Introduction
The book under analysis in this paper is the narrative of Solomon Northup about his 12-year experience as a slave in Louisiana. The book entitled Twelve Years a Slave is the first-person narration of Solomon Northup’s life as a person of color who was born a free man but then kidnapped and kept in slavery.
This critical analysis paper aims to identify the traumatization of slavery, racism, and the importance of freedom as the main themes of the book and claim that its message is historically relevant. While the themes of friendship, love, religion, and interpersonal relationships are addressed in the book, the most important ones are those exploring the opposition of slavery and freedom in the context of race. Indeed, the contemporary outcomes of slavery manifested via racial discrimination and bias might be reconsidered through the lens of Northup’s narration by emphasizing freedom as a universal human right regardless of race or ethnicity.
Summary
The story presented in the book starts with the introduction of Solomon Northup, who states that this narration is his personal experience presented from his perspective as an individual directly involved in slavery. He states that he was born in New York as a free man in the family of a former slave who worked in agriculture after his liberation. Solomon helped his father as a child and was aware of the atrocities of slavery. At a young age, he married a black girl, started his own family, and had children (Northup 3). He worked in repairs, woodwork, and other contracts, which allowed the young family to obtain their farm. Solomon also played violin, another way of securing income and fulfilling his life goals. Since the work he and his wife had did not allow for prosperity, the man was ready for an additional job.
On one occasion, he was invited by two men to join a band; Solomon accepted the invitation but was tricked, drugged, and kidnapped into slavery in Louisiana. After the kidnapping and the attempts to declare their free status, he was severely beaten and sold to different masters to perform hard, unpaid labor as a slave for twelve years. His inability to claim his rights despite his free status in the state of New York and repetitive suffering from moral and physical punishments from masters discouraged his identity. However, the man was able to confide in abolitionist Samuel Bass, who sent a letter to Northup’s family informing them about the kidnapping and slavery. Thus, he was freed by the attorneys’ help and was ultimately able to tell his story to the world.
Critical Analysis
The importance of freedom as opposed to slavery is a broad theme the book’s author addresses both implicitly and explicitly. At the beginning of the first chapter, the author describes his experiences communicating with some slaves he saw at a hotel in Saratoga, where he was still a free man. He states that although the slaves accompanying their masters were well-dressed and “leading an easy life,” they “cherished a secret desire for liberty” and subtle intentions to escape despite the fear of punishment (Northup 5). This episode demonstrates that the principal right to freedom and liberty is essential for any human being despite the quality of their life and the comfort of their work. Indeed, as the experience of slavery described by the author later demonstrates, the inability to express one’s will and make free choices is derogative and degrading for a human being.
Indeed, without freedom, a person is denied the right to have their identity as independent. When enslaved, Solomon is reluctant to claim his free status for fear of being beaten, which is why he ultimately lives life in an enslaved person’s identity without the ability to make his own decisions and think of himself as a person who can fully live his life. Justice and law were not the means of helping him in the situation of kidnapping merely due to his skin color (Northup 35-36). In this regard, the author emphasizes the weakness of the justice system in the face of racism.
The striking effect of the book on the readers is justified by the first-person narration, which demonstrates the first-hand experiences of a man whose life aspirations and worldview are the same as any white person’s. Northup states that his story does not contain any exaggeration or fiction, which adds the realistic and even document-like character to it where the unlawful actions outside the slavery context seem outrageous (1-2).
Indeed, the episode when Solomon first discovered himself drugged and incarcerated with chains on his arms and legs vividly demonstrates the incomprehensible essence of slavery. The author states, “What was the meaning of these chains,” and “What had I done to deserve imprisonment in such a dungeon” (Northup 11). Indeed, it is a person’s actions that might be considered a breach of law that would lead to imprisonment and the limits of freedom, not their skin color. When read from the first-person perspective, a reader is capable of seeing the situation from within and analyzing slavery on both rational and emotional levels, which indicates its unlawfulness and immorality.
Most importantly, the book demonstrates the atrocities of the lack of freedom due to race-based slavery to emphasize the wickedness of the system and its deteriorating effect on people of color. It is not only through the direct experiences of the author of the book that readers learn about the cruelty of slave owners. The episodes Northup witnessed are also illustrative in terms of the degrading impact of slavery. For example, an enslaved woman named Eliza was exposed to severe physical and sexual abuse while separated from her children and forced to work for her master (Northup 28-40). The closing part of the narrative implies that the author does not want to teach his readers anything or make any concise conclusions but only insists on their insights based on the text they read (Northhup 210-212). The book demonstrates the injustice of slavery that might exist in the same world where white people have the privilege of ruling merely based on the color of their skin.
Conclusion
In summation, the analyzed book is a vivid account of the atrocities of slavery as exemplified by the experiences of one formerly free man. The collision of the world where a black man can lead a free life and be kidnapped and enslaved due to his skin color is striking for contemporary readers. The author repeatedly refers to the lack of freedom of choice as a manifestation of a person’s denial of their identity, which only strengthens the book’s overall message. Indeed, it declares that freedom and justice are essential aspects of human life that should be granted regardless of race or ethnicity. This is relevant in the contemporary world where discrimination persists.
Works Cited
Northup, Solomon. Twelve Years a Slave. Pirates, 2014.