Critical Review of 12 Years a Slave
’12 Years a Slave’ is a personal account of Solomon
Northup’s journey of being a slave during the 19th Century. Watching
the film for the first time I wasn’t truly able to captivate the depth of which
the director ties the key concepts of slavery. However after some research on
the film and some time to ponder the films contents it is clear that director, Steve McQueen, illustrates a most accurate portrayal of Solomon's story. However, respectfully stays close to Solomon’s story; “This is
no fiction, no exaggeration.”
It is clear that the slaves in ’12 Years a Slave’ have an
accurate representation. It is known that slavery was maintained by the fear of
punishment through violence. This is
presented through all the slaves on both Ford’s plantation and Epp’s. There are
no differences between treatment with black men and black women. They share
communal living spaces and both get beaten. Depending on the plantation, both
men and women work on the farm, especially the cotton plantation that Epps
owns. It portrays the image that slaves did see themselves as less than human.
Slaves were compared to cattle and this is seen when Joseph Russell and
Alexander Merrill kidnap Solomon and sell him on. Again when Ford sells Solomon
onto Epp’s. And is further reiterated with Epp’s showing no remorse with Patsey
having gone to get herself a bar of soap. He states “there is no sin where his
property is involved.” To me this gives the impression that he has no morality
and doesn’t see his slaves as people; that they were created for his personal
gain. The noun ‘sin’ is particularly interesting to analyse, as Ford knows that
God would have been watching and yet he still shows no guilt or shame in his
actions.
The film can be seen as an authentic representation of
slaves during this period. Solomon, although a free man is committed into this
lifestyle and there is nothing he can do about it. The broken culture is
evident in this film as Solomon is torn away from his family which shows sever
consequences for both enslaves Africans and Americans. He is stripped from home
cultures and is put into a completely different environment. A key moment in
the film that reflects this is when Ford gives him a violin, an instrument that
he played from his old life as a free American. Interestingly, he takes this
instrument with him when he is moved on to Epp’s plantation. The violin is
almost a symbol of hope and three quarters of the way through the film this is
suggested to have fallen when he smashes the violin up. It is not until Solomon
meets the character Bass, who was in fact an actual gentleman the real Solomon
spoke to in the early 19th century, that his hope is regenerated.
Steve McQueen doesn’t hold back with the violence in the film, it is vivid and
raw, and the emotion behind it is one of astonishment. It
portrays the trueness of how slaves have described their treatment whilst being
captured.
The character of Bass is interesting to analyse. He is
written about in Solomon’s story and so is in fact a true character. He is
anti-slavery and speaks openly and honest about his opinion. Many white people
in American and globally for that matter believed that they were better than
black people and even if not, many would not have spoke their opinions aloud. Bass openly
states to Epp’s about how wrong he believes slavery is; “all wrong – all
wrong Sir.” The word “sir” is intriguing as he still see’s Epp’s as higher in
position than him, yet is not afraid to speak his mind. In addition to this,
Epp’s is a rather strong and violent man who doesn’t care about his treatment
towards his slaves. He continues and the passage is rather long. He questions a
white’s person’s rights on owning a slave and continues to say he would never
own a slave even if he were rich. He states the law should be “abolished.” Linking
to previously in my essay about how Epp’s states that there is no sin in
violent actions towards his slaves; Bass states, “In the sight of God, what is
the difference.” This gives the impression that Bass believes that God would
not allow these actions.
Captivatingly, the two slave owners that Solomon encounters
are rather different in their treatment towards their slaves. This is critical when
looking at the slave period. Although the stereotypical slave was beaten, there
were a few slave owners who had more respect for their slaves than others.
There are many sources to look at which suggest this, not only Solomon’s
personal story. At the beginning of Solomon’s slave period, we witness Ford
trying to keep a family together and although he isn’t successful in this, he
takes the women in and allows her to morn her children. He reads the bible to
his slaves and listens to their ideas. Although the people working for him
aren’t as understanding, he looks after his slaves. This can be seen when
Solomon is beaten by a slave driver and retaliates; “Platt, said he, you will
sleep on the floor in the great house tonight.” In contrast to this and unfortunately,
to which most slaves had to live their lives, not all were as respectable as
Ford can be viewed. Epp’s is a prime example of this. His rough and violent
treatment towards his slave is sickening and horrific. McQueen does not hold
back when presenting how violent and extreme some slave drivers were of their
slaves. Solomon describes Patsey’s treatment as “she had been literally
excoriated.”
McQueen’s portrayal of Solomon’s story is undeniably
remarkable. It captivates its audience and makes them think of a subject that
is usually a dismissed topic of conversation. The way he draws attention to these
unnerving, violent times is spectacular. I would suggest that this is one of the
best films ever made about the slave trade.
Sources:
Solomon Northup ’12 Years a Slave’ 1853
< http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/12-years-a-slave.php>
No comments:
Post a Comment