A Character Analysis

The Analysis of Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave

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     In 12 Years a Slave, Northup battles against what many slaves face. He is chasing his beloved freedom. At the same time, he is fighting against the cruelty of the institution of slavery.
     Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the main character, Solomon Northup, in the historical film 12 Years a Slave. Northup was a decent and kind African-American man living during the 1840s and 1850s. He was a free man with a family and a job in New York. Thus, he would be clean and nicely dressed. Since he is an educated individual, he speaks formal English. Physically, he is strong and healthy. Unfortunately, his life changes one day when two men supposedly offer him work as a fiddle player in a successful circus in Washington. However, it was just a plan to get him kidnapped and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil-War South.
     For twelve years, he survived the cruelty of his white masters. He lost his identity, dignity, and almost his life—he was almost hanged by one of his owners. Nevertheless, he never gave up despite the struggle. He wanted to return to his family and home. He even risked his life when he met what seemed as an almost overseer and asked him to send a letter—a letter revealing what had happened to him. The white man told the master right away even though Solomon had trusted him and even given him some money. His owner was about to murder Solomon before he stated that it had all been a lie from the overseer. The years passed, but he kept on working and dreaming about the free life he deserved.
     Because of his perseverance and strength, he is able to survive those twelve years as a slave. A white man working on the plantation Solomon belonged to named Bass listened to his story and realized the injustice that had happened. Bass helped him by delivering a letter by Solomon that contained a lot of accusations. The letter was received, and he finally became a free man. With tears in his eyes, he returned to his family. He then advocated for the abolition of slavery and worked with the Underground Railroad in helping those fleeing slavery to reach Canada. His story represents the common slave experience in the United States in the antebellum (pre-Civil War) South.

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