In this paper I will discuss how Solomon Northup and other slaves had to fight to survive instead of the idea of fighting to rebel. This theme is not just seen in Twelve years a slave but also throughout history. Also included in this paper are examples from both the movie and the book to better explain this theme. In Solomon Northup’s Twelve Years a Slave the book, and movie there is a reoccurring theme about fighting to survive instead of fighting to rebel.
Solomon Northup was a free man from Saratoga Springs, New York who knew how to read, write, and play the violin. Northup was married with three children. In Twelve Years a Slave Solomon writes “On Christmas day, 1829, I was married to Anne Hampton, a colored girl…” (Northup 21). One day …show more content…
He and some other slaves were sold to William Ford in Louisiana in Avoyelles parish (89). John Tibeats is a carpenter who is hired to help Ford out (103). During the time Solomon is in Louisiana he is harassed several times by Tibeats. One example of this is when Solomon is almost hanged by Tibeats because he was using the nails Chaplin, who is the overseer, gave him (Northup 112). Tibeats and two other men on horses approach him with whips. Solomon says “Hope died within my heart” (Northup 115). Solomon knows that he is about to be beaten. He goes on and says “Surely my time had come” (Northup 115). Another example of this is when Solomon is working on something and Tibeats tells him that what he is doing is wrong (133). Northup disagrees and Tibeats is not pleased so he threatens to kill him. Tibeats grabs a hatchet, which is a small ax, and tells Solomon he will cut his head off. Northup says “It was a moment of life or death” (133). Solomon chooses to fight to survive not to rebel against Tibeats. Northup says “If I stood still my doom was certain: if I fled, ten chances to one the hatchet, flying from his hand with a too-deadly and unerring aim, would strike me in the back” (133). Solomon decides to fight back against Tibeats so that he can live. He says “Springing towards him with all my power, and meeting him full half-way, before he could bring down the blow with one hand I caught his uplifted arm, with the other seized him by the throat” (133). The fight continues while Tibeats tries to find different things to beat Solomon with. Although Solomon is not trying to rebel, this is how Tibeats sees
Solomon Northup was a free man from Saratoga Springs, New York who knew how to read, write, and play the violin. Northup was married with three children. In Twelve Years a Slave Solomon writes “On Christmas day, 1829, I was married to Anne Hampton, a colored girl…” (Northup 21). One day …show more content…
He and some other slaves were sold to William Ford in Louisiana in Avoyelles parish (89). John Tibeats is a carpenter who is hired to help Ford out (103). During the time Solomon is in Louisiana he is harassed several times by Tibeats. One example of this is when Solomon is almost hanged by Tibeats because he was using the nails Chaplin, who is the overseer, gave him (Northup 112). Tibeats and two other men on horses approach him with whips. Solomon says “Hope died within my heart” (Northup 115). Solomon knows that he is about to be beaten. He goes on and says “Surely my time had come” (Northup 115). Another example of this is when Solomon is working on something and Tibeats tells him that what he is doing is wrong (133). Northup disagrees and Tibeats is not pleased so he threatens to kill him. Tibeats grabs a hatchet, which is a small ax, and tells Solomon he will cut his head off. Northup says “It was a moment of life or death” (133). Solomon chooses to fight to survive not to rebel against Tibeats. Northup says “If I stood still my doom was certain: if I fled, ten chances to one the hatchet, flying from his hand with a too-deadly and unerring aim, would strike me in the back” (133). Solomon decides to fight back against Tibeats so that he can live. He says “Springing towards him with all my power, and meeting him full half-way, before he could bring down the blow with one hand I caught his uplifted arm, with the other seized him by the throat” (133). The fight continues while Tibeats tries to find different things to beat Solomon with. Although Solomon is not trying to rebel, this is how Tibeats sees