Characters

The film 12 Years a Slave directed by Steve McQueen follows the journey of the main character, Solomon Northup, presenting his experiences after he is kidnapped and sold into slavery. 

Other characters are presented in relationship to Solomon, many of them illustrating the realities of slavery at the time. Epps and Tibeats show how white people would often abuse their power and enjoy the control they had over their black slaves. Ford, Armsby, and Bass show different attitudes to slavery. The three characters are each given the opportunity to help Solomon. However, Ford and Armsby both fail to do so, while Bass is the one to actually live up to his convictions and does what he can to help Solomon return home. Eliza and Patsey illustrate the harsh realities of black women sold into slavery.

Solomon Northup

Solomon Northup is the main character of the film 12 Years a Slave. He is a freeborn black man living in Saratoga Springs, New York. Solomon is a carpenter and a talented violinist, and he often performs at balls and other such performances. He is considered “an expert player on the violin” (00:09:04). Solomon is also well-traveled, as he has been as far as Canada. He has a wife, Anne, and two children, Margaret and Alonzo. At the end of the film, Margaret is married and has a baby, whom she names after her father.

When Solomon is kidnapped, he is given the name Platt, a runaway slave from Georgia. Most of the characters will refer to him as Platt, except for Eliza, who knows his true name. 

At the beginning of the film, Solomon seems happy and hopeful. He enjoys his violin performances, although, at the same time, he seems modest when people praise his skill. He is enthusiastic about Hamilton and Brown’s proposal, and does not suspect anything wrong. This might make him slightly naïve, as he seems unaware that the two might want to harm him. Even when Clayton suggests that they are the ones who sold him, Solomon initially refuses to believe this: “They were not kidnappers. They were artists. Fellow performers.” (00:18:21-00:18:25). 

One of Solomon’s main traits is his hope and the ways he clings to his true identity. This often makes him defiant. For example, even when ...