12 Years a Slave tells a story about Solomon Northup was born a free African American man in the city of New York because of his parents who were previously free before they died. He was a landowner, a musician, a farmer, and a father. Northrup had a family that consisted of a wife and three children. The wife's name was Anne, a free woman, and the three children whose names were Alonzo, Margaret, and Elizabeth Northrop. He was offered a part-time job as a musician but this was not the case. He tricked and kidnapped was now soon to be sold into slavery.
The freedom that he did have was taken away which made him accept the fact that he was no longer a free man to others and become an abolitionist or support anti-slavery. Unlike most of the other slave stories that you have heard from other African Americans, Northup was different. He was not considered a criminal that ran away or broke a rule. He was a victim that was taken by criminals. He also had a different perspective on how he viewed slavery. He tends to shed light on his experience of his journey instead of speaking on everything horrific thing that has ever crossed his path during these dreadful twelve years. He believed in good and bad in this event in his life, which was not common for the average African American slave.
Northrup was very strong in faith and he knew what he wanted to happen. Determination is a big part of his journey, so he had to learn how to keep his head on straight. Northup was a victim of kidnap so this means that he didn’t have to explain why he ran away from slavery nor did he have to explain how he broke a law. Even though he knew indeed that he was a free man of New York, he accepted the fact that he was now a sold slave but throughout the book, he keeps the same mild-mannered tone. And within these twelve years, he spoke on the good and bad. Even though he was up for anti-slavery but barely spoke about it, he showed how he benefitted from slavery. Northrup gave himself more knowledge because he not only focused on tasks that were given to him every day, he kept a close eye on everything around him also. His curiosity and observations guided him to a better version of himself because he knew he needed to keep his identity for his own sake.
Northrup showed in 12 Years a Slave as a social gap and a free market by telling the audience about inhumane treatments that were received by slave owners. This gave a push for political improvements because he decided to give accurate details on how he was being treated through his bad and better days. He did not just focus on how badly he was being treated by his multiple owners but also how there were also some owners who were not as bad. Northrup emphasizes to his audience how feelings can turn into changes.
The plot of the book Twelve Years A Slave is the reflection of the author’s own life experience. The uniqueness of Northup’s book lies in the fact that unlike other slave narrated books; a man who was born free wrote this novel. All other slave …
What is African American literature? According to Wikipedia, African American literature is the body of literature that was produced in the United States by writers of African descent. In my own aspects, African American literature was a way for African Americans writers to freely express …
The movie, “12 Years a Slave” is based on a true story. The original was written in novel form by the man who actually went through the terrors depicted in the film. The book, as well, was titled “12 Years a Slave”, written by Solomon …
12 Years a Slave was one of those Movies that I wouldn’t ever want to see again. Maybe because it was the Truth. What I learned about Solomon Northup was that he was a Free Man in New York. He was married To Anne Hampton. …
In the Antebellum era, slavery and plantations forced slaves into a state of opposing communities against the whites, and the film 12 Years a Slave showed this accurately. The film solely focused on Solomon’s journey as a slave, and presented the harsh suffering he had …
12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, revolves around the life of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was deceived, captured, and sold into slavery. He works under several slave masters before finally being freed after 12 years of slavery. This movie’s imagery …
From the Big Books to The Big Screen, What Is Slavery? Looking back hundreds of years way before my time and trying to understand slavery during that period can be perceived as difficult without having something to look back and reference too. In my case, …
Summary As the film begins, Solomon Northup who is the author of the narrative, is a freeman at the north with his family but is later kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south. Although he was born of a slave, he was free, lived, …
Steve McQueen’s 2013 Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave, based off the narrative by Samuel Northrup, is a glimpse into the American past. Through the eyes of Samuel Northrup himself, the audience is taken through a dramatic tour of pre-Civil War society and the horrors …
The rot in society besides other issues of delinquency still abounds not because people are not aware of the ills of the conduct, but because of the endurance of the habit for ages to an extent that it seems ordinary and acceptable. Such is the …
Hollywood has used history itself for its own benefit. We all know how Hollywood exaggerates certain moments to make a big impact on the viewers and gain popularity. It’s because Hollywood typically changes things that today, I will be using as a thesis argument based …
Greetings fellow abolitionist! I have the most exciting news! I have just finished reading a copy of Solomon Northup’s memoir entitled 12 Years a Slave. Although it was difficult to read, this book helps our cause to abolish slavery immensely. Northup describes in detail the …
One of the powerful things about literature is that it allows the reader to create. An image through words, and the power of film similarly derives from the image the audience is given. A brutal example of this difference is in 12 Years as a …
Powerful. Very powerful and very sad. That is how I would describe the movie “12 Years a Slave”. I could not imagine having my freedom taken from me in one day. Solomon Northup was walking through the park and enjoying the day and then he …
October 18, 2013 (USA)
Steve McQueen
$187.7 million
Regency Enterprises; River Road Entertainment ; Plan B Entertainment ; New Regency Productions; Film4 Productions
Screenplay by: John Ridley
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