“Twelve Years a Slave”
In the spectacular autobiography, “Twelve Years a Slave” written by Solomon Northup, the author was a free, black, married, educated man, skilled as a musician, farmer, and carpenter. He was living in Saratoga Springs, New York, when two white men approached him with a job offer as a fiddler in a traveling circus. Solomon Northup shares his compelling story in amazing detail of what his life was like as a slave after being abducted in Washington City in 1841. Living as a free man prior to being kidnapped gave him some advantages over other slaves who had not known freedom. Unfortunately, his freedom may have also been a disadvantage during his enslavement. The book reveals the atrocities of slavery in America and proves there are no advantages to being a slave regardless of being born into slavery or sold into slavery.
Northup’s intelligence is evident throughout the entire book. From the beginning the reader is aware of how his intellect gave him an advantage over others. His skills, such as a violinist, laborer and carpenter all assisted him during his enslavement. As a fiddler, he was hired for parties and was able to earn enough money to purchase basic necessities that other slaves could not, such as shoes and crockery. “I was indebted to my violin, my constant companion, the source of profit, and soother of my sorrows during years of servitude” (Northup 128). He ironically describes his earnings as feeling as he was the richest slave in town. His work experience was also an asset during his unfortunate captivity. His handy work as a Jack-of-all trades enabled him to offer his services to his first master, Master Ford. Master Ford owned a lumber mill. Solomon gained his masters trust and respect after he enlightened his master in a more economical, efficient way to use the river to deliver the lumbar. During Northup’s frequent trips down the river, he befriended a tribe of Indians who shared many of their customs with him, Solomon...