrative work as a violin player in a circus, and thereby convinced him to

accompany them to Washington, D.C. There they drugged him and allegedly sold him to slave

trader James H. Burch while he was unconscious.

Abram HamiltonWith Merrill Brown, co-kidnapper of Solomon Northup. Around 25 years old, tall,

thin, and somewhat effeminate.

James H. BurchA brutal slave dealer who first kept Solomon Northup in captivity in Washington,

D.C. A business partner with Theophilus Freeman of New Orleans, Burch was white, around 40


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years old, and a large, powerful man with chestnut hair, slightly gray. Burch shackled Northup in a

hidden slave pen and then, apparently enraged by Northup’s claims that he was a free man, beat

and whipped Solomon into submission. After the brutal beating, Burch threatened to kill Solomon if

he ever mentioned his freedom or background again. Believing that threat applied to all slavers,

Northup never spoke to anyone again of his being born free until nearly 12 years later. Upon being

emancipated, Northup and his lawyer pressed criminal charges against Burch and his accomplice,

Ebenezer Radburn. However, Burch prevailed in the proceedings by hiring false witnesses totestify on his behalf.

Eliza BerryA fellow black captive in James H. Burch’s Washington, D.C. slave pen and lifelong

friend to Solomon Northup. She was the mother of both Randall Berry and Emily Berry. She had

been the slave and mistress of a rich white man named Elisha Berry, who treated her kindly and

fathered her daughter, Emily. Elisha Berry promised emancipation for Eliza and her children upon

his death; however, when he passed away, his heirs reneged on that promise. Under the ruse of

taking her to get her free papers, the heirs sold Eliza and her children into Burch’s slave pen. From

there, she was sent downriver, where Theophilus Freeman cruelly separated her from her children.

She was sold, with Solomon Northup, to William Ford in Louisiana. She never recovered from the

emotional devastation of losing her children, mourning them the rest of her life and dying without

ever seeing Randall or Emily again.

Theophilus FreemanA New Orleans, Louisiana, white slave trader who worked in association

with James H. Burch. He took possession of Solomon Northup in New Orleans and there forcibly

assigned him the name “Platt.” He ran the slave auction that sold Platt to William Ford of

Louisiana. He was responsible also for separating Eliza Berry from her children.

William FordThe white man who bought Solomon Northup and Eliza Berry from Theophilus

Freeman. Described by Northup as a “noble, candid, Christian man,” he owned a large plantation

as well as a lumber mill in the “Great Pine Woods,” in the parish of Avoyelles on the right bank of

the Red River in central Louisiana. Highly regarded by Northup as a fair and kind slave owner, he

rescued Solomon from John M. Tibeats and others on several occasions. He was forced to sell

Northup after facing financial setbacks. He later became a Baptist preacher.

John M. TibeatsA white carpenter who worked for William Ford. In 1842, he took possession of

Solomon Northup as payment of a debt by William Ford. Described as a “quick-tempered, spiteful

man,” Tibeats was Northup’s archenemy. More than once, he tried to kill Solomon out of anger but

was prevented each time. Eventually, he sold Solomon to the cruel cotton planter, Edwin Epps.

Mr. Chapin William Ford’s white overseer on the Bayou Boeuf plantation. Described as “a kindly-

disposed man.” When John M. Tibeats tried to lynch and hang Solomon Northup, it was Chapin

who rescued him (at gunpoint) from Tibeats’ gang. He then sent word to William Ford, who came

to Solomon’s aid.

Edwin Epps Solomon Northup’s final, and cruelest, master. A cotton planter, he owned Northup

for about ten years before the slave was freed by his friends from the North. Epps was heavy, tall,

with high cheekbones and blue eyes. A frequent drunk, he was given to fits of rage and violent


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mirth. He delighted in both whipping his slaves and in making them dance all night in false

exhibitions of happiness. Cunning, shrewd, and merciless, he was known as a “nigger breaker.”

His own slaves nicknamed him “Old Hogjaw.” He was guilty of frequently raping and whipping the

slave girl Patsey.

Mistress EppsEdwin Epps’ wife. Well-educated, attractive, and from a respected family, she was

generally kind to her husband’s slaves—except Patsey, whom she hated as a jealous rival. Unableto convince her husband to sell Patsey, she instead insisted that her husband punish Patsey with

frequent whippings and deprivations. When Edwin Epps tried to attack Solomon Northup with a

knife, she argued in Solomon’s defense.

Patsey A 23-year-old black slave of Edwin Epps, and the most tragic figure in12 Years a Slave.

Naturally “a joyous creature, a laughing lighthearted girl,” frequent beatings and abuse made her

despondent and suicidal as the years went on. She was a victim of repeated rapings by Edwin

Epps and also of the jealous cruelty of Epps’ wife. Because she was the fastest, most productive

cotton picker on Epps’ plantation, Epps refused to sell her, despite his wife’s constant demands inthat regard. Solomon was forced to brutally whip a naked and helpless Patsey while Edwin Epps

and Mistress Epps goaded him on.

ArmsbyA poor white man who worked alongside field slaves at Edwin Epps’ plantation for a short

time. Solomon Northup asked him to mail a secret letter; in return for payment, Armsby promised

to deliver the letter from Solomon to the post office. However, Armsby betrayed his promise and

instead reported the incident to Edwin Epps.

Mr. Bass A white carpenter working to build a house on the Epps’ plantation. Bass was a native ofCanada and an outspoken abolitionist. Solomon Northup confided in him, and he responded with

loyalty and help. At great risk to his own safety, Bass wrote and mailed letters to Northup’s friends

in the North and was instrumental in helping those friends find and rescue Solomon from slavery.

Minor Characters

David WilsonSolomon Northup’s white editor and transcriber. Northup dictated his story to

Wilson, who wrote it down and prepared it for publication under the title12 Years a Slave.

Anne (Hampton) Northup Solomon’s wife and the mother of his three children. A black woman of

mixed-race ancestry, she worked as a cook.

Cephas Parker and William PerryCo-owners of stores where Solomon Northup and his family

shopped, and friends to whom Solomon addressed his letter for help.

Elizabeth NorthupSolomon’s oldest child, she was 10 when her father was kidnapped.

Margaret NorthupSolomon’s second child, she was 8 when her father was kidnapped.

Alonzo NorthupSolomon’s youngest child, he was 5 when his father was kidnapped.


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Ebenezer Radburn Accomplice of James H. Burch, who was a Washington, D.C., slave dealer.

Clemens RayA fellow black captive in Burch’s Washington, D.C., slave pen.

Randall BerryEliza’s treasured son and a captive in Burch’s Washington, D.C., slave pen.

Emily Berry Eliza’s daughter, about 7 or 8 years old, and a fellow captive in Burch’s slave pen.

RobertA captive with Solomon Northup, he was a co-conspirator in an aborted plan of revolt

against his white captors. He died from smallpox before the plan could be carried out.

Arthur A captive with Solomon Northup, he was a co-conspirator in an aborted plan of revolt

against his white captors. He was rescued by friends in New Orleans.

Peter TannerWilliam Ford’s brother-in-law, he took possession of Solomon Northup for a short

time. He used the whip, the Bible, and wooden stocks as means of keeping his slaves subdued.

AbramAn elderly slave of Edwin Epps of failing strength and mental faculties. Kind-hearted but

absent-minded, and a great admirer of philosophy and General Jackson, he was sometimes called

“Uncle Abram.”

Wiley A 48-year-old field slave of Edwin Epps and married to Phebe. He tried to run away once but

was returned to Epps and beaten severely as punishment.

PhebeA house slave of Edwin Epps married to Wiley, mother of Bob and Henry, and sometimes

called “Aunt Phebe.”

BobA field slave of Edwin Epps and Phebe’s son by a former husband.

HenryA field slave of Edwin Epps and Phebe’s son by a former husband.

EdwardA house slave of Edwin Epps and the son of Wiley and Phebe.

Harriet Shaw Black wife of the white Mr. Shaw and a friend to Patsey.

Young Master Epps The son of Edwin and Mistress Epps. A bright, energetic boy of 10 or 12

years, who imitated with joy the cruelties of his father.

John P. WaddillA lawyer in Marksville, Louisiana, who assisted Henry B. Northup in rescuing

Solomon Northup.

Benjamin O. Shekels A slave trader and witness on behalf of James H. Burch during the trial of

James H. Burch and Ebenezer Radburn.

Benjamin A. Thorn A witness on behalf of James H. Burch during the trial.

Solomon Northup Staunton Margaret Northup’s son and Solomon Northup’s grandson.


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Character Map

Critical Essays: Novel “versus” Film Adaptation

The film12 Years a Slave, based on Northup’s memoir, was released in 2013 and went on to

receive acclaim in the motion picture industry. In addition to many other honors, it won three

Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress

for Lupita Nyong’o, who played Patsey.

The film is generally faithful to Northup’s memoir as a whole, even lifting some dialogue directly

from the memoir, including Freeman’s heartless reasons for not selling Emily to William Ford. Outof necessity, though, the movie is not as concerned with factual detail as Solomon Northup was.

This results in shortcuts of storytelling and a muddying of facts that are often found in book-to-film

adaptations.

For example, the slave trader Goodin is eliminated from the story, along with Northup’s experience

in his possession. The slaves Arthur and Clemens Ray are combined into one character, with the

latter being rescued in New Orleans instead of the former. Northup’s time with William Ford is

abridged, while the role of John M. Tibeats is inflated for the screen—the role is combined with

other minor characters and played more as a crazy man than the bitter, angry man of Northup’s

narrative. Only one of Tibeats’ murder attempts is shown, though it is embellished for dramatic

effect. Both Platt’s harrowing nighttime escape in the swamp and his time at Peter Tanner’s

plantation are eliminated completely, and some of Tanner’s role is added to Epps instead.


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The movie lays the blame for Northup’s sale to Epps directly on William Ford, when in fact it was

Tibeats who sold “Platt” to the notorious “nigger breaker.” Even worse, the film suggests that after

Tibeats’ murder attempt, Northup told the righteous Ford about his status as a free man and

begged Ford to help him. According to the movie, those pleas fell on William Ford’s deaf ears. The

facts, however, are much different.

Like Northup’s real-life experience, the bulk of the film version of12 Years a Slave is seen onEpps’ plantation. Here, the film concerns itself chiefly with the sorrows of Patsey and, in that

regard, stays fairly true to the memoir. However, that means the film downplays or eliminates

events in Northup’s personal story and generally ignores other significant events that happened to

slaves Abram, Wiley, and others. Also, Northup/Platt’s eight-year role as the slave-whipping driver

on Epps’ farm is completely omitted, except for the one brutal whipping of Patsey. Henry B.

Northup—the man who actually rescued Solomon from slavery—is not included in the film. The

entire trial and acquittal of James H. Burch is also omitted, reduced to a text-only postscript as a

prelude to the final credits.

Overall, the movie12 Years a Slave does a better-than-average job of portraying the content of its

source material, but there are too many creative licenses taken in the film to trust it as a reliable

substitute for reading Northup’s memoir.

())* 'S $)'+,In the Book In the Movie

Solomon is sold to Tibeats by Ford. Ford sells Solomon to Epps to protect him

from Tibeats.

Solomon is tied up and left in the sun afterfighting with Tibeats but he can breath.

Tibeats hangs Solomon and he is standingon his toes to be able to breath.

Tibeats can't kill Solomon because Ford still

holds the mortgage on him.

Ford chases Tibeats away and cuts

Solomon down before he is killed.

During his transport to the south, Solomon

and the other slaves planned to revolt.

They all decide to keep their heads down

and endure.

Solomon has a very comple relationship

with the Epps.

They are only shown to be brutal to him

and the other slaves.

=atesy is inspired to live with hope that she

will one day be free and that there is

(oodness in the world

She is so despondent she wants

Solomon to end her misery by killin(

her

awyer #enry ? Northup is contacted by

?ass to help Solomon be freed

!his doesnGt happen

SolomonGs wife is described to have a

racially ambi(uous appearance due to bein(

of mi/ed race 5?lack" White" H 7merican

$ndian6

#is wife is undoubtedly ?lack


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QUESTIONING THE STORY:

During what years was Solomon Northup a slave?

Like in the movie, the real Solomon Northup wa tri!ke" an" ol" into laver# in $%&$ an" "i" not

re'ain hi (ree"om until )anuar# *, $%+*

Was Solomon Northup married with two children?In reear!hin' the 12 Years a Slave true tor#, we "i!overe" that Solomon Northup marrie" -nne

Hampton on .hritma /a#, $%0% Unlike the movie, the# ha" three !hil"ren to'ether, not two

Their "au'hter 1ar'aret an" on -lon2o are portra#e" in the movie, while their other !hil",

Eli2a3eth, wa omitte" -t the time o( the ki"nappin', Eli2a3eth, 1ar'aret an" -lon2o were $4, %

an" +, repe!tivel#

While enslaved, did Solomon Northup pleasure a woman he discovered was in bed withhim?No, the (lah5(orwar" !ene that un(ol" earl# in the 12 Years a Slave movie i entirel# (i!titiou

an" wa !reate" 3# "ire!tor Steve 1!Queen an" !reenwriter )ohn Ri"le# 6I 7ut wante" a 3it o(ten"erne8the i"ea o( thi woman rea!hin' out (or e9ual healin' in a wa#, to uote 1arvinGa#e She take !ontrol o( her own 3o"# Then a(ter he; !lima9e", he; 3a!k where he waShe; 3a!k in hell, an" that; when he turn an" !rie6

Did Solomon Northup really play the violin?

Ye /urin' our inveti'ation into the 12 Years a Slave true tor#, we learne" that Solomon 3e'an

pla#in' the violin "urin' the leiure hour o( hi #outh, a(ter he (inihe" hi main "ut# o( helpin' hi

(ather on the (arm In hi memoir, he !all the violin 6the rulin' paion o( m# #outh,6 'oin' on to

a#, 6It ha alo 3een the our!e o( !onolation in!e, a((or"in' pleaure to the imple 3ein' withwhom m# lot wa !at, an" 3e'uilin' m# own thou'ht, (or man# hour, (rom the pain(ul

!ontemplation o( m# (ate6

Did two men really trick Solomon into going to Washington, D.C. with them?

Ye Solomon met the two men in the villa'e o( Sarato'a Sprin', New York The men ha" hear"

that Solomon wa an 6e9pert pla#er o( the violin6 The# i"enti(ie" themelve uin' (ake name

an" tol" him that the# were part o( a !ir!u !ompan# that wa lookin' (or omeone with hi pre!ie

mui!al talent The two men, later i"enti(ie" a )oeph Ruell an" -le9an"er 1errill, ake"

Solomon to a!!ompan# them on a hort 7ourne# to New York .it# an" to parti!ipate with them inper(orman!e alon' the wa# The# onl# "elivere" one per(orman!e to a pare !row", an" it

!onite" o( Ruell an" 1errill per(ormin' omewhat elementar# (eat like toin' 3all, (r#in'

pan!ake in a hat, ventrilouim an" !auin' invii3le pi' to ueal

On!e in New York .it#, Ruell an" 1errill en!oura'e" Solomon to 'o to


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o( General Harrion -t the aloon, the two men woul" erve themelve, an" the# woul" then

pour a 'la an" han" it to Solomon - he tate in hi memoir, he "i" not 3e!ome into9i!ate"

=# late a(ternoon, he (ell ill with a evere hea"a!he an" nauea Hi i!kne pro'ree" until he

wa ineni3le 3# evenin' He wa una3le to leep an" wa tri!ken with evere thirt He re!all

everal people enterin' the room where he ha" 3een ta#in' The# tol" him that he nee"e" to

!ome with them to ee a ph#i!ian Shortl# a(ter leavin' hi room an" hea"in' into the treet, hi

memor# e!ape him an" the ne9t thin' he remem3er i wakin' up han"!u((e" an" !haine" tothe (loor o( the en in ort o( New Orlean, Louiiana The portion o( the

hip; mani(et that "ipla# the name 6>latt Hamilton6 i pi!ture" 3elow -Ancestry.com

!s William "ord #$enedict Cumberbatch% accurately portrayed in the movie?

No The movie paint


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Solomon Northup o((er the utmot wor" o( kin"ne (or hi (ormer mater, tatin' that 6there

never wa a more kin", no3le, !an"i", .hritian man than ate# ?Lupita N#on';o@, he

tell her not to look in Epp "ire!tion an" to !ontinue on walkin' E"win Epp ?1i!hael

Ba3en"er@, who wa hal( into9i!ate" an" !ontemplatin' ati(#in' hi lew" intention towar"

>ate#, "eman" to know e9a!tl# what Solomon ai" to >ate#


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Did )istress pps really encourage her husband to whip (atsey?

Ye /epite >ate# havin' a remarka3le 'i(t (or pi!kin' !otton ui!kl#, he wa one o( the mot

everel# 3eaten lave Thi wa mainl# "ue to 1itre Epp en!oura'in' her hu3an" E"win to

whip >ate# 3e!aue, a Northup write, >ate# ha" 3e!ome the 6lave o( a li!entiou mater an"

a 7ealou mitre6 Northup 'oe on to "e!ri3e her a the 6enlave" vi!tim o( lut an" hate6, with

nothin' "eli'htin' 1itre Epp more than eein' >ate# u((er Northup tate that it wa notun!ommon (or 1itre Epp to hurl a 3roken 3ottle or 3illet o( woo" at >ate#; (a!e

- portra#e" in the 12 Years a Slave movie, in hi 3ook Northup "e!ri3e one o( the whippin'

that >ate# re!eive" a 3ein' 6the mot !ruel whippin' that ever I wa "oome" to witne8one I

!an never re!all with an# other emotion than that o( horror6 It wa "urin' thi whippin' that Epp

(or!e" Northup to "eliver the lahin' -(ter Northup plea"e" an" relu!tantl# whippe" >ate# more

than (ort# time, he threw "own the whip an" re(ue" to 'o an# (urther It wa then that Epp

pi!ke" up the whip an" applie" it with 6ten5(ol"6 'reater (or!e than Northup ha"

Did (atsey really beg Solomon to end her lie?

No Thi pivotal, emotionall#5!har'e" !ene i perhap the movie; 3i''et 3lun"er with re'ar" to

the true tor# It wa mot likel# unintentional an" i the reult o( the (ilmmaker mirea"in' a line

in Northup; auto3io'raph# In the 3ook, Northup i "i!uin' the u((erin' o( >ate#, who wa

lute" (or 3# her mater an" hate" 3# hi 7ealou wi(e

6Nothin' "eli'hte" the mitre o mu!h a to ee >ate#F u((er, an" more than on!e, when

Epp ha" re(ue" to ell her, ha he tempte" me with 3ri3e to put her e!retl# to "eath, an"

3ur# her 3o"# in ome lonel# pla!e in the mar'in o( the wamp Gla"l# woul" >ate# have

appeae" thi un(or'ivin' pirit, i( it ha" 3een in her power, 3ut not like )oeph, "are" he e!ape

(rom 1ater Epp, leavin' her 'arment in hi han"6It i rather o3viou that it i 1itre Epp who want to 3ri3e Northup to kill >ate# >ate# wantto e!ape like )oeph, not kill herel( It eem that the (ilmmaker mirea" the line, attri3utin'1itre Epp; wihe to >ate# It i a little "i!oura'in' to reali2e that thi !ru!ial !ene walikel# the reult o( a miun"ertoo" ante!e"ent -TheAtlantic.com

Did (atsey and )istress Shaw really talk over tea?

No In the movie, >ate# ?Lupita N#on';o@ an" 1itre Shaw ?-l(re


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O((i!ial in New York tol" Henr# that no a!tion woul" 3e taken until the# knew where to look (or

Solomon

Was $rad (itt's character, Samuel $ass, based on a real person?

Ye Samuel =a; portra#al in the 12 Years a Slave movie i ver# a!!urate to how Northup

"e!ri3e him in the 3ook, in!lu"in' hi ar'ument with E"win Epp 1u!h o( what =a ?=ra" >itt@

a# "urin' that !ene i taken almot ver3atim (rom the 3ook, 63ut 3e''in' the law; par"on, itlie There; a in, a (ear(ul in, retin' on thi nation, that will not 'o unpunihe" (orever There

will 3e a re!konin' #et8#e, Epp, there; a "a# !omin' that will 3urn a an oven It ma# 3e

ooner or it ma# 3e later, 3ut it; a !omin' a ure a the Lor" i 7ut6

Did the real Samuel $ass help to ree Northup?

Ye Like in the movie, Samuel =a, who alo appear in Northup; auto3io'raph#, wa in(luential

in Northup; releae - the movie in"i!ate, Samuel =a wa a .ana"ian who wa in Louiiana

"oin' !arpentr# work (or Northup; owner, E"win Epp Northup 3e'an aitin' =a an"

eventuall# "e!i"e" to !on(i"e in him a(ter he learne" that =a wa a'aint laver# -(ter Solomonhare" hi tor# o( 3ein' tri!ke" an" ki"nappe" into laver#, Samuel =a 3e!ame "etermine" to

help him, even vowin' to travel to New York himel( =a wrote letter on Solomon; 3ehal( to

variou in"ivi"ual 3a!k in New York The (irt o( thee letter en"e" up 3ein' the one that et in

motion the event that le" to Solomon; releae (rom laver# in earl# $%+* -Solomon Northup:

The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave

Who was responsible or Solomon Northup's release?

The letter written 3# Samuel =a that were ent to New York eventuall# !au'ht the attention o(

New York


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in poeion o( (a!t that whilt provin' their 'uilt in a meaure, woul" prevent a !onvi!tion To

peak more plainl#, it i more than upe!te" that Sol Northup wa an a!!ompli!e in the ale,

!al!ulatin' to lip awa# an" hare the poil, 3ut that the pur!haer wa too harp (or him, an"

intea" o( 'ettin' the !ah, he 'ot omethin' ele6

-!!or"in' to the tetimon# o( )ohn S Eno, -le9an"er 1errill ha" attempte" thi !enario earlier

in hi ki"nappin' !areer Yet, with re'ar" to Northup, no evi"en!e wa ever (oun" to prove that he

wa involve" in hi own ki"nappin' an" the event !hroni!le" in hi 3ook Twelve Years aSlave have 3een wi"el# a!!epte" a 3ein' none other than the true tor# -Twelve Years a Slave

Top Five -i.eren#es (et/een the (ook and Film 12 Years a Slave

Whenever $ see a )lm that has been adapted from a non-)ction book" $ become

curious to see how thin(s have chan(ed in the process" if it’s a faithful adaptation or if

the screenwriter took liberties So after seein( 12 Years a Slave" $ decided to read the

book $ recommend it =articularly this edition

!he above Iindle edition is only JAKK 7nd for an e/tra J1KK 5for that edition only6"you can (et the audiobook too $t’s read by ou Lossett" r Iudos to the folks at

7maFon When you listen to the linked audiobook" the te/t follows alon(" so that if you

decide to start readin(" Iindle automatically (oes to the ri(ht pa(e of the te/t" then

(oes to the ri(ht place in the audio when you pick up the audiobook a(ain 7nyway"

while $ recommend readin( it" @ust in case you don’t want to" here are the top )ve

di'erences between the )lm and the book" accordin( to me

$ must say that the )lm is an unusually faithful adaptation of the book !hey didn’t

chan(e much" @ust condensed and simpli)ed to )t it into the )lm ?ut scenes played

out almost identically with those in the book" even the dialo(ue" which is why the

lan(ua(e feels so authentic for the time rather than bein( in 21st century lan(ua(e

Solomon Northup’s family knew what had become of him within only a couple of

weeks of his kidnappin( !here was an 0n(lishman on the ship that took him to

ouisiana" and he a(reed to mail a letter for Northup ;nce the letter was received"

Northup’s friends appealed to the (overnor of New York for assistance in (ettin(

Northup back ?ut they didn’t know where he was" so nothin( could be done at that

point 7lso" one of the enslaved men who had shared part of that @ourney with

Northup" escaped a short time later" and sou(ht out Northup’s family in Sarato(a

durin( his Ei(ht to safety in Canada" to (ive them news

& ,emember 0liFa" the slave Northup meets in the )rst days of his captivity She is

dressed in e/pensive oran(e silks and has two children" ,andall and 0mily #er

situation played out in real life pretty similarly to what is shown on screen" but is

rendered even sadder with more details !he reason she was wearin( that beautiful

dress was that she had been told she and her children were bein( taken to (et their

free papers" so she dressed them all in their best ?ut in reality" they were bein( sold

down the river by her children’s half-sister !hen" 0liFa was separated from her

children and never saw them a(ain 7s in the movie" the slave merchant described his

plan ri(ht in front of her4


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her children as if they were there in front her her 0liFa lived only a couple of years

after she was separated from her children" thou(h" and she basically died of (rief She

had been purchased to be a lady’s maid" but" without her son and dau(hter" she

became depressed and lethar(ic and cried all the time 0ventually she was sold to a

cruel man who whipped her all the time to (et her to do anythin( ?ut she barely

responded to the whippin(s" and eventually she @ust went inside the slave +uarters

and lay on the Eoor !he other slaves fed her and tried to help her" but she was listless

and wouldn’t eat" and after a few weeks or months in that condition" died

3 7bout the woman" =atsey" who is badly abused by 9r 0pps and his wife4 0pps rapes

her and whips her" and his wife whips her and abuses her in other ways due to

@ealousy" even tryin( to have her killed !hat’s all pretty much the same

?ut there’s also more back story in the book =atsey was born and raised on the 0pps

plantation She was around 1 when Northup was )rst brou(ht there" and 2 when he

left" so that was the a(e ran(e when all the thin(s described happened to her 7s she

is )rst described4

2 $n the movie" one day Northup’s friend shows up and he’s suddenly freeP $n real life"

it took )ve months to free him once the letter was sent tellin( them where he was"and there was a lot of le(al work !he (uy 5?ass6 who had sent the letter to Northup’s

friends 5played by ?rad =itt in the )lm6" even discussed (oin( north himself because it

took such a lon( time to hear back from Northup’s friends !he dan(er was such that


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the letter didn’t even contain ?ass’s name" the name Northup was known by 5=latt6" or

his location in ouisiana So his friend had to )nd him once he’d arrived in ouisiana

!he only reason he had the time and money to do this was because a New York law

had been passed providin( )nancial support to free New York citiFens kidnapped into

slavery !he way they found him was )rst" they started askin( around if anyone knew

Solomon Northup No one did #e didn’t tell anyone" even his fellow slaves" anythin(

about his former life and identity ?ut the searchers knew the area and date the letter

was sent" and focused on that !hey deduced from that that ?ass was the likely lettersender and found him and (ot the information needed !hen they worked in a frenFy

to (et the appropriate paperwork before anyone told 0pps what was happenin( !his

involved wakin( up a sheri' and @ud(e in the middle of the ni(ht" then arran(in( for

the sheri' to accompany them to 0pps’s

1 !he violin4 $n the )lm" Northup is (iven the violin by .ord 5played by ?enedict

Cumberbatch6" owner of the )rst plantation where he is enslaved $n reality" no

mention is made in the book of where he (ot his violin ikewise" there’s no mention

made of him destroyin( his violin" as he does in the )lm after he is forced to whip

=atsey So where did he (et it #e may very well have purchased it himselfOinouisiana" by law" slaves (ot to keep any money made from labor on Sundays

Northup’s )ddlin( skills were en@oyed by people all over the area" and he was paid for

his performances at parties ?y the way" the money made for Sunday work was what

slaves used to purchase all of their possessions4 clothin(" a cup to drink from" a bowl

to eat from" utensils" shoes" etc !hose were not provided for them

Trans#rip#i0n de 12 Years Slave: (ook vs $ovie

Settin( one

9inerva" New York" where Solomon Northup was born in 1%A% as a free man

main character4solomon northup 5=latt #amilton6

7 free 7frican 7merican man that could read and write that was dru((ed and sold into

slavery in 1%&1 and did not re(ain freedom until 1%3" which was the same in the

movie and the book

Settin( two

Sarato(a Sprin(s" New York" where Solomon met two men that he thou(ht were

interested in his musical talent

.irst Companions4

SolomonGs )rst companions were 9errill ?rown and 7bram #amilton" they took him toWashin(ton *C to play the violin

ConEict one

Solomon must act like he is not supposed to be a free man and pretend that he

cannot read or write to avoid bein( beaten

SolomonGs Children4

Solomon had two kids in the movie" they were named 9ar(aret5%6 and 7lonFo56 in

the book soloman had three kids includin( one that was left out of the movie named

0liFabeth51A6

9a@or 0vent ;ne4While in Washin(ton *C with 9erril and 7bram" Solomon had a few dru((ed drinks

and passed out !he ne/t day Solomon woke up chained to a basement Eoor" missin(

his documents that prove that he is a free man Soon after Soloman woke up" a slave


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dealer told him that he was sold into slavery" and that he was (oin( to New ;rleans

ames ?irch4 !he slave owner that )rst bou(ht Solomon

7nne Northup

4 !his is SolomonGs wife and the mother of his 3 children

52 in the movie6

Solomon Northup3s

12 Years Slave:$ovie 's book

by drian hollo/ay

ma@or event two

mistress epps often (ot @ealous of patsey and she would encoura(e 0dwin epps to

whip her one of those times edwin epps forced Solomon to deliver the lashin(s to his

friend patsey and after &A lashes he refused to continue

=atsey

4 7 youn( female slave that picks over AA pounds of cotton every day" and she is

praised and also raped by 0ppsresolution:

Solomon tells bass about his kidnappin( and he asks him for help (ettin( a letter to

Sarato(a sprin(s" and bass a(rees 7 .ew days after that a sheri' arrives to +uestion

solomon about his life in new york solomon answered the +uestions correctly and the

sheri' restored his freedom once he returned to his family he was introduced to a

(randson that he didnGt know about

9a@or 0vent !hree4

!ibeats didnGt like the +uality of SolomonGs work so he messed it up and wanted him to

restart Solomon believed that he was doin( what he was told so he (ot mad and beat !ibeats with his own whip 7s a punishment" !ibeats was attemptin( to han( Solomon

but 9rChapin stopped them

,ecommendation

$ prefer the book over the movie" because the book was completely based on facts but

the movie had some bi( di'erences

a $a&or di.eren#e bet/een the movie and the book:

in the movie patsey beed solomon to kill her4 but in the book!real life"

that never happened in the book the mistress is /ho beed to have patsey

killed4 not patsey herself People believe that this di.eren#e #ame from amisunderstood line in the book

12 years a slave analysis

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