Analysis
The slave narrative in the 1800s was always more than just an autobiography. It served as a political lobbying tool intended to sway public opinion against the practice of slavery and toward the abolitionist agenda. In order to do that, it was absolutely necessary for any slave narrative to establish empathy and be credible. Chapter I of Solomon Northup’s story addresses both these necessities from the beginning.
Northup establishes an empathetic connection with his readers right away by sharing tender recollections of his family, his father, his education, his marriage, and his children. His memories evoke warm, relatable mental images that anyone can identify with and that make him “real” for readers. For example, he describes his children by saying, “Their young voices were music in our ears…Their presence was my delight.” Through these kinds of memories, he becomes an “everyman” all can relate to, someone through whom we can view the slave’s experience through intimate eyes.
Like David Wilson in the preface, Northup also takes great pains to establish the believability of his story, which is to come. He does this with a rush of verifiable details. For instance, he identifies his first home with Anne in great specificity: “The old yellow building then standing at the southern extremity of Ford Edward village.” He names exact places where he worked and visited (Champlain Canal; Lake Champlain; Montreal, Canada) and lists the names and ranks of the men he worked for (“William Van Nortwick was superintendent…”). He gives specific dates associated with his activities (“during the winter of 1831-32” and so on). By including these otherwise mundane facts, Northup makes it possible for anyone to verify whether or not he is telling the truth—and thereby establishes credibility that he hopes will extend to the rest of his story.
