The film is generally faithful to Northup’s memoir as a whole, even lifting some dialogue directly from the memoir, including Freeman’s heartless reasons for not selling Emily to William Ford. Out of necessity, though, the movie is not as concerned with factual detail as Solomon Northup was. This results in […]
Read more Critical Essays Novel “versus” Film AdaptationSummary and Analysis Chapter 22
Analysis In Chapters XIX–XXI, Bass’ great abolitionist ideal, “These niggers are human beings,” comes to joyful fruition in Solomon Northup’s life. Chapter XXII, though, is a reminder that this ideal is still yet unrealized in its fullness, even in the life of the newly freed Solomon Northup. The charade of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 22Summary and Analysis Chapter 21
Analysis Aside from the great triumph of Solomon Northup finally being rescued out of slavery by Henry B. Northup, the important thematic element in Chapter XXI is one that returns to an earlier theme presented by both editor David Wilson and Solomon Northup himself: credibility. It’s important, in the telling […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 21Summary and Analysis Chapter 20
Analysis In Chapter XIX, Bass articulated the abolitionist ideal, “These niggers are human beings…” Now in Chapter XX, that ideal has its first real hope of becoming reality in the life of Solomon Northup. Platt’s final Christmas season in the South is filled with mixed blessings. On the one hand, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 20Summary and Analysis Chapter 19
Analysis Bass’ appearance on Epps’ plantation is the first real ray of light in Northup’s story. Bass represents not only hope, but more specifically the hope that the abolitionist movement offers to everyone tainted by the evils of slavery. Even more than William Ford, Bass is presented as the most […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 19Summary and Analysis Chapter 18
Analysis Chapter XVIII provides perhaps Northup’s most heartbreaking examples of the awful moral toll that slavery exacts from all involved. Every story he tells here is an example of things that are lost to the corrupting power of the slave trade: freedom of thought and speech, basic human dignity, the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 18Summary and Analysis Chapter 17
Analysis In relating the stories of his fellow slaves, Northup returns to themes of freedom and justice. He emphasizes the innate human desire to be free, particularly when placed in situations of gross injustice. Wiley’s sad story is an example of that. Though generally quiet and obedient, even he has […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 17Summary and Analysis Chapter 16
Analysis Here in Chapter XVI, Northup finally addresses in honest detail his moral complicity in the whipping of slaves. He begins by describing the white “overseer” in contrast to the black “driver” on Epps’ plantation. The qualifications to be an overseer are “utter heartlessness, brutality and cruelty.” Drivers are assigned […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 16Summary and Analysis Chapter 15
Analysis In Chapter XIV, Northup revealed that he was given a whip and made to lead slave crews in the cultivation of sugar cane. Apparently he was good in that overseer role because, according to Chapter XV, he was given a similar job for three consecutive years thereafter. He does […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 15Summary and Analysis Chapter 14
Analysis Two factors are at work in the events related in Chapter XIV. First, continuing a theme from Chapter XIII, Northup again (perhaps unconsciously) emphasizes how he is both distinct from and better than the common slaves who surround him. Examples of this are plentiful. On Turner’s sugar plantation, he […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 14