The Importance Of The Violin In Twelve Years A Slave

The act of violence also contributes to the dehumanization and the “breaking down” of the slaves. Slaves were beaten, and whipped daily, subjected to cruel torture. Northup describes these acts of violence in his narrative very vividly.

Solomon Northup was a free African American man from Minerva, New York. In the novel Twelve Years a Salve, Northup composed a narrative about his life as a free man, and also his life as a slave. In the year of 1814 Northup was kidnapped and taken deep South, to the rugged life of slavery. After 12 years of being thrown into the slavery against his will, he rightfully regained his freedom in January of 1853 all because he came in contact with an abolitionist from Canada, who sent letters to his family about his situation.

He was not born into slavery; so his mind was not as institutionalized to slavery. Yet he kept his family, and his life back home to his heart with the dreams of escaping back to freedom Northup clearly articulates his feelings in the passage, “ although at all times cherishing the warmest emotions of kindness, and even of affection towards the family, in whose house he had been a bondsman, he nevertheless comprehended the system of Slavery, and dwelt with sorrow on the degradation of his race. He endeavored to imbue our minds with sentiments of morality, and to teach us to place our, trust and confidence in Him who regards the humblest as well as the highest of his creatures. How often since that time has the recollection of his paternal counsels occurred to me, while lying in a slave hut in the distant and sickly regions of Louisiana, smarting with the undeserved wounds which an inhuman master had inflicted, and longing only for the grave which had covered him, to shield me also from the lash of the oppressor.” ( 20, Northup). The memories of Northup kept him in the mindset that he could escape to freedom. Platt used his witty skills to create a plan of

In this essay, Stampp argues that slaves are the victims to a cruel system designed to take advantage of them. He fights for the sides of the slaves, portraying them as helpless in a world of pain and suffering. To prove this he looks toward the slaves who fake injury, ignorance, and even pregnancy to avoid having to work. This “preoccupation of bondsmen” as Stampp says, was a “Striking refutation of the myth that slavery survived because of the cheerful acquiescence of the slaves.” (Stampp 301) In this essay, Stampp is standing up against the idea that slaves are weak and incapable of functioning as free men. People said that the slaves had accepted their fate as slaves and were alright with it, but Stampp says they have not given up their will to fight for their freedom and that their rights as people will come. Stampp’s portrayal of slaves as the victim is in direct alignment with the shooting of Michael Brown in which Michael was made the victim far before anyone knew what really happened. The slaves that Stampp writes about all are sad and distraught but it’s possible that there may have been slaves who were in fact not too unhappy with their lives. In this instance, there is only one point of view, so another document with the counter to Stampp’s must be examined as

Moans of anguish fill the air, a man has fallen down from intense labor and is getting whipped to get back up. The man tries to get up, desperately pushing himself off the ground, yet the whip lashing into his body gives him no such opportunity. Eventually he falls flat, never to get up again. The person who was whipping him shrugged, “He was a waste of food anyways.” This was the life for a slave in the South before the Civil War. Destined to work in chains until they weren’t of use to the owner. In this essay I will prove that the North learning of the harsh treatment of slaves through the Fugitive Slave

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, brings to light many of the social injustices that colored men, women, and children all were forced to endure throughout the nineteenth century under Southern slavery laws. Douglass's life-story is presented in a way that creates a compelling argument against the justification of slavery. His argument is reinforced though a variety of anecdotes, many of which detailed strikingly bloody, horrific scenes and inhumane cruelty on the part of the slaveholders. Yet, while Douglas’s narrative describes in vivid detail his experiences of life as a slave, what Douglass intends for his readers to grasp after reading his narrative is something much more profound. Aside from all the

Northup, being educated before his capture, was fortunate enough to use his wit. His creative mind invented strategies to aid his owners, coining him as the smartest of the slaves. Combined with his knowledge of the violin, he was able to escape the harsher work of the average slave, and make some money on the side. Yet, the most significant resource was his literacy, and it is with the letters he sent to the North that he gained his freedom. Similarly, it becomes a turning point for Frederick Douglass when he realizes each slave owners fear that if their men and women learn to read and write, their minds will soon entertain other concepts, such as liberty. He thinks, “to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one… He must be able to detect no inconsistencies in slavery; he must be made to feel that slavery is right.” In rebellion to that enlightenment, Douglass achieves literacy and becomes conscious of the evils of slavery, making awareness the first step in his fight against it. He continues to use his knowledge to write passes for himself and the others that he teaches to escape alongside

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

The preface starts off by William Lloyd Garrison describing his encounter with Frederick Douglass at an anti-slavery convention in Nantucket. Garrison tells us that Frederick Douglass made an escape from the southern prison house of bondage and that his speech at the convention was a memorable one. Frederick Douglass’s had eloquence and a skill of persuading. Connecting people’s minds and hearts to his words of description about the reality of slavery. The audience responded with great attention and created a common perspective about the actuality of slavery that Frederick Douglass describes.

In his true-life narrative "Twelve Years a Slave," Solomon Northup is a free man who is deceived into a situation that brings about his capture and ultimate misfortune to become a slave in the south. Solomon is a husband and father. Northup writes:

Women during the antebellum period were constrained both physically and intellectually from the public sphere, especially white southern women. For example, during one of Mr. Epps drunken stupors, Mrs. Epps violently confronts Mr. Epps over an alleged love affair with one of their female slaves, Patsey. To finish the argument over selling Patsy, Mr. Epps firmly rebuts, “Do not set yourself up against Patsy my dear, cause I will rid myself of you well before I do away with her.” This argument highlights the lack of power held by white southern women. However, Mrs. Epps does use her ability to control the

Douglass gives detailed anecdotes of his and others experience with the institution of slavery to reveal the hidden horrors. He includes personal accounts he received while under the control of multiple different masters. He analyzes the story of his wife’s cousin’s death to provide a symbol of outrage due to the unfairness of the murderer’s freedom. He states, “The offence for which this girl was thus murdered was this: She had been set that night to mind Mrs. Hicks’s baby, and during the night she fell asleep, and the baby cried.” This anecdote, among many others, is helpful in persuading the reader to understand the severity of rule slaveholders hold above their slaves. This strategy displays the idea that slaves were seen as property and could be discarded easily.

Northup and others were to be shipped to New Orleans. New Orleans had the biggest slave market in the South. It was a place no slave ever wanted to encounter. Before arriving in New Orleans, they made frequent stops at other slave pens to resupply goods and acquire more slaves. Escape always came to mind while on the ship but never came to fruition, as opportunity was lost. Arriving in New Orleans Northup was given the name “Platt” and placed in another slave pen similar to that in Washington. While in the pen they were to be kept in a presentable manner, washed, shaved and dressed in a cheap suit everyday. Slaves were instructed in moving to their spots and “looking smart”. Each slave was to stand in their spot while potential buyers viewed and analyzed them thoroughly. Northup became well known for his violin skills, so much so that Freeman was able to exploit such skills in pricing. However, after being exposed to small pox earlier from another slave, Northup got deathly ill and was rushed to the hospital, decreasing his value. Though still weak, he returned to the slave pen where he was sold to Mr. William Ford.