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Solomon Northup. Twelve years a slave. Life:. Born July 1808, N. Y. As a free man Educated farmer and violinist 1829 married Anne Hampton 3 children 1832 Kingsbury – 1834 Saratoga Springs. Life:. 1841 met two gentlemen Kidnapped and sold as a slave
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SolomonNorthup Twelveyears a slave
Life: • BornJuly 1808, N. Y. • As a free man • Educated farmer and violinist • 1829 married Anne Hampton • 3 children • 1832 Kingsbury – 1834 Saratoga Springs
Life: • 1841 mettwogentlemen • Kidnapped and soldas a slave • 12 years a slave • 1853 – freedom • Died 1863?
Legacy and Filmsabouthis life: • SolomonNorthup’sOdyssey - 1984 • SolomonNorthup Day – SaratogaSprings • 12 years a slave – film 2013
TwelveYears a Slave • Writtenin 1853 • Withthehelp of David Wilson • Notfictionalized • DedicatedtoHarrietBeecherStowe • Dualperspective – free man and slave • Didnotusepseudonyms
Solomon’sIntent: • Presenthis life • Portraytheinstitution of Slavery • As he had seenit
Main themesinthebook: • Extremeviolence • Hardship of plantationwork • Faith – 2 sides ( ‘control and remedy’)
Importantpersons: • William Ford • John M. Tibeats • Edwin Epps • Patsey • Bass
‘At such times, said he, the heart of man turns instinctively towards his Maker. In prosperity, and when there is nothing to injure or make him afraid, he remembers Him not, and is ready to defy Him; but place him in the midst of dangers, cut him off from human aid, let the grave open before him – then it is, in the time of his tribulation, that the scoffer and unbelieving man turns to God for help, feeling there is no other hope, or refuge, or safety, save in his protecting arm.’
‘An hour before day light the horn is blown. Then the slaves arouse, prepare their breakfast, fill a gourd with water, in another deposit their dinner of cold bacon and corn cake, and hurry to the field again. It is an offence invariably followed by a flogging, to be found at the quarters after daybreak. Then the fears and labors of another day begin; and until its close there is no such thing as rest. He fears he will be caught lagging through the day; he fears to approach the gin-house with his basket-load of cotton at night; he fears, when he lies down, that he will oversleep himself in the morning.’
‘Happiness, in her mind, was exemption from stripes – from labor – from the cruelty of masters and overseers. Her idea of the joy of heaven was simply rest, and is fully expressed in these lines of a melancholy bard:’ ‘I ask no paradise on high, With cares on earth oppressed, The only heaven for which I sigh, Is rest, eternal rest.’
‘There’s a sin, a fearful sin, resting on this nation, that will not go unpunished forever. There will be a reckoning yet – yes, Epps, there’s a day coming that will burn as an oven. It may be sooner or it may be later, but it’s a coming as sure as the Lord is just.’ ‘A day may come – it will come, if his prayer is heard – a terrible day of vengeance, when the master in his turn will cry in vain for mercy.’