Table of ContentsBrief History of SlaverySummaryIntroductionAnalysisEarly LifeAbductionBurch and the Journey SouthEarly Slave LifeLife under Edwin EppsMr. BassConclusionBrief History of SlaveryThe Cambridge English Dictionary defines "slavery" as "a person who is legally owned by another person or entity and who is obliged to work or obey them." This is a most appalling condition a human being can find themselves in, where the right to liberty, etc. is denied by society and is considered property that can be owned. This heinous activity has been a part of many societies and cultures from the first civilization to the 20th century. For most of the history of human civilization, slavery was largely legal. is a thriving business. In many societies, the status of a slave is placed below that of a pet cat or dog. Even for those who are fascinated by history, slavery for them is a story full of cruelty and tragedy. , a characteristic of society that can no longer be repeated. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay It is difficult to completely determine from which period or civilization slavery emerged as a commercial practice, because slavery is believed to exist from the cradles of human society and preludes to history recorded or written. The "Code of Hammurabi", one of the oldest written architectures written in the 18th century BCE in Mesopotamian civilization, contains a code dedicated to slavery, establishing it as an established institution. Slavery can then be traced back to Egyptian civilization, Persian civilization, etc. Unlike other ancient civilizations where the basis of the foundation was the fertility of the land and the availability of water, the Roman civilization was formed through the thriving slave trade. This continued until the Middle Ages. Emperor Charlemagne's campaigns saw large numbers of people captured and sold as slaves to the highest bidder. This popularized the slave trade in Europe which gradually spread to Asia, particularly the Middle East. The Crusades also played a role in this process, where the victors captured and enslaved the vanquished. Slavery in America began after the discovery of the Americas and the establishment of colonies in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It was especially popular in the Caribbean and Spanish America. Slavery in the present-day United States of America dates back to August 1619, when 20 Africans were brought to Jamestown, Virginia. The archives of the Royal African Slave Company tell us that in the 17th century, the slave trade was a very lucrative business in America. In the lure of profit, many Africans were kidnapped, captured and forcibly sent across the Atlantic. The journey was so harsh that many did not even survive the journey. An estimated 10 to 20 million Africans were captured to be sold into slavery in the Americas. Slavery in the United States seemed to be of a different kind. Although slavery was widespread in other parts of the world, Europe, Asia, and Africa saw slaves of all races and cultures due to the frequency of wars in these parts of the world. In the United States, only Africans were slaves because they were captured and forcibly migrated. Slave status had been institutionalized as a racial caste associated with African ancestry. Slavery is a dehumanizing and brutal practice that hasexisted throughout human history. From ancient civilizations until the 20th century, slavery was legal and widely practiced. Many societies considered slaves property and denied them the right to liberty and freedom. Although it is difficult to determine the exact time period or civilization from which slavery originated, it can be traced back to early civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Egypt. Roman civilization, founded on the thriving slave trade, popularized the slave trade in Europe and Asia. The discovery of the Americas and the establishment of colonies led to the introduction of slavery to the New World, which quickly became a lucrative business. Millions of Africans were captured and forcibly emigrated to the Americas to be sold into slavery. The United States institutionalized slavery as a racial caste associated with African ancestry. The practice of slavery has left a lasting impact on the world, from the exploitation of millions of human beings to the social, economic and political consequences that continue to this day. Slavery left a legacy of inequality and discrimination, and its effects are still felt in many parts of the world. It is important to remember the atrocities of slavery and work to build a more just and equitable society. By recognizing the history of slavery, we can begin to address the systemic inequalities that continue to exist in our world today.SummaryThe primary goal of this research paper is to identify the differences between the book " Twelve Years a Slave" written by Solomon Northup, published in 1853 and the film adaptation of the book "12 Years a Slave" released in 2013 and directed by Steve McQueen. For the purposes of this study, the book and film with the aforementioned names have been carefully studied and observed. The book is edited by David Wilson, to whom Solomon Northup tells his life story. The book contains detailed events from Solomon Northup's life experiences as well as his knowledge, opinions, and understanding of the cause and effect of those events. The film, although revolving around Solomon Northup, failed to preview all of these events and, as it was produced for profit, it is dramatized and edited which failed to fully understand the wisdom of Solomon Northup, which can be accomplished by reading the book. The film, however, gives an accurate insight into the horrific conditions and treatment suffered by slaves in the United States of America.IntroductionAt a time when the abolitionist movement was growing in the United States of America, "Twelve Years a Slave", a memoir by Solomon Northup, was able to garner support for the movement. Harriet Beecher Stowe's best-selling book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," published the previous year (1852), was influential in the United States and Britain, energizing anti-slavery forces in the northern United States, while causing widespread anger in the southern United States. The book played a key role in the growth of the abolitionist movement, but was a work of fiction. Solomon Northup's "Twelve Years a Slave" provides real facts about the harsh lives of slaves and confirms that the conditions of slavery described in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" were accurate, although it was a work of fiction. In fact, in her rebuttal, "A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin," Harriet Beecher Stowe cites "Twelve Years a Slave" for the accuracy of her work. Additionally, Solomon Northup dedicated his book to Harriet Beecher Stowe. In the 1960s, two historians, Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon, separately studied and traced Solomon Northup's accounts and co-edited a versionhistorically annotated and verified that Solomon Northup's account was indeed true and accurate. During this time, many accounts of freed and escaped slaves were published. . Solomon Northup was unique in this regard. He was the only one who was born a free man, then kidnapped and enslaved, then freed again. This is why Solomon Northup was not only able to describe the living conditions and treatment of the slave, but also to compare the life of a free man and that of a slave. He also shared his views as a free man and as an African American on the society that legalized slavery. AnalysisThe book “Twelve Years a Slave,” narrated by Solomon Northup, is divided into twenty-two chapters. Each chapter is dedicated to different events in Solomon's life. The book also contains the philosophies and understandings of Solomon that characterize Solomon's wisdom and literacy. The film is over two hours long and is edited in such a way that the most important aspects of the book can be filmed and shown to the audience. This is why many dissimilarities can be noted between the book and the film. This article is dedicated to identifying these differences. The article will also explain why the absence of certain events in the film made it difficult for the audience to grasp the difficulties and wisdom of Solomon, which otherwise could be obtained by reading the book. It is important to note that the book as written after the narration is in the first person. The film revolves around Solomon as the main character. This is why less importance was given to other characters in the film, even those who played an important role in Solomon Northup's life.Early lifeThe first chapter of the book is devoted to Solomon's life before the kidnapping . Solomon provides a brief history of his ancestors and his father's life. It explains how Solomon Northup was born a free man. Solomon's father, Mintus Northup, was actually born and raised as a slave, but was emancipated by the will of his owner upon his death. Northup was actually the owner's last name; slaves had to adopt the name of their owner. Mintus Northup is responsible for Solomon's education as well as the growth of Solomon's strong character and resonance, as we can learn in the book and movie. Salomon also learned to play the violin from his youth. The chapter also includes Solomon's married life, which is of utmost importance. It is difficult to express in words the love and affection that Solomon feels towards his family from whom he was separated for twelve long years. These feelings for his family allowed Solomon to endure his years of slavery and live in such a way that he could see his family again. Solomon married Anne Hampton after his father's death and entered professional life. Salomon worked in several professions during his life which developed his skills. These skills were especially important and useful to Solomon during his years as a slave, as they helped Solomon gain favor with his owner and earn some coins. Solomon's acquired good navigation and carpentry skills, along with his ability to wow his audiences with the violin, made Solomon very desirable as a slave. While owning a shipping company, Solomon was able to visit many places in Canada. This information is very important because they played a very important role in the liberation of Solomon. Solomon and his wife later moved to Saratoga and both worked in several professions. In Saratoga Solomon and his wife know Mr. Cephas Parker and Mr. William Perry, owners of their ownstores. These gentlemen were the recipients of the letter written in the name of Solomon. Solomon also recounts his meeting with slaves accompanying their master from the South, as well as his conversation and relationships with these slaves. Solomon and his wife lived in Saratoga until Solomon's kidnapping in 1841. The film provides a very brief demonstration of Solomon's early life. They completely ignore Solomon's father and how he became a free man. In demonstrating Solomon as an independent person, the film depends on the viewer's wisdom that Solomon was able to gain his education, various skills, and character because he was independent. They do, however, introduce Mr. Parker. The film also shows Solomon as the father of two children, when in fact Solomon fathered three children; two girls and a boy who is the youngest. Margaret and Alonzo were with their aunt and Elizabeth was with her mother when Solomon was kidnapped. However, these differences are very negligible between the book and the film. KidnappingThe second chapter of the book recounts the kidnapping of Solomon and the preceding events leading up to it. While his wife and children were away for a number of days, Solomon was introduced to two unknown gentlemen, Merill Brown and Abram Hamilton. These gentlemen were in the circus which was currently in Washington. They offered Salomon a job as a violinist and a good salary, which prompted Salomon to accept it immediately. Salomon was to accompany them to New York and play with these gentlemen on the way. He was to return to Saratoga after they arrived in New York. Solomon did not tell his wife, thinking his trip would be brief, and he left with them. Upon arriving in New York, Mr. Brown and Mr. Hamilton asked and flattered Salomon to continue with them to Washington, which induced Salomon to accept it. At this point, Solomon recounts one of their performances and the process by which he acquired free papers from customs. Merill Brown, Abram Hamilton and Solomon Northup arrived in Washington ahead of the funeral of the recently deceased President William Henry Harrison. Solomon stayed with them for a day, enjoying the late president's parade. In the afternoon, Solomon's companions indulged in drinking and insisted that Solomon take some. At this point in his story, Solomon strongly pointed out that he was not intoxicated by this. After this, Solomon's health began to deteriorate. As the night progresses, Solomon begins to lose his mind but for a time manages to understand his surroundings. He remembered two or three people telling him he needed to see a doctor, and then he went with them, his health and senses further deteriorating. When Solomon woke up, he found himself chained. He was kidnapped. In the film, Solomon is introduced to Merill Brown and Abram Hamilton by a Mr. Moon, and they ask Solomon to accompany them to Washington, with the following scene transcribed for the trio arriving in Washington and having dinner. In the narration, Solomon mentions that he is unable to remember the person who introduced him to Mr. Brown and Mr. Hamilton, but he first met them near a tavern run by a Mr. Moon. They also first suggested that Solomon accompany them to New York. The film also ignores the trio's journey and performances on the road. A major contrast between the book and the film is that in the film Solomon is seen getting drunk while drinking wine with Mr. Brown and Mr. Hamilton, vomiting in a dark alley, and then being put to bed by his employers. In his memoirs, however, Salomon strongly suggests that he did not get drunk but was poisoned, his symptoms clearly matching those of an individual. Healso remembers him being called from his room to be taken to a doctor, which is not seen in the film. Burch and the Journey South. Solomon Northup was now a prisoner in a slave pen in Washington, which greatly surprised Solomon; a slave enclosure established in the very heart of the capital. Solomon also gives a very specific description of the slave enclosure. This slave pen is owned by James H. Burch, a man whom Solomon Northup blames entirely for his ensuing misery over the next decade of his life. According to Solomon, no man could equal Burch in cruelty. This is why the description given by Solomon in his narration is slightly biased, Solomon citing "Burch whose whole appearance was sinister and loathsome". But maybe Salomon wasn't really wrong about Burch. When they first met, Burch completely dominated Solomon in such a way that Solomon did not reveal his identity as a free man to anyone for approximately twelve years. Burch tortured Solomon with two instruments of slave torture: a paddle and a cat o' nine tails. Burch first began beating Solomon with the paddle. When Solomon was still claiming his status as a free man, the beatings instantly resumed with more energy than ever. This continued until the paddle broke. Burch then continued to torture Solomon with the cat o' nine tails, which was incredibly more painful than the paddle. Burch persisted with the torture until Solomon was rendered completely speechless by the pain. Solomon was heartbroken. As Solomon recovered from his injuries sustained during the whipping, he became acquainted with several other slaves. They were Clemens Ray, John Williams and one child Randall. Eliza, Randall's mother, is another interesting character. She and her seven-year-old daughter, Emily, joined Randall after two weeks, the day before they moved. Eliza was the slave of a man Elisha Berry. But the man treated Eliza as his wife and promised Eliza her freedom when she died. But Elisha Berry's daughter was jealous of Eliza and took her into slavery when Elisha Berry died. She didn't even think about her sister-in-law Emily and sold her too. The day before the start of the journey of Solomon and the other slaves; John Williams was bought by his master. They were moved in the darkness of the night so as not to arouse any suspicion. They were handcuffed and then forced to cross Washington on foot, reach a steamboat and their journey south began. They first went to Virginia and stayed in a slave pen owned by Mr. Goodin. Solomon accidentally slipped the information he came from New York to Mr. Goodin who was surprised to learn this information. This prompted Burch to make a very serious threat to Solomon, promising to kill him if he told anyone anything about his previous life. Solomon was chained to a man named Roberts, who, like Solomon, was a free man but was enslaved. Solomon also met other slaves in Mr. Goodin's slave pen. The next morning, Clemens Ray was informed that he would not travel south with them but would return to Washington. Salomon later learned, after being released, that Clemens Ray had escaped and on his way to Canada he had stayed with Salomon's brother-in-law, announcing his meeting with Salomon. The slaves were then put into a brig, the number of slaves being forty. During their journey in the brig, Solomon meets other slaves, notably Arthur. He was a free man like Solomon and Roberts, but he was also kidnapped. Solomon, Roberts and Arthur began planning a mutiny. They thought long and hard about their plan and took someprecautionary measures to increase their success rate. This plot failed, however, as Roberts fell ill and was confirmed to be suffering from smallpox. Roberts ultimately died shortly afterward. Solomon, discouraged, then met a sailor named Manning, who promised to write a letter on Solomon's behalf to Sandy Hill. The letter did indeed reach its destination, but because information about his whereabouts was missing, it failed to free Solomon. Upon arriving in New Orleans, two men, acquaintances of Arthur, came to free him. Solomon, although happy for Arthur, wondered with great sadness if he would ever see his family again. In the film, Burch only tortures Solomon with the paddle. The language spoken by Burch is not vulgar as Solomon recounted. William Slave Pen's Solomon and the others are driven by horse-drawn carriage to the steamboat, as seen in the film, but in reality they were walking in chains to the steamboat. A great dissimilarity can be noted regarding the journey. The film only covers their journey on the steamboat, showing them reaching New Orleans on board. The picture also ignores most of the journey and other characters Solomon encounters, e.g. Salomon and Clemens Ray meet Roberts on their steamboat trip. The trio plans to mutiny and retake the brig so they can achieve freedom, with Roberts sparking passion and Clemens fearing the consequences of failure. One night, a sailor comes down and takes Eliza with him. Roberts attempted to arrest the sailor who, without hesitation, stabbed Roberts, killing him. Clemens Ray was not part of the brig voyage Solomon recounted after returning with Burch. Additionally, Arthur and Manning are not introduced, two men who are dear friends to Solomon. Solomon, Arthur, and Roberts also take steps to carefully plan their mutiny, which was also not in the film. Another difference is Roberts' cause of death. Roberts was stabbed according to the film, but in the memoir it is mentioned that he died of smallpox. This difference also triggers another, which is discussed later in this article. Having no mention of Arthur, it is depicted that Clemens Ray is claimed by the owner to have been previously kidnapped, instead of Arthur being freed. Solomon's Early Slave Life is collected by Mr. Theophilus Freeman. He calls Solomon by the name Platt, threatening Solomon with harsh measures if he does not live up to the name Platt. In New Orleans, as moves were being made to sell off slaves, Randall was sold by a planter, separating him from his mother. Solomon recounts a painful landscape when Eliza was separated from her child. After that, Eliza, Emily and Solomon became ill and were admitted to the hospital. They remained in the hospital for more than two weeks. Solomon remembers that he was extremely ill, almost on the verge of death. Upon their recovery and return to the slave pen, Solomon and Eliza were sold to Mr. Ford. As Eliza was sold, another heartfelt scene occurred as Eliza hugged Emily to her chest, saying she wouldn't leave without her. For Solomon, even in his impending slavery, it was one of the saddest things he had seen in his life, how a mother pleads not to be separated from her child. However, Eliza's struggle proved unsuccessful. She, Solomon, and another slave named Harry were sold to William Ford in Great Pine Woods, Louisiana. Salomon was employed in a sawmill. For Solomon, he has never seen a more kind and caring man than his first owner. This is why Solomon noted that a slave who loves his master will work harderhard as the slave driven by fear. According to Solomon, Mr. Ford was loved by his slaves, he read the Bible to them every Sunday and encouraged slaves who were interested in religion. Looking back, Solomon suggested that if Mr. Ford had grown up in a different society where the inherent evil of slavery had not fallen on deaf and blind ears, he would not have been a slave owner. Solomon, too, began to care about Mr. Ford, so much so that he wanted to work harder and bring profit to his owner. His idea of ​​using the stream to transport wood was very successful. Salomon relates this to his experience as a navigator and carpenter. Solomon also describes his encounter and interactions with the Indians. After a while, Mr. Ford, to settle a debt, sold Salomon to a carpenter named John M. Tibeats. Solomon then acquired a reputation as a carpenter among slave owners, which led John M. Tibeats to settle for Solomon. Salomon also mentions that because his price was higher than the debt, Mr. Ford still owes Salomon a debt. Salomon's new owner was the complete opposite of his previous one. As Solomon stated, it was a grave misfortune for him to have met John M. Tibeats. He was an angry and wicked man and he considered slaves to be mere dogs. At first they went to Mr. Ford's plantation to finish some unfinished work. There, Salomon reconnected with Eliza and met Mr. Ford's supervisor, Mr. Chapin. Under the new owner, Solomon worked from early morning until night, and very hard, but was never able to satisfy his owner. One day, Solomon was given a task by his owner. Solomon completed it as indicated. However, Tibeats was not satisfied and, entering into a fit, he whipped Solomon. In this case, Solomon became very angry, having done nothing wrong. Blinded by rage, he used his reflex and strength to overpower his owner and began to whip Tibeats. After dealing many blows, Salomon stopped and just then Mr. Chapin appeared. Mr Chapin insisted Salomon had made no mistake. In response, Tibeats swore revenge and walked away. The overseer insisted that Solomon not run away. Solomon then fell into the greatest despair and despair. He had committed the most sinful crimes that could be committed in the state of Louisiana, striking a white man even though he was black. This feeling of regret was so strong that Solomon remained motionless for at least an hour. Tibeats returned with two other companions. They tied Solomon up and then hanged him. As Salomon was about to be hanged, Mr. Chapin, armed with both hands, came to his aid declaring that Mr. Ford still held the debt to Salomon. Tibeats and his companion fled, but Mr. Chapin did not free Solomon standing, but tied him with a rope hanging from his neck and tied to a tree. Mr. Chapin then called for Mr. Ford. While Solomon was hanging by the rope, he was exposed to the blazing sun. He could no longer move and was in pain all day. Salomon was ultimately shot dead by Mr. Ford upon his arrival. Tibeats and his companion arrived again and had a long conversation with Mr. Ford. That night, Mr. Chapin insisted that Solomon sleep in the big house, because Tibeats might try to kill him in the middle of the night. When the next day arrived, Solomon was still swearing from the previous day's wounds and was warned by Mr. Chapin to take care of himself while in Tibeats. Solomon said that at that time he wished he didn't have children to love and live for. Solomon was then hired by Peter Tanner to work ascarpenter. Peter Tanner, like Mr. Ford, used to read the Bible to his slaves every Sunday. But he did not do it to preach to his slaves. He used Bible verses to make the slaves fear that if they did not do what he asked them, they would have committed a sin and that God had given the owner the power to punish his slaves. After working for Peter Tanner for a month, Solomon returned to his owner, Tibeats. This time, Solomon was careful not to give anything that might upset Tibeats. This would endanger Solomon's life. However, one unfortunate day when Mr. Chapin was absent from the plantation, the Tibeats, always unpleasant and venomous, found an unreasonable reason to punish Solomon. Solomon defended himself well and, not intending to kill Tibeats, decided to flee. Solomon soon found himself running and being chased by slave catchers and their dogs. Solomon managed to lose them by entering the swamp. During his escape, Solomon escaped many snakes and alligators. After putting some distance between himself and his pursuers, Solomon decided to turn to Mr. Ford, the only person who could offer him protection, and therefore acted accordingly. He arrived at Mr. Ford's home the next day. The kind and caring William Ford gave him refuge. Three days later, Mr. Ford and Solomon met with Tibeats. Mr. Ford insisted that Tibeats, being an inhumane slave owner, had to sell or at least rent Solomon, because they could not be together. Salomon therefore hired Mr. Eldert. After working for a few weeks under Mr. Eldert, Tibeats sold Solomon to Edwin Epps. The movie showed Eliza, Randall, and Emily being separated from each other in just one day. But this separation happened gradually, as mentioned before, Randall was sold two weeks before Eliza was sold. Additionally, the film completely ignores Salomon's haggling by other interested buyers and his subsequent illness. Solomon, Eliza and Emily contracted smallpox from Roberts during their brig voyage. The journey from New Orleans to Great Pine Woods is not shown. Solomon said they walked the last few miles to his owner's house, but they are seen arriving at their destination in a horse-drawn cart. John M. Tibeats is introduced as Mr. Ford's chief carpenter. This is not depicted appropriately as Tibeats was a paid carpenter, not considered a very respectable figure in these parts, even by the slaves. Tibeats also orders the slaves to applaud him during his introduction while he sings a song implying his madness and unpredictable nature; this segment was also not mentioned by Solomon. The man who rejected Solomon's idea of ​​using the stream for transportation was Adam Taydem. He was superintendent in the mills of WilliamGué. Solomon is also seen presenting his idea to Mr. Ford and Mr. Tibeats, then revealing information about his past life when he worked in the transportation industry to convince Mr. Ford. In response, Mr. Ford seems very impressed. This scene was actually unthinkable because it would have raised questions about Solomon's past life and the threat of it manifesting. Salomon's success seems to infuriate Tibeats, who continues to hold a grudge against Salomon. As a reward, Mr. Ford gives Solomon a violin, which will be used by Solomon for the rest of his life as a slave. This is also not recounted by Solomon in his book, but is shown in the film to suggest Mr. Ford as a kind and benevolent slave owner. The film also shows additional information about Eliza, who argues with Solomon aboutof her grief due to the loss of her children and who, as a result, is sold to another owner. This information is also not consistent with the book, as Solomon mentions that he always had sympathy towards Eliza. Solomon learned that Eliza, after failing to satisfy Mrs. Ford, was transferred to her plantation and was subsequently bartered to another owner, where her health gradually declined, and eventually separation from her children rendered her helpless and she dies. One of the most crucial pieces of information is omitted in the film; the sale of Salomon to Mr. Tibeats. While saving Salomon from Tibeats, Mr. Chapin briefly mentions the debt held by Mr. Ford on Salomon. Mr. Chapin further suggested that the incident was Tibeats' fault in rescuing Solomon, which is also omitted from the film. According to the film, Solomon, after being rescued by Mr. Ford, took refuge in Mr. Ford's house, where William Ford arms himself with a rifle to protect Solomon. Mr. Ford also informs that as Tibeats intends to kill Solomon, Mr. Ford has transferred his debt to Edwin Epps, as he has found no other owner willing to take Solomon. Solomon attempts to inform Mr. Ford of his status as a free man; Mr. Ford refuses to listen to this call because he has a debt that must be taken into account. Big changes can be seen in this segment of the film. Solomon, after being rescued by Mr. Ford, remained on the plantation under Mr. Chapin's overseer and overnight and is also protected by Mr. Chapin. Additionally, Solomon continued to be the slave of John M. Tibeats for a few more months before being sold to Edwin Epps. Solomon's slavery under Peter Tanner and Mr. Eldert is not shown in the film. Likewise, Solomon's second battle and his flight from Tibeats are ignored. It is also important to note that Solomon never revealed his status as a free man to Mr. Ford, as the photo shows. Life under Edwin EppsSolomon hoped that any ownership except Tibeats was a welcome sign. It quickly turned out he was wrong. Edwin Epps enjoyed a reputation as a tough master and prided himself on being nicknamed the “nigger breaker.” Edwin Epps was a cunning and unpredictable owner. He drank often and enjoyed randomly whipping any servant in his drunken state. He sometimes called his slaves late at night to dance, regardless of how tired they felt after a long, hard day's work. During these "dancing sessions", Salomon was ordered to play the violin, which Mr. Epps persuaded Epps to purchase one for Salomon. Edwin Epps' main business was cotton farming. He introduced a system on his plantation in which slaves lived in constant fear of being whipped. Epps cared not for his slaves but only for their productivity, whipping any slave for the slightest delay or mistake. Edwin Epps had not an ounce of goodness or justice in his heart, a harsh, cruel and unjust man as Solomon recounts. Under him, Solomon worked for ten years before finally being released. ​​Solomon recounted that slaves were forced to work at the first sign of light until dawn. Sometimes during the cotton harvest season, they continue working until midnight. At that time, a slave had to choose the average number of cotton, and was whipped if he did not do so. It depended on the skill of each slave. A new or unskilled person has lower quota requirements, but a highly skilled person is expected to bring in the same amount every day. Less quantity picked up means he or she has been lazy in the field. Salomon described it as the "ginhouse", a building which is part of the plantation where the quantity of cotton harvested is measured. Solomon describes the fate of a slavein front of the ginhouse. Every day, no matter how hard a slave has worked and how tired he is, he must first enter the gin and cower at the prospect of it. If a slave has not filled the usual quota of cotton, he is whipped according to the missing quantity. If the slave has collected more than usual, from the next day he will be judged on this quantity. Solomon dictated that there was not a day during the cotton harvest season that no slave was whipped. Even after returning from the field, their work was not done. They must then store the cotton, feed the farm animals, cut wood and then be allowed to eat, food given to them only to survive. Overall, the life of slaves as described by Solomon is very pitiful to say the least. Some time after Salomon was sold to Edwin Epps, he began to show symptoms of illness. This illness became very serious and Epps, not wanting to bear the losses of losing a slave, called a doctor. Solomon survived after following the doctor's instructions, but he was in a very weakened state. Salomon was still not allowed to fully recover as he was sent to work by Epps. Solomon soon discovered that he was not good at picking cotton. No matter how much practice or whipping Solomon was given, he failed to produce the required quantity. Epps eventually abandoned Salomon picking cotton and employed him in other work. During his third year under Edwin Epps, a great famine ruined the cottons. To reduce losses, owners in this region hired their slaves from other regions. Salomon was also hired by Judge Turner, on a sugar plantation. Solomon discovered he was extremely competent on a sugar plantation and was praised by Judge Turner. Sunday was a holiday for slaves and any work done on that day was done by the slaves. Solomon was in great demand for his skill on the violin on Sundays and he earned a lot of money for a slave under Judge Turner. When he returns, he discovers that Patsey, another of Edwin Epps' slaves, has been subjected to frequent torture at the hands of her master. Patsey was an energetic and pleasant young girl who had always been her master's favorite. She was light and extremely skilled at picking cotton, and was known throughout Bayou Beouf as the best cotton picker. While she looked favorably on Epps, Mrs. Epps looked down on her with jealousy and anger. This feeling of jealousy and hatred was unusual for Mrs. Epps, because according to Solomon, she was an elegant and fascinating woman who treated her husband's slaves with kindness. His hatred was only directed at Patsey. Mr. Epps, unable to afford to upset his wife but also unable to bear the loss of selling Patsey, whipped Patsey to calm his wife down. This is why, although she picked the most cotton, Patsey was the one who was whipped the most compared to the others and, although she is the lightest and most cheerful character, it is she who cried the most. Salomon's obvious lack of skill led Epps to hire him. outside during the cane cutting season. Otherwise, he was employed in the field, where he was employed as a driver. A driver, in addition to his own duties, had the added responsibility of whipping other slaves when they showed signs of laziness. If this work was not done well, the driver himself was whipped. Solomon was a driver for most of his time at Epps and acquired very good expertise and precision with the whip. He declaredthat he could whip within “hair’s length” of anyone. Solomon used this skill to spare his fellow slaves by making it appear that they were being whipped, when in reality the whip did not even touch them. The other slaves cried and behaved painfully as if they had been whipped, to make the ruse credible. At one point, while they were working in the field, Epps drunkenly made faces at Patsey, which greatly upset her. Realizing this, Salomon suggested in a low voice to Patsey to continue working as if she did not see her owner. Epps was not to be fooled, and in his drunken state he was furious. He pulled out his knife to stab Solomon and Solomon, fearing for his life, started running. Epps chased Salomon several times around the cotton field, but was unable to catch up with Salomon. Seeing Mrs. Epps outside the house, Solomon ran towards her. Epps, remarking that she had acted innocently, so nothing happened. Edwin Epps then entered his house and Solomon went out into the field, the incident never occurring again. Solomon, although a slave, never forgot his family. His goal was always to write a letter to his family or friends letting them know where he was. The obstacle was that he had no pen and paper and no store would sell these things to a slave. Thanks to a great fortune, Solomon was able to acquire a sheet of paper. He experimented with making ink and eventually succeeded in making some from boiled white maple bark and a feather plucked from a duck. At night, when everyone was sound asleep, he would stay awake and sneakily write a letter. Now the problem was mailing it, because a slave was not allowed to mail a letter. Solomon kept this letter hidden for a long time, unable to post it. Subsequently, he became acquainted with a white man named Armsby who came to work as an overseer on Epps' plantation. He later moved to the neighboring plantation, where he failed to obtain the position of overseer and began working as a laborer. Solomon carefully approached this person and, losing patience, asked Armsby to mail him a letter the next time he was in town, without revealing that the letter was already written and giving him all the money he had. he earned by playing the violin on Sundays. Armsby promised not to snitch and took the money. Solomon, not trusting him, informed him that he would write the letter in a few days. His suspicions were justified, because the next day, Armsby revealed everything to Epps. That night, Epps approached Solomon and inquired about the details Armsby had told him. Solomon, fearing the punishment that awaited him, took the path of ignorance and surprise, denying the whole affair. He convinced Epps that Armsby was lying so that Epps thought all his slaves were going to run away, thus hiring Armsby as his overseer. Epps believes Solomon left while making descriptive comments about Armsby's character. Solomon immediately burned the letter to his great desolation, recognizing the possibilities of his freedom, which were becoming weaker and weaker. Having escaped the whip before, Solomon was not always so lucky. At one point during his life as a slave, a tanner came to Bayou Beouf and asked Mr. Epps about the opportunity to purchase Salomon and introduce him to the tanner's trade. Hearing their conversation, Aunt Phebe, another fellow slave, chatted about it with Solomon. Solomon, wanting to get away from Epps, replied that he was impatiently waiting for him. Mrs. Epps listening to the conversation entrusted to Edwin Epps. This greatly angered Epps, as the prospect of a slave wanting to leave was very frowned upon by Epps. Heflogged Solomon with thirty lashes for this, demonstrating how little it took to anger Epps. These punishments are minimal compared to those received by Patsey. Constantly harassed by Epps, she was looked down upon by Mrs. Epps. One Sunday, when the servants were free, Epps called Patsey. No response came; apparently she was not on the plantation. Patsey went to the neighboring plantation to see the owner's wife who was very kind to Patsey. Epps, however, thought she was visiting the owner instead. When Patsey returned, she pleaded for her to go get some soap because Mrs. Epps didn't provide any for Patsey. This plea fell on deaf ears, for Epps, blinded by jealousy, ordered Solomon to tie up Patsey and strip her; then giving the whip to Solomon, he ordered him to whip Patsey. Mrs. Epps stood there with complete satisfaction on her face. Solomon, reluctantly, had to obey his master, because he would have been whipped if he refused. After forty lashes, Solomon declared that he would whip her no more. At that point, Epps grabbed the whip and began whipping Patsey himself, more severely than ever. Epps only stopped when he was exhausted. Only then was Patsey allowed to go free. The always cheerful Patsey was never the same. Solomon's life under the ownership of Edwin Epps in the film begins with Epps reading the Bible to his slaves. This is in complete contrast to what Solomon related in the book. Like Edwin Epps never read the Bible to his slaves. He saw no need to preach to slaves because he did not consider them human beings. For him, the slave is property, no more precious than the horse or the cow. According to Solomon, Edwin Epps would have tortured his slaves in any way possible if it benefited him. In the film, Edwin Epps is seen reading the same scriptures read by Peter Tanner, who uses the scriptures to keep his slaves in line. Edwin Epps also owns over a dozen slaves, which is also untrue. Solomon in his memoirs mentions that there were nine slaves under Edwin Epps, including Solomon. In reality, Epps was considered a small planter and hired slaves from other plantations if additional help was needed. The film then continues to show life on a cotton plantation and the haunting of the gin, ignoring Solomon's illness. We also see that Patsey receives favor from Mr. Epps and absolute hatred from Mrs. Epps. On one of the nights when the slaves are forced to dance in the middle of the night by a drunken Epps, Mrs. Epps throws a decanter of whiskey at Patsey and then demands Mr. Epps to get rid of her. Mr. Epps responds that he will get rid of his wife before he gets rid of Patsey. Forcing the slaves to dance according to a whim by Epps is entirely true, as is the hatred held by Mrs. Epps towards Patsey; but Mr. Epps never told his wife that he would get rid of her before Patsey did. He seemed to love his and tried to satisfy her every whim. In the next scene, Mrs. Epps asks Solomon to acquire some items from the town, handing him a list that prompts Solomon to take a look. This leads Mrs. Epps to ask if Solomon can read; expressing it forcefully did not matter since Solomon was used to working and not reading. Mrs. Epps' character is the complete opposite. Solomon described Mrs. Epps as a kind and elegant person, who was looked upon fondly by the other slaves, except of course Patsey. On the way to the city, Solomon feels the urge to escape but unfortunately arrives in front of a group of patrolmen who were going to hang two slaves who were trying to escape. This greatly discourages Solomon.This section is used to show that Solomon was constantly planning his escape, but never attempted it because he failed to come up with a flawless plan. Additionally, Louisiana state society, particularly the area where Solomon was a slave, was designed in such a way as to negate any possibility of a slave escaping. The patrolmen seen in the film are exactly as Solomon described them, but he never saw any hangings during his time as a slave. As previously mentioned, Edwin Epps' pursuit of Solomon occurred when Patsey and Solomon were working in the field. In the film, Epps sent Solomon to collect Patsey from Mr. Shaw's plantation, where Patsey regularly visits Mrs. Shaw, as cited in the book. When Salomon returned with Patsey, Epps called Patsey. Solomon whispered to Patsey to act like nothing happened and get on with it. This made Epps angry and he then pursued Salomon. Patsey also asks Solomon to kill her because she can't do it alone. She tries to bribe Solomon for doing this. In his column, Solomon often hoped that Patsey would have died from the endless whippings she received without healing each time, but he said nothing about the fact that Patsey had asked him to kill her. This scene is used to show the audience Patsey's pain, constant agony and fear that she was experiencing at Epps' estate. The next major difference we can see concerns the segment with Armsby. In the film, Armsby works as a laborer in Epps' cotton field. He then treats Solomon's wounds after the latter was whipped. Meanwhile, Solomon conversed with Armsby and came up with the idea of ​​asking Armsby to give him a letter. In fact, Armsby never worked in Epps' film. He came to Epps to be hired as a supervisor, but was rejected by Epps. Armsby ten moved to the adjacent plantation owned by Mr. Shaw, where, failing to be hired as an overseer, he began working as a laborer. Solomon also had his letter written a long time ago, which is also not correctly depicted. In the photo, Solomon writes the letter after confirming that Armsby would publish it. Uncle Abram is seen in the photo fainting while working in the field and consequently dying. The driver is shown to also attempt to resuscitate him. In fact, Uncle Abram was still alive when Solomon was freed from slavery. Solomon also worked as a designated driver for Edwin Epps. This fragment of the film is used to reveal Solomon's fear of never knowing freedom again and never seeing his wife and children again. BassJune, 1852, a new house was erected by Edwin Epps. Carpenters were engaged for this purpose and familiar with Salomon's experience as a carpenter during his stay with the previous owners; he was chosen to assist the carpenters. Mr. Bass was one of the carpenters working for Epps at that time. He was a kind and liberal man, happy to discuss politics, religion and slavery with anyone who wanted, but never creating resentment towards his interlocutor. It was he who enabled the process of Solomon's liberation. Solomon was working nearby when Bass and Epps were engaged in a conversation about slavery. Bass argued that there was nothing good about this system and supported the abolition of slavery. Epps, amused by this, laughed and said there was no difference between a baboon and a black man. Epps used to converse frequently with Bass as the latter amused Epps with his ideologies. As Solomon learned more about Mr. Bass, he gained the courage to reveal the truth about him to Mr. Bass. Solomon nevertheless hesitated toconfided to Bass after Bass learned that Salomon had visited Canada, the country of his birth. After Bass sincerely assured Solomon that he would keep Solomon's secret, they decided to meet secretly during the night where Solomon revealed everything he had suffered since agreeing to accompany Abram Hamilton and Merill Brown. Amused by Solomon's story, Bass promised to write a letter on his behalf to his acquaintances in New York. The next night, Bass wrote down all the names of acquaintances to whom he could send a letter. Fully trusting Bass, Solomon began to reveal all his sorrows from his life as a slave. Bass wrote letters to the Collector of the New York Customs, where Solomon issued his free papers, another to Judge Marvin who employed Solomon in his hotel, and the last to Mr. William Perry and Mr. Cephas Parker. Solomon and Bass continued their midnight meeting the entire time Bass was at Edwin Epps' plantation. Although Bass assured Solomon of the time it would take for the letter to be duly delivered, the prospect of freedom made Solomon impatient and disappointed him over time. Bass left the plantation after the house was completed, but promised Solomon that he would visit him at Christmas. Little by little, Solomon began to lose hope as no response was received. His desperation soon became visible to the other slaves, who regularly asked Solomon if anything was wrong. True to his words, Bass visited the plantation at Christmas. Having received no response, Mr. Bass decided to travel to New York and track down Solomon's family, informing them of Solomon's whereabouts. This however proved to be unnecessary because; Solomon was rescued eight days later, on January 3, 1853. He was working in the fields when a horse-drawn carriage arrived, containing the sheriff and Mr. Henry B. Northup. After answering a few questions from the sheriff about his true identity, Mr. Henry B. Northup and the sheriff met with Edwin Epps to show him proof of Solomon's status as a free man. Solomon then gathered his things and said goodbye to his fellow slavers. Mrs. Epps was in tears saying goodbye to Solomon. Solomon was then brought before the Marksville court. All the evidence was presented to the judge and Epps had to recognize Salomon's freedom. After Mr. Bass mailed the Marksville letters, it actually set off a chain of events that were recounted by Solomon. These events lasted for almost five months and ultimately led to Solomon's freedom. William Perry and Cephas Parker received the letter in early September. They immediately forwarded it to Anne Northup, Solomon Northup's wife. She then sought help from Henry B. Northup. As a lawyer and respectable man, Henry Northup was able to gain support from the area in which Solomon was born and, as New York law suggested, was appointed agent by the governor of New York in an effort to free Solomon. Henry then went to Washington. There he won the support and sympathy of Louisiana's congressional senator, the secretary of war, and a Supreme Court justice. They produced open letters for Henry Northup for which the Louisiana authorities were required to assist him. While searching for Solomon Northup in Marksville, Henry fortunately encountered Bass. Insisting that he had come to free Solomon, Henry urged Bass to tell him where Solomon was, as he had failed to do so, as Solomon was known as Platt. Bass hesitated for a moment but eventually revealed that it was he who had written this letter and told Henry that Solomon belonged to Edwin Epps, thus allowing Solomon to be released. Solomon and Henry B. Northup began their journey to New York almost immediately. They first went to.