Henry Whitey Bass Character Analysis

Solomon Northup was placed under a master, Mr.Tibeats. As Solomon Northup was using a different sized nail then previously planned to finish a construction project, Mr.Tibeats became infuriated by the fact which resulted into punishment of Solomon Northup. As Solomon Northup fled the scene he realizes he was going to be given a unfair punishment, “My fear changed to anger, and before he reached me I had made up my mind fully not to be whipped, let the result be life or death” (Northup 51). The decision by Solomon Northup resulted in a fight which ended with Solomon Northup having complete advantage over Mr.Tibeats. In order for justification against hot headed ignorant masters, violence was the only way to get their message across. Another way violence was used was to physically protect one’s self. Frederick Douglass fled the plantation he worked on after Mr. Covey gave him a severe punishment. Coming back to the plantation resulted into confrontation with Mr. Covey which lead up to a fight, “Mr. Covey seemed now to think he had me, and could do what he pleased; but at this moment - from whence came the spirit I don’t know – I resolved to fight…” (Douglass 97). This fight was won by Frederick Douglass who desperately fought back in order to spare his life. Aggressiveness was a characteristic needed by both men to survive, without it convincing the masters to listen to the slaves would have been impossible. The men can only pursue their dream when they are alive and

Solomon was without work and needed to find a job to help support his family. He is over the moon excited when he finds out that the job he took was not the job he signed up for. He was drugged, kidnapped, and held as a slave. The way that it was spoken about when he first got there made you understand that people turning slaves in by tricking them was not unheard of. Brown and Hamilton promised Northup he would meet the circus in New York City, they promised he’d meet the circus in Washington D.C., they promised him high wages, they promised a quick departure from Washington D.C., then “postponed” it, forcing Northup to stay longer than planned in slave territory. These were all lies told. They even sat there and promised him safety in slave territory, but when he was drugged and Brown and Hamilton disappeared leaving him behind. He was a free man, rules are rules, and he should not have been taken. This however shows you that people don’t always play by the rules. However, it was very abrupt of him at the same time. He needed money to support his family and because of that he didn’t really look as deep into the job proposition as he could have.

Have you ever met a split personality person or somebody who is mean to others but nice toy you. Avi wrote a book called the True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle that has a cruel character that is just like that. Some of the things he does are kills a crew member in cold blood, singles out the oldest crew member and beats him to death along with threats if somebody is to slow, and finally killing another crew member in cold blood. Captain Jaggery is a split personality murders insane maniacal decel who has OCD in a mentally insane way.

In the book 12 Years A Slave written from a primary source by Solomon Northup based on a true story describes the triumphant journey Solomon Northup goes through as he never lost hope of regaining his freedom and resisted the dehumanization of enslavement in many ways. Solomon was born a free black man in New York in 1808 while his father, Mintus was born a slave and gained his freedom as their master passed away also inheriting their masters last name "Northup". Growing Solomon worked on a farm with his dad and soon after his dad died in 1829 he soon married a women named Anne Hampton in which they soon moved to Saratoga Springs, New York and had three children of their own. They were living like any other free person was and soon Solomon was working in many industries and Anne established herself as a cook and in the 1830 's Solomon had a reputation of being a well played violinist. In 1841 Solomon had became unemployed and was looking for an occupation, he ran into Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton in who then offers him a job in a circus playing the violin. As they arrive in Washington D.C. which is slave territory, he begins to become sick and passes out which was planned by Merrill and Abram to poison and kidnap him in the slave territory and sell him in which he soon wakes up in chains in a slave pen. Solomon 's first master was James H. Burch who he was sold by the two men who had

Solomon Northup is a prime example of the cruel treatment black people received. He was deceived into thinking he was joining two fellow performers to work in Washington at a circus, but instead was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery. He tries to plead his case and fight for his freedom but all he gets in return are blows to his back until he accepts his new role as a Georgia runaway slave. This is not only an example of how black people were physically abused, but also how they were psychologically abused. As soon as he is kidnapped, he is stripped away from everything he once was and everything he once knew. He is given a new name and identity and if he dared to proclaim otherwise, it would cost him his life. It is unfortunate that black men and women in the North were never actually safe, even if they were born free, they risked getting abducted and sold to slave owners in the South, just like Solomon was. Kidnapping was not the only cruel act in which black people were targeted, they were also humiliated and treated as less than a white person.

After reading Solomon Northup's Twelve Years A Slave, I was overwhelmed with his experience. He was born a free man in New York in 1808. In 1841 he was tricked, captured, and sold into slavery in Washington, D.C. Throughout his book, Solomon goes into details describing his life as a slave, which validates our critique of slavery. As abolitionists, it is our duty to do something about slavery. Although, as abolitionists, we have a history of disagreements among us, it time to put a stop to our arguments and start fighting for something we all believe in - to abolish slavery. While the growing cotton economy has made slavery more attractive than ever before to most southern people, slavery has to be abolished based on these reasons:

In his true-life narrative "Twelve Years a Slave," Solomon Northup is a free man who is deceived into a situation that brings about his capture and ultimate misfortune to become a slave in the south. Solomon is a husband and father. Northup writes:

Lastly, the fourth event that took place within the film, was a carpenter named Bass helping Solomon gain his freedom. This in fact was true, Samuel Bass had a discussion with Solomon and learned the truth behind his kidnapping. Once learning this, Solomon asked Bass to help him send a letter. Fortunately, Bass agreed to help Solomon and sent the letter. Shortly after Northup’s friends decided to save him from slavery (Eliana

Through Solomon Northup’s story, viewers learn that socioeconomic status is no exception from racial realities. Solomon Northup was an educated, refined free black in the 1840s. His only mistake was thinking that being born free meant he was safe from the demonstration of white supremacy in America. Especially during this time, it didn't matter that he was educated, musically talented, and a family man, a person of color was threatened in a white, capitalist society and through the heartbreaking story of Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave shows this sad time in American

Solomon Northup was born free, in Minerva, New York in 1808. Northup became known in his community as an exceptional fiddle player. When two men approached Northup and offered him good wages to go to Washington DC, to play in a travelling music show, he quickly accepted. Solomon Northup was drugged, kidnapped, captured, and sold into slavery. He served for many masters; some were violent and cruel while others treated him humanely. Solomon Northup experienced shear torture, cruelty, and the loss of his dignity, throughout his many years as a slave. After many years, he came in contact with an abolitionist, who sent letters to Northup’s family to notify them of his life and status. He was soon rescued from Louisiana and freed as a slave.

Solomon Northup was a free African American man from Minerva, New York. In the novel Twelve Years a Salve, Northup composed a narrative about his life as a free man, and also his life as a slave. In the year of 1814 Northup was kidnapped and taken deep South, to the rugged life of slavery. After 12 years of being thrown into the slavery against his will, he rightfully regained his freedom in January of 1853 all because he came in contact with an abolitionist from Canada, who sent letters to his family about his situation.

Bass came to do some work for Epps. Bass was from canada, he had very different views on slavery than that of Epps, he thought slavery was wrong and unlawful: “I tell you what it is, Epps, said Bass, “it's all wrong-all wrong, sir-there's no justice nor righteousness in it. I wouldn't own a slave if I was rich as Croesus, which I am not, as is perfectly well understood, more particularly among my creditors. But this question of slavery; what right have you to your niggers when you come down to the point”(Northup pg. 178)? Northrup overheard the conversation between Bass and Epps, he was happy to know Bass was against slavery. The knowledge of this gave Northrup the courage to tell Bass the truth about his past, how he is a free man from New York city. Northrup asked Bass if he would write a letter to his friends in the North, and tell them what happened to him. He hoped if his friends got word of his situation they would be able to help him back to freedom. Bass agreed to Northrup's request with great courage, for if anyone found out Bass could be murdered along with

Northup had an education before he became a slave and he used that to his advantage. When Bass, a new carpenter arrives on the plantation, Northup finds that he is unlike the rest of the white men; Bass thinks slavery is wrong. While working alone with Bass, Northup decides to bring up the topic of where Bass is from. Learning that Bass is from Canada, Northup replies saying he has been there himself. Bass was skeptical about Northup’s knowledge of the north because most slaves have never been there. To reinforce the fact that he knows of Canada, Northup reveals, “I have been there. I have been in Montreal and Kingston, and Queenston, and a great many places in Canada, and I have been in York State too . . . ” (Northup 101). Living in the north intrigued Bass because it meant Northup was educated, a rarity for a slave. Bass began to question whether he really was a slave. Douglass on the other hand did not have any kind of education. Learning how to read was a challenge, stating, “I had no regular teacher. My mistress who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else” (Douglass 22). After Master Hugh stopped his wife from teaching Douglass, he decided to learn himself. Even with the mistress always watching him he

Northup sets out to convince readers that his account of slavery is the truth. The detailed accounts that Solomon took to recreate his slave experience proves to be effective. Solomons story takes the aspect of being a free man, to enslavement in the South. Northup uses great parallelism in his narrative, often

Solomon’s Northup ‘12 Years a Slave’ is an autobiography book that narrates his life journey in regaining his freedom as a freeman. He emphasizes the concept of racism and freedom in his ‘12 Years a Slave’. This essay explores the research question “How does Northup portray the concept of racism and freedom in the novel ‘12 Years A Slave’?”. This essay begins with an introduction that outlines the background of racism and freedom in the novel and how the novel has provided detailed information that helps in analyzing. The essay continues with outlines of racism that occurs during 1840’s. The main analysis is included in the body; racism during Solomon’s abduction, how were they treated by his masters, what were his thoughts and