Slavery In Solomon Northup, Twelve Years A Slave

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The biblical proverb “the truth shall set you free” encompasses the objective of slave narratives. The narratives are simply a thorough and honest depiction of slave life written by a fugitive slave, nevertheless, the slave’s tale of his or her trials and tribulations under bondage are effortlessly powerful. Slave narratives are a unique genre of literature, providing an internal perspective and insight into the peculiar institution of American history. Though these works relay an experience, they do not do so in vain. Slavery is the most oppressive institution known to man. Human beings are reduced to property and their lives purpose only to fulfill that of another man. The opportunity to share their story is paramount to releasing some of slavery’s shackles. For slaves throughout America these narratives were their voice. The narrative of Solomon Northup, Twelve Years a Slave, exemplifies this characteristic of voicing an experience and raising awareness. Solomon Northup authored his narrative with this very intention, to bring light to the various unknown evils of slavery. As he opens the novel, he explains that it will describe slavery only through his observations. In a time that slavery was becoming …show more content…

The uniqueness of his story is that he was born a free man. Solomon enjoyed liberty for over thirty years during which time he married and had children. One day he was kidnapped, and for twelve long years he experienced the life of a slave. His abductors tricked him with lies of the opportunity to work traveling and playing his violin. He was then drugged and sold at a slave auction in Washington D.C. thus, sealing his fate. His life did not turn back around until he was working for his third master, Edwin Epps, and met a man, Samuel Bass, who mailed a letter to his friends and family informing them of what Northup had

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