The movie 12 Years a Slave is very historically accurate through its account of the setting of the antebellum South, Solomon Northup’s life, and the harsh conditions of slavery.
The setting of the antebellum South is accurately portrayed on the plantations and through the climate. The quarter houses, plantation homes, and work areas are historically correct on the Ford and Epps plantations in the movie. The master’s or plantation home is characterized as extremely extravagant compared to that of the shack-like quarter houses that the slaves lived in (Wikipedia contributors). The Epps’s Plantation home and the Ford’s Plantation homes are both lavishly furnished and similarly decorated in the rooms that Solomon entered. The plantation homes accurately …show more content…
Solomon’s life as a slave began when he met two men that drugged him and sold him into slavery (“Solomon Northup”). They tricked him into believing that they were interested in his ability to play the violin, but they wanted to sell him into the slave trade for a sum of money. He was denied his status as a free man and saw his whole life crumble before him (“Solomon Northup”). The movie also accurately portrayed his experience on his trip from Washington to Louisiana where he went on a boat, to an auction, and the plantation. His life as a slave was described accurately from his work to his struggles to his friends. While a slave, Solomon did strenuous labor including picking cotton and met a slave woman named Patsey (“Solomon Northup”). Solomon Northup was finally liberated and returned home from the Epps’s plantation. With help from a carpenter, Solomon was able to prove that he was a free man and he was no longer the property of Edwin Epps (“Solomon Northup”). Overall, Solomon’s life is accurately portrayed in the …show more content…
The auction scene correctly depicts the harsh reality for many slaves when they were sold because of their social status as a slave. At the auction, Solomon witnesses the separation of a slave family and the physical presentation of slaves. Solomon witnessed the heartbreak of the mother and her children when they were separately sold, and this was a common occurrence for most slave families (Costly). Auctions were deeply feared by slaves because families were usually torn apart, and they would never see each other again (Henson). In the scene, many of the slaves at the auction were stripped naked and shown off to show their overall value. This showed both how desirable and useful they were, and it wasn’t uncommon for slaves’ bodies to be exposed for the judging of their teeth, limbs, and injuries (Bibb). This scene accurately depicts how slaves were inspected and judged on their athleticism and
The setting of the antebellum South is accurately portrayed on the plantations and through the climate. The quarter houses, plantation homes, and work areas are historically correct on the Ford and Epps plantations in the movie. The master’s or plantation home is characterized as extremely extravagant compared to that of the shack-like quarter houses that the slaves lived in (Wikipedia contributors). The Epps’s Plantation home and the Ford’s Plantation homes are both lavishly furnished and similarly decorated in the rooms that Solomon entered. The plantation homes accurately …show more content…
Solomon’s life as a slave began when he met two men that drugged him and sold him into slavery (“Solomon Northup”). They tricked him into believing that they were interested in his ability to play the violin, but they wanted to sell him into the slave trade for a sum of money. He was denied his status as a free man and saw his whole life crumble before him (“Solomon Northup”). The movie also accurately portrayed his experience on his trip from Washington to Louisiana where he went on a boat, to an auction, and the plantation. His life as a slave was described accurately from his work to his struggles to his friends. While a slave, Solomon did strenuous labor including picking cotton and met a slave woman named Patsey (“Solomon Northup”). Solomon Northup was finally liberated and returned home from the Epps’s plantation. With help from a carpenter, Solomon was able to prove that he was a free man and he was no longer the property of Edwin Epps (“Solomon Northup”). Overall, Solomon’s life is accurately portrayed in the …show more content…
The auction scene correctly depicts the harsh reality for many slaves when they were sold because of their social status as a slave. At the auction, Solomon witnesses the separation of a slave family and the physical presentation of slaves. Solomon witnessed the heartbreak of the mother and her children when they were separately sold, and this was a common occurrence for most slave families (Costly). Auctions were deeply feared by slaves because families were usually torn apart, and they would never see each other again (Henson). In the scene, many of the slaves at the auction were stripped naked and shown off to show their overall value. This showed both how desirable and useful they were, and it wasn’t uncommon for slaves’ bodies to be exposed for the judging of their teeth, limbs, and injuries (Bibb). This scene accurately depicts how slaves were inspected and judged on their athleticism and