Feb 03, 2016 screenplay by john ridley based on a twelve years a slave by solomon northup. A discussion of steve mcqueens film 12 years a slave the. An analysis of sean bobbitts superb 12 years a slave cinematography. In 12 years a slave 20, directed by steve mcqueen, the audience is provided with an understanding of characters, place and main characters experience through miseenscene and cinematography. At the beginning of 12 years a slave, the kidnapped freeman solomon northup. Later, as they sleep en masse in tight quarters, a sexual act occurs, but it is committed more out of desperation for human contact than desire. Uncle toms cabin, by harriet beecher stowe twelve years a slave. True story of an africanamerican who was kidnapped in new york and sold into slavery with bonus material. Jan 11, 2014 12 years a slave is not an easy watch and nor should it be.
First person was a more powerful perspective and brought the reader closer to solomons. Essay 12 years a slave grade 96% ccj4934sya4930 studocu. Need help on characters in solomon northrups 12 years a slave. Sep 07, 20 12 years a slave is based on a book, published in 1853, that solomon northup wrote about his ordeal, and mcqueen, working from a superb script by john ridley, has structured the movie as a diary. Despite this various portrayals, then, 12 years a slave is unique, and demands to be seen, though its harsh content is suitable only for mature viewers. Northup was put to work on plantations in the state of louisiana for 12 years before being released. What 12 years a slave teaches us about racism today busted. A film analysis the movie, 12 years a slave, was released november 8th 20 and was directed by steve mcqueen. At sixty years old, abram is a sweet, aging man who acts like a father to the other slaves.
Speeches are few and far between, while sound and imagery are at the forefront. There were the highest expectations for the film 12 years a s lave 20, the motion picture about the enslavement of africans in america by the black british visual artist and film director steve mcqueen. It doesnt take long before unclothed bodies show up onscreen in 12 years a slave, as male and female canefield laborers must wash together outside in a yard while the world passes by. It is a film that stimulates at both an emotional level and an intellectual one. Twelve years a slave study guide contains a biography of solomon northup. Whether developing or dissolving, a relationship must exist between the main and influence character. Solomon northup, aka platt a free black man who lived in the northern united states in the 1800s, solomon was kidnapped. Born free and illegally kidnapped, he spends 12 years in slavery before achieving his freedom.
Jul 11, 2017 that collective gasp you hear is the audience jolted by intolerable cruelty in 12 years a slave. He faces the hardships of being a slave under the hands of a few different slave owners. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and. We zero in on the major plot elements in 12 years a slave. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. There were the highest expectations for the film 12 years a slave 20, the motion picture about the enslavement of africans in america by the black british visual artist and film director steve mcqueen. I am looking for volunteers to read a script and provide a scenebyscene breakdown for it to be used as part of our weekly series. Patsey a 23yearold black slave of edwin epps, and the most tragic figure in 12 years a slave. Patsey is a twentythree year old, beautiful slave girl belonging to edwin epps. The intense narrative of solomon northup, freeman kidnapped and taken to the south, is an exceptional story accompanied by exceptional cinematography. Part of the significance of northups memoir is its description of everyday life. Hunger is the sort of art film that makes a show of just how perfectly its. He displays several qualities, which make him a fascinating character.
Apr 10, 2014 solomon northup is a stimulating character in the film twelve years a slave. Aug 31, 20 in many respects, 12 years a slave works like a horror movie, beginning with a sawstyle abduction and proceeding through subsequent circles of hell, the tension amplified by a score. Through faith, will power, and courage northup must survive and endure those 12 years as a slave. It is evident solomon is courageous when he is captured and put into slavery, when he works with bass to retain his freedom and how. In 1841, solomon northup, a freeborn new york native, husband and father. There were the highest expectations for the film 12 years a slave 20, the motion picture about the enslavement of africans in america by. The brutal beauty of 12 years a slave the atlantic. Twelve years a slave by solomon northup point of view told from solomon northups perspective in first person solomon wanted people to experience what he had to go through first hand. She is raped by epps regularly, making her the object of mistress epps jealousy and hatred and thus the recipient of even read full character analysis. In 12 years a slave 20, directed by steve mcqueen, the audience is provided with an understanding of characters, place and main character s experience through miseenscene and cinematography. Patsey a 23 year old black slave of edwin epps, and the most tragic figure in 12 years a s lave. Naturally a joyous creature, a laughing lighthearted girl, frequent beatings and abuse made her despondent and suicidal as the years went on. She was a victim of repeated rapings by edwin epps and also of the jealous cruelty of epps wife. In 1999, a historical marker was installed in saratoga springs to commemorate northups life.
It also features lengthy descriptions of the methods of cotton farming. Last week i caught up with oscar nominated film, 12 years a slave. Narrative of solomon northup, citizen of newyork, kidnapped in washington city in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river. Twelve years a slave has twice been adapted for film. Solomon is courageous, robust, and emotionally inspiring. My indepth examination of steve mcqueens incredible american odyssey 12 years a slave. From start to finish, basic facts about the time, the places, the people, and the.
Dec 11, 20 while the director steve mcqueen grappled with the emotional, social and political struggles that went into 12 years a slave, the story of a free black man solomon northup kidnapped into slavery in the antebellum south, ms. The story is also unique for a striking, tragic twist differentiating its source material from most slave narratives. Northup was a talented musician who lived in saratoga ny. Emotionally, sometimes even close to physically, it was painful to watch and thats putting it mildly. Yet if you think the movie offers a terribleenough portrait of slavery, please, do read the book. Bass character timeline in 12 years a slave the timeline below shows where the character bass appears in 12 years a slave.
Steve mcqueens film fudges several details of solomon northups. I thought chiwetel ejiofor as solomon northup acted with incredible intensity, as did michael fassbender, who played northups violent and sadistic master, edwin epps. Read indepth analyses of the main characters in solomon northrups twelve years a slave. Steve mcqueen blew me away with this film and if i had seen this in 20 no doubt would it had been hard to choose between this and gravity. In the antebellum united states, solomon northup, a free black man from upstate new york, is abducted and sold into slavery. Explore studypools library of literature materials, including. Based on a true story, 12 years a slave depicts the journey of a free black man in the 1840s that is kidnapped and sold into southern slavery. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
The movie focuses on a free black man named solomon northup, the protagonist, who was kidnapped and sold back into slavery. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Dec 18, 20 going into 12 years a slave, talk about the boldness of mcqueens long takes had dominated discussion of his films so thoroughly that it seemed like he was probably in danger of being labeled a. Twelve years a slave solomon northrup character analysis. In 1984, pbs produced a television movie called solomon northups odyssey, and in 20, an oscarwinning film titled 12 years a slave was released. Luckally i dont have to pick and that 12 years a slave has the best chance to be the best movie in 2014. Twelve years a s lave study guide contains a biography of solomon northup, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
Solomon northups 12 years a s lave recounts the authors life story as a free black man from the north who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the precivil war south the son of an emancipated slave, northup was born free. The narrative twelve years a slave is a mesmerizing memoir of the life of solomon northup. The subject matter made 12 years a slave a very uncomfortable film to watch, although some of the actors gave astonishing performances. Aside from the captivating story and tremendous acting, the historical accuracy of slavery during this time is gut retching. Twelve years a slave study guide contains a biography of solomon northup, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The 12 years a slave quotes below are all either spoken by bass or refer to bass. Feb 18, 2017 in this episode we take a closer look at how steve mcqueen uses violence in his best picture winning masterpiece 12 years a slave. The incredible cinematography of 12 years a slave kat clay. Benedict cumberbatch, chiwetel ejiofor in 12 years a slave. Next, the fact that slavery were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names us house representative, 2008 was convincingly demonstrated in series of events and scenes from the movie twelve years a slave.
He lived, worked, and married in upstate new york, where his family resided. Norris, the films costume designer, was simply working to get clothes on the actors. The 12 years a slave book shows slavery as even more. But with the exception of a somewhat distracting thirdact cameo by coproducer brad pitt, it is pitched pretty near perfectly in terms.