12 Year a Slave Essay

Twelve Years A Slave Essay During a time of cruel punishment and harsh conditions of life as a slave in the 19th century South, there was a book that shed a light on the life of a slave unparalleled in past as well as in modern literature. That book was entitled Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup. Northup was born a freeman that was obtained from his father after being freed by the Northup family due to loyal service. Growing up in the free state of New York, Solomon was allowed an education that was rare because of the sad disposition of the majority of his race. Solomon gained much knowledge of industry and hard work from his father. As a free man of color, he enjoyed various jobs and hobbies from timber raft building to playing the violin. On Christmas day in 1829 he married the love of his life Anne Hampton. In 1834, he resided in Saratoga Springs where his three children were born by the names of Eliza, Margaret, and Alonzo. Thirty years of freedom would soon come to a halt to serving the next unforgettable and unimaginable twelve years as a slave.
In March of 1841 searching for financial gain, Solomon found himself in the presence of two men named Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton who worked for a circus. They knew of Solomon’s excellent ability to play the violin and being just the man they needed. He accepted the offer immediately and set off with these two gentlemen performing at parties in various cities and finally making their way to Washington. Washington being a slave territory at that time, Solomon was given papers to ensure his freedom upon questioning. One night after a long day of imbibing, Northup experienced an awful pain and became sick. After hours of pain, men whom he did not know helped him for he believed they were taking him to the hospital. The next morning Northup woke up, still ill, chained up in a slave pen. Slave dealers, James H. Burch and Ebenezer Radburn had kidnapped him. After unimaginable torture, Northup giving up his