Introduction
In the book “12 years of slave” the main argument of the author was to share with his readers and provide a deeper understanding of what incidences happened during the darkest times in the American history. In fact, the author shares his past life during his 12 years, on a personal level as well as to be able to articulate his readers and at the same time show his perspective on his experiences throughout his period held captive as a slave. Solomon Northup is the author of the book, he was born in July 1808 in Minerva, New York. Northup was the son of the emancipated slave. His father had a farm were Northup used to work in his child times. He was educated and managed to own a degree of competence in writing and reading. I
...n addition, as an added advantage he learned how to play violin, a skill in which most of the people believed it will be both a blessing and a curse to him in the future. According to Northup (23) at age of 21, Northup married Anne Hampton were they settled down for a serious family. He worked in many businesses including farming, performing on the violin and lumberjacking, while Anne on the other side earned money as a cook. In the year 18841, he met white men who promised him lucrative job with a circus if he could promise to travel with them to Washington. Unknowingly, he joined them and after unusual revelry and drinking day, he become terribly sick. On his way to meet doctor, he passed out. Unfortunately, when he woke up, he was alone chained i
the darkness. This paper will be a “12 years of slave” book analysis.
What qualifies Northup to write the book is simply because throughout his hardship, he remained strong and was always thinking critically. This allowed him to survive twelve years of slavery and eventually move back to his family. He was then able to publish his experiences in the book “12 years of slave” in a surprisingly manner for someone with little education. His book was and still is the most famous part of abolitionist movement. He wanted to eliminate the system that allowed slavery to happen to him as well as giving out more speeches about his experiences, and building critical motion against slavery. Solomon Northup employed both film and story approaches to express out his experiences as a slave. He used both primary and secondary sources to pass out his information to the learners. He used primary sources like; Breach, Michael. Social Latte Art. Photograph. Social Latte Art. March 5, 2014. Accessed November 26, 2014. To show his background information and how he could make money from his best skill. However, he also used secondary sources such as, Bos, Carol D. Solomon Northup Goes Home. Photograph. Awesome Stories. February 2014. Accessed December 20, 2014. Used to show his leadership through his photos of defending his rights throughout the story. Primary sources differ with the secondary sources in that, primary sources are constructed or written during the exact time of the event while secondary sources are other individual’s interpretation of the primary sources (Northup 44).
The book is effective to the today’s society and learners as a whole simply because it explores how the society
should be ready to fight against slavery. It encourages us to be strong enough as the Northup was, when we find ourselves in slavery cases. Andrea one of the reviewers of the book said that, this story replicates the causes of a violent oppressions we are still exercising in today. The main detail he gave in life was to be forced to endure in slavery. There was one person in the story who made efforts and risked and sacrificed himself to free Northup. The book fit in other similar books and into our class in that, the book was well written and helps learners to visualize a very fascinating world of slavery. It showed some lights on what it could be in living in such time as well as emphasizing the importance of equality. The main point of the book about life was its diversity and this point in our history was not accepted.
The book primarily explores the issues of slavery. Just like in today’s history slavery is very pronounced and American take advantage of it. “If ever I hear say a word about New-York, or about your freedom, I will be the death of you, I will kill you; you may rely on that” (Northup 56). This quote means that every creature has all the rights to leave and enjoy fruits of the world. Northup while he was slaved believed that a day will come when he will be free in his own country. He remained strong in order to fight for his freedom and for the freedom of the entire country. The book is closely related with the fugitive slave act, in that,
fight against slavery. Fugitive slave act was passed by the U.S congress on September 1850, it was part of the compromise of the 1850 between southern slave-holding interests and the Northern Free-Soilers.
In conclusion, it was important for the author to fight for freedom because although Americans believe that they don’t encourage it but in real sense slavery is practiced. The book and the movie explore the same theme of slavery. They manage to explain how the Americans struggles to achieve freedom. The movie was positively received by the Native Americans and they feel comfortable with the movie. It encourages the people to be strong enough and struggle for their freedom. As historians we are able to know the effects of slavery and be able to fight against the action. Northup’s story helps us to learn more on the Americans and the politics sectionalism on how to fight slavery out of the nation.
Work Cited
- Northup, Solomon. Twelve Years a Slave. , 2014. Internet resource. 1-52
