12 Years A Slave Sparknotes

12 Years a Slave is widely considered as one of the greatest and most realistic film portrayals of slavery of all times. It is praised primarily for its true depictions of the both the brutal and intimate relationships between white aristocrat masters and their slaves. 12 Years a Slave is the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the deep south during the pre-Civil War era. Northup was a free African American violinist who lived with his wife and children in Saratoga New York. Northup was tricked and sold into slavery by two white men, Brown and Hamilton, who pretended to run a circus. Northup given the name Platt by a slave trader, was first sold onto the plantation of William Ford. Ford was displayed as reasonable and almost
Epps’ plantation is where the majority of the film takes place. During Northup’s time there he meets Patsey, one of Epps most favored slaves who can pick over 500 pounds of cotton per day. Epps regularly rapes and abuses Patsey. During the latter part of the film, cotton worms destroy Epps’ fields. Due to the fact that the fields are unfarmable, Epps leases his handful of his slaves, including Northup, to Judge Turner. During Northup’s time at Judge Turner’s, he is allowed to play his violin for money. When he returns to Epps’ plantation, he uses his newly earned money to pay a white field hand, Armsby, to mail a letter to his friends in New York. Armsby takes the money, but betrays him to Epps. Northup is just barely able to convince Epps that Armsby is telling a lie. Northup is forced to burn his parchment, and ink. During the later part of his time at Epps’ plantation, Northup begins to work on a gazebo with a laborer named Samuel Bass. Bass is from Canada, and is extremely opposed to the institution of