SUMMARY

Performing as a violinist and residing in Saratoga Springs, New York, with his wife and two kids
in 1841, Solomon Northup is a free African-American man. Instead of giving him a temporary
job as a musician in Washington, D.C., two white men named Brown and Hamilton drug
Northup and give him to James H. Birch, who runs a slave prison. When Northup declares his
freedom, he is brutally attacked.

With other captives, he is transported to New Orleans, where he is told that if he wants to
survive in the South, he must learn to adapt. Theophilus Freeman, a slave broker, disguises
Northup as "Platt," a fugitive slave from Georgia, and sells him to plantation owner William
Ford. Northup receives a violin from Ford because he likes him. When Northup defends himself
against plantation carpenter John Tibeats and beats him with his own whip, the tension
between the two men is broken. The overseer prevents Tibeats and his men from lynching
Northup. Hours pass while Northup stands on tiptoe with the rope around his neck until Ford
arrives and executes him. Despite Northup's best efforts, Ford sells him to Edwin Epps.

Epps is a cruel and wicked person. Patsey, a beloved slave and Epps' top cotton picker, is
introduced to Northup. Patsey is often raped by Epps, and his envious wife treats her badly.
Epps rents his slaves to Judge Turner's estate for the season after cotton worms decimate his
crops. Turner favors Northup, allowing him to perform the fiddle at a party and retain the
money. In order to send a letter to his pals in New York, Northup returns to Epps and pays
white field worker and former overseer Armsby. Northup is betrayed by Armsby after he takes
his money. At a point of a knife, Epps challenges Northup, but Northup persuades him that
Armsby is telling the truth. The letter is burned by Northup.

Epps follows Patsey to a nearby plantation where she buys soap since Mrs. Epps won't allow her
have any. After giving Northup the go-ahead to whip Patsey, which he does, Epps asks that he
strike her even harder before seizing the whip himself and lashing Patsey to the point of death.
Northup breaks his violin out of frustration.
Together with Samuel Bass, a Canadian worker, Solomon starts building a gazebo. Bass
criticizes Epps and opposes slavery while quoting his Christian beliefs, which makes them
enemies. Bass is informed of Northup's captivity and is enlisted to help Northup deliver his
letter. Despite his hesitation, Bass concurs despite the risk. Northup recognizes the local
sheriff's companion as Mr. Parker, a store owner he knew from New York, when he arrives.
Epps vehemently objects as they embrace and tries to stop Northup from leaving but is refused.
Northup bids Patsey farewell before leaving on his way to freedom.

In order to reestablish contact with his wife, their adult son, daughter, and daughter's husband,
Northup returns. Solomon Northup Staunton, his grandson and namesake, is handed to him. He
apologizes for his protracted absence while his loved ones console him.

The epilogue titles include Northup's unsuccessful legal actions against Brown, Hamilton, and
Birch; the 1853 release of his memoir Twelve Years a Slave; his involvement in the abolitionist
movement; and the lack of information on his passing and interment.

CONFLICT

Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery
in the South.

RESOLUTION

Solomon comes to believe that Bass is the man to help him. Solomon reveals his kidnapping to
Samuel Bass, an abolitionist and asks his help in sending his letter. Bass is hesitant because of
the risk, but agrees. Bass dedicates himself to helping Solomon attain his freedom. It is a
lengthy process, but Bass is able to convey letters to people Solomon knows in the North. A
local sheriff arrives and Northup recognizes his companion as Mr. Parker, a shopkeeper he knew
in New York. As they embrace, Epps furiously protests and tries to prevent Northup from
leaving but is rebuffed. Northup bids farewell to Patsey and rides off to his freedom.

MAIN CHARACTER

Solomon Northup (aka “Platt”), a carpenter and a talented violin player who is kidnapped and
sold into slavery in New Orleans.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHARACTER AT THE BEGINNING AND THE
END?

The son of an emancipated slave, Northup was born free. He was a multifaceted laborer and
also an accomplished violin player. A family man living with his wife and two children in
Saratoga Springs, New York.

Solomon Northup was degraded, made to suffer awful torments, and cruelly robbed of physical,
emotional, and spiritual riches. He became morally degraded and emotionally desensitized. His
religion was made hypocrisy. His family legacy is robbed of basic human graces like love,
justice, and integrity.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT GOALS OR AIMS THAT THE CHARACTER HAS DURING THE
COURSE OF THIS STORY?

Solomon Northup speaks with authority on every aspect of his servitude, mentioning people by
name and pointing to significant locations along the road. By doing this, he challenges critics to
contest his tale since he knows that public documents and widespread awareness would
support it.

For example, when Solomon claims that a depraved slave trader held him hostage in
Washington, D.C., he not only names the slaver but also the slaver's accomplice, pinpoints the
location of the slave pen, and provides a thorough description of the slave pen's physical
attributes.

DOES THIS STORY FEEL ‘FINISHED’? WHY?

Yes, Because Solomon was finally free from the plantation he forcefully serves. He returned to
his home with his family at the end of the movie.
WHAT IS THIS STORY ‘ABOUT’? HAVE THE CHARACTERS LEARNED ANYTHING?

The film 12 Years a Slave is a testament to the resilience of hope and the strength of the
human spirit. Solomon Northup is tricked, abducted, abused, separated from family, stripped of
his identity, and battered into a protracted, exhausting, unjustifiable acquiescence. But he never
breaks. He never loses faith that he will one day be free, not even in his darkest hours spent
suffering at the hands of Edwin Epps.

He never loses hope in his comrades and is continually confident that they will come to his aid if
he can just send the word to the North. They also do. In the end, Solomon Northup's tragic
path is uplifting because it shows via his narrative that faith and hope are resilient and can even
succeed.