Analysis Of The Movie ' Twelve Years A Slave '

According to the American Historical Association, “When asked about their intense reaction to the film, some described feeling as though they had just experienced slavery. The movie felt believable, they reported, due not only to the caption indicating its basis in fact, but because the setting and characters looked authentic” (Toplin, 1). That just goes to show how historically accurate the makers of the film were going for to show just how bad slavery really was, even if it repulses people. There are historians out there who on the record confirmed the historical accuracy of 12 Years a Slave. “At least two historians, Sue Eakin, and Joseph Logsdon, have confirmed that Northup presented a remarkably accurate picture of antebellum slavery and plantation society near the Red River in Louisiana” (Toplin, 1). For historians to say that the film is “remarkably accurate” shows the seriousness those involved went to, to ensure the historical accuracy

     This film surprised me. I never knew that that happened to children in those days. Slavery wasn't just the Negroes and Indians. It made me think how lucky I am to live in the day in age that I do, even though there are still children treated like this. I just was lucky and grew up in a good

thesis:Twelve Years a Slave, is a vivid memoir of Northup's captivity as free man in the slave ridden south. Solomon's experience was one of countless millions kidnapped, and sold into slavery. What makes his Solomon's story unique, is that he lived to tell the, horrors and atrocities of slavery.

Solomon was without work and needed to find a job to help support his family. He is over the moon excited when he finds out that the job he took was not the job he signed up for. He was drugged, kidnapped, and held as a slave. The way that it was spoken about when he first got there made you understand that people turning slaves in by tricking them was not unheard of. Brown and Hamilton promised Northup he would meet the circus in New York City, they promised he’d meet the circus in Washington D.C., they promised him high wages, they promised a quick departure from Washington D.C., then “postponed” it, forcing Northup to stay longer than planned in slave territory. These were all lies told. They even sat there and promised him safety in slave territory, but when he was drugged and Brown and Hamilton disappeared leaving him behind. He was a free man, rules are rules, and he should not have been taken. This however shows you that people don’t always play by the rules. However, it was very abrupt of him at the same time. He needed money to support his family and because of that he didn’t really look as deep into the job proposition as he could have.

12 Years a Slave is an emotionally driven movie and book that exemplifies the painful truths of slavery. Slaves were killed, raped, hanged, and were viewed as property with no heart or soul. The scenes of beatings taken place, and slaves being hung, will make any hearted witness grimace and cringe in despair. This particular genre of entertainment is needed in order to inform and teach the history and stories behind the slave trade. It gives a vivid insight of how my ancestors were mistreated and felt the burning of hell every day. Solomon said, “He could not compare to nothing else than the burning agonies of hell” (45). We talk about slavery and how cruel it was, but I would not know unless I actually had to experience it myself. I’m not a voyeur of slavery, but I am a spectator through reading and watching. I do not enjoy reading a novel or observing a film that involves anything with black suffering, but in contrast I believe that by engaging in this type of theatre you can become a witness. I use this source of entertainment to gain knowledge and learn a sense of entitlement to my own history.

The first movie to discuss is 12 Years A Slave. Three details to be discussed for this film are: Solomon being captured as a free black man and being sold back into slavery, harsh treatment of slaves, and Solomon finally being rescued by his friends proving he was a free man and bringing him back to his New York home. These details reflect multiple social contexts such as: race relations and social inequality. As for race relations, the relations between whites and blacks during this time of slavery were very corrupt. Whites marginalized African Americans in a way whites believed that they were insignificant or not as important as them, hence the reasoning for having them as slaves. Slavery also depicted social inequality as the whites viewed

Even though, Solomon was fortunate enough to survive his abduction, his story is still as important as those that didn’t. Solomon’s experience is a first hand account of the struggles that many African Americans faced. He shows a very accurate portrayal of slave master, abolitionists, and slaves themselves. Solomon’s account brought light to things that might have otherwise been missed. Being a free educated man before his abduction helps shed knowledge on topics that might have otherwise been ignored. The account of his abduction holds higher value than those that escaped or were freed but might not have been educated. Even his freedom, which was a long and lengthy process to achieve shows that his story is wort sharing. Solomon writes to portray a very accurate description of the situation in the south. He take extensive time to discuss the environment, people, and surroundings. Focusing not only on himself,

In the film slavery by another name shows that slavery never ended because slavery took another form as convict leasing system. Convict leasing system is taking prisoners to private parties and forcing them to do involuntary servitude. The main idea of the film is that African American never gain full freedom. The reason why they were being oppressed because white southerners always wanted to be seen as superior instead of equals. Also they fear the competition for jobs and basic rights. When African American were gaining rights poor white southerners started to form a vigilante groups to attack and intimidate them. Since it was the period of radical reconstruction it protected African American civil rights but all that change when the balance

He never gave up on his dream of being free again and did his best to prove that he was a good man no matter the odds and others’ judgements. I admire the courage he had to start a tough journey in search for what he wanted and risking his life for it. I found the plot intriguing because of the graphical and realistic description that Solomon gives us about the situation and problems he faces. This narrative made me imagine how it felt to be a slave and all the pain those people most have felt. There is a particular event when Solomon is in the swamp running away from the dogs and going against dawn, that took me into a state of sorrow and

In “The Song of Solomon” Wesley Morris explains his viewpoint on the movie and why he thinks it is so powerful. Morris begins his article by describing the scene where Solomon is hanging from a tree and the power that the duration of this scene entails. This scene is no doubt horrific, yet essential to the story of the movie. It is no surprise that Morris would chose to begin his approval of the movie with such a powerful scene. This scene description starts his article with the pure emotion that the movie itself shares. Following this horrific description Morris goes on to explain what makes 12 Years a Slave such a powerful movie.

The film 12 Years a Slave, an adaptation of the 1853 autobiography by a slave named Solomon Northup, depicts his everyday life after his rights and freedoms are ripped away. Through the unpleasant slave auction scenes to the sickening slave punishments, 12 Years a Slave is a heartbreaking story that unfortunately conveys the harsh truth on the issues surrounding slavery. Consequently, during the film there are many themes and events that trigger different thoughts and reactions varying between viewers, and importantly a better understanding of Solomon Northup’s story and slavery itself.

12 Years a Slave was an outstanding representation of the lives of a slave. It was accurate, heartfelt, and detailed. It portrays the feelings of Solomon and the other slaves perfectly. The film really makes you think about the people and the situation back in the 1840’s. It is an exceptional historical film that teaches you the slavery times and the life of Solomon Northup. A freeman turned to a slave and put through a terrible life experience that no one should ever have to go

In the book 12 Years A Slave written from a primary source by Solomon Northup based on a true story describes the triumphant journey Solomon Northup goes through as he never lost hope of regaining his freedom and resisted the dehumanization of enslavement in many ways. Solomon was born a free black man in New York in 1808 while his father, Mintus was born a slave and gained his freedom as their master passed away also inheriting their masters last name "Northup". Growing Solomon worked on a farm with his dad and soon after his dad died in 1829 he soon married a women named Anne Hampton in which they soon moved to Saratoga Springs, New York and had three children of their own. They were living like any other free person was and soon Solomon was working in many industries and Anne established herself as a cook and in the 1830 's Solomon had a reputation of being a well played violinist. In 1841 Solomon had became unemployed and was looking for an occupation, he ran into Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton in who then offers him a job in a circus playing the violin. As they arrive in Washington D.C. which is slave territory, he begins to become sick and passes out which was planned by Merrill and Abram to poison and kidnap him in the slave territory and sell him in which he soon wakes up in chains in a slave pen. Solomon 's first master was James H. Burch who he was sold by the two men who had

This film is a depiction of the cruelty of American slavery in the 1800s. Made by the British director, Steve McQueen, is enough to show the Americans reticence on the subject. Slavery may have stopped many years ago, however, it still plays a significant role in people’s attitudes today.

The movie «12 Years a slave» is based on the book «12 Years a Slave» by Soloman Northup. It's his life story of how he got lured in a trap and kidnapped in 1841. It's about how he was sold into slavery in the south, and what happened during those 12 years a slave .