The Presentation of Whites in 12 Years a Slave
‘12 Years a Slave’ is one
of the only on screen adaptations, that features the slave trade and plantation
life in America so graphically. It presents an original and inspiring account, originating
from the unique story of Solomon Northup, who was a free man re-sold into
slavery. Surrounding the life of Solomon, the film highlights many inexcusable
injustices and brutalities that were behind the biggest exploitation in
American history.
Ultimately, one of the
most reflective and powerful aspects of the film is the presentation of the
white characters. The film poses characters who experience and perceive slavery
very differently during the pre-civil war years. Included in this are two
substantial and reoccurring personas; those who are either brutal and
merciless, or characters which are sympathetic or abolitionists, but feel somewhat
powerless.
As there is such a heavy
focus on the presentation of white people, to bring more depth I will analyse
the characters in the groups of their roles throughout the film. These will
include the characterisation of slave traders, auctioneers, owners, overseers, sympathisers,
and abolitionists.
Slave Traders:
This was first seen when
Solomon was deceived and captured by Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton. It
really set the atmosphere of the film from the shocking nature of his capture.
Being promised new work for his virtuoso violin skills, Solomon was taken and
then held by James H. Burch in Washington, before being auctioned into slavery.
This presented the white
men as those who would do anything to make big profit from slavery. These men
also presented the first instances of violence in the film against slaves in America.
When Solomon would not declare himself a slave, he faced the horrific beatings
by the hands of the men to dehumanise and traumatise him.
What was noteworthy about
these difficult scenes was the scheming and lack of hesitation the men possessed
towards inflicting their unjustifiable cruelty. The viewer sees how easily it
was for two ordinary white individuals to break a man during this period, as
well as emphasising the reality that there was no real protection for these
victims.
Moreover, when he was held
by Burch in Washington before the Auction, Solomon witnessed others like him
who had been free and then captured into slavery. One of the scenes that
reflects the nature of the white men in these scenes was during the boat
journey to the auction. The slaves that Solomon witnessed inside the boat were
numb, and seen as that they had already given up because they had faced such
unspeakable trauma by the hands of the white men. Another aspect revealed during
the journey was sexual abuse faced by the female. It reminds the viewer that
slavery dehumanised those in different ways, regardless of being a man, woman,
or child. Along with the careless dumping overboard of the dead slave bodies,
it also reinforces the value of slave lives to the white men. They were valued
as nothing by the slave traders, not even seen as humans, just cargo and profit.
Auctioneers:
Ultimately, this created a
‘collective slave nature’, where no slave was an individual person. It established
an impersonal feeling towards the buyer and the slave in the auction house, as
well as ensuring that there was little possibility for former free black people
to be found.
During the auction scenes,
the viewer encounters the reality where the slaves were accessed systematically
by the white men, and treated like livestock or property. Whether standing
naked to be viewed by strangers, or demonstrating a ‘talent’, the humiliation
was strongly conveyed. The impersonal nature of the white auctioneer was most
importantly seen when Eliza was being separated from her children. The idea of
not wishing to cause a scene, along with Solomon playing the violin to play
over the sounds of their screaming and wailing, was particularly emotive.
Slave owners:
The most vital relationship
throughout the book and the film has been Solomon’s interaction with his
owners. Under his first owner Henry B. Northup, Solomon was taught to read and
write to an extent, as well as to play the violin. This was a very unusual
kindness of a slave owner, and can compare to the harsh 100 lashes Solomon
would receive if he was believed to be literate during his time at the Epps
plantation. It is also Northup who travelled to rescue Solomon from his
situation when he discovered that he was illegally being worked as a slave.
This presents him as a kinder owner, someone who did not just see Solomon as a
commodity, but someone who wanted a future for him.
Bought at the auction by
William Ford, his character became one of the few examples a white man holding
a more sympathetic and kind attitude towards slaves. Upon arrival, both him and
his wife were distressed from the separation of Eliza from her children and
showed genuine regret. Ford was presented as a religious man, who held
inclusive Christian services for his estate, which included the slaves. He also
allowed for Solomon to voice his experience in construction and gave rewards
for his good work, such as bestowing him with a violin. Moreover, he protected
Solomon against the brutality of the overseers during his time there when he
could.
However, the more positive
portrayal of the slave owner William Ford is limited to an extent, from selling
Solomon as part of repayment for his debt. The fact that he sold on another
human being as easily as if he were an object is unforgettable. Even as
Benedict Cumberbatch suggests in his character interview, while it is easy to
judge these actions in the 21st Century, the reality brought by Ford
doing this, shatters any illusion of progression, and reinforces the economic
mind-set of the slave owners.[1]
The most crucial slave
owner presented in the film was Edwin Epps, who is referred to as ‘Northup’s
final, and cruellest master’.[2]
Epps was a drunk who was unbelievably cruel to his slaves. The demanding labour
of producing a certain amount of cotton each day, as well as the strict
discipline of lashes when they did not produce enough, revealed the fearful
daily routine of his workers. Inside his home, there was also the regular embarrassment
of the slaves by making them dance and play music in his company.
However, what was
different about the presentation of Epps’ character was the deterioration of
his mental state throughout the film. Gradually, he became increasingly more violence
and obsessive over one of his female black slaves, Patsy. The viewer watches as
Epps almost looses his mind and becomes more aggressive when attempting to
regain his feeling of control. The film conveys the genuine representation of
how many slave women were sexualised, abused and raped by their slave owners,
and how there was no protection for them.
Another aspect of Epps’
character is his view of slaves as property. Throughout his appearances in the
film, it is reinforced that he believes it is his God’s given right to own
slaves. When questioned about his brutality towards them, Epps is convinced
that there is no sin in abusing, owning or working his slaves. Moreover, when
he has the rare moments of guilt or realisation; instead of logically doing
what is best for his slaves, Epps drives himself further into his void of uncontrollable
anger and violence.
Another complex aspect to
consider about the presentation of Epps was raised by the actor who played the
role, Michael Fassbender. He suggested that Epps lacked the intellect to pursue
his own happiness. The viewer does see him happy with his slave children,
however, he doesn’t have the capacity to set himself on the path of the future
he would like. This can compare to the relationship between Mr Shaw and
Mistress Shaw, who is living the life he wishes for himself.[3]
The character of Mistress
Epps was presented as a very jealous, aggressive, and racist woman. Whilst the
character of Mistress Epps appears complex on the surface, when the viewer
looks deeper, she is the consequence of her time. Ultimately, she is trapped. She
is stuck in the years long before any real rights for women were in place. She
is in an unloving marriage where her husband was notoriously known for his
sexual longing for slave girl, Patsy.
While she was living in an
estate of luxuries and servants, the combination of her lack of children, no
real past time and no job can reveal the empty reality for these housewives at
the time. This does not act as any justification for her inexcusable behaviour,
but it does add further depth to the character and why she acts the way she
does.
Slave Overseers:
The character of John M.
Tribeats was portrayed as a jealous and cruel individual who wished for the
demise of Solomon. After receiving Solomon as payment from Ford, Tribeats was a
short-tempered and cruel overseer on the plantation. His disrespectful songs,
such as ‘run nigger, run’ echoed in the film and reminded us of the lack of
respect many whites had for slaves. It was also shocking because of his
youthful depiction in the film, where someone so young had the control of another
life, because they were his property.
On the other hand, Ford’s
other white overseer Mr Chapin was presented more positively in the film. He
was not brutal like Tibeats or Epps. For instance, when Solomon was being hung
after angering Tibeats, it was Chapin who helped him and stopped his brutal
death by lynching and got him the help he needed from Ford.
Sympathisers and
abolitionists.
Throughout Solomon’s
journey, there were presentations of people who were more sympathetic towards
the slaves. For instance, as mentioned earlier, Master Ford to an extent.
While there were instances
of kindness from minor individuals such as from Armsby, these were not genuine.
Solomon trusting Armsby to send a letter to his contacts in the North was
betrayed. He was turned in to Mr Epps and another chance of his escape appeared
empty.
However, it was the presentation
of Mr Bass, a carpenter who was against the brutal treatment of slaves on Mr
Epps’ plantation. He was the person who contacted superiors on behalf of
Solomon in the North about his situation. While Mr Bass was explicitly
concerned about his own safety and position at the plantation, he put himself
at risk to help Solomon. To an extent, if it was not for the kindness and
forward thinking of Mr Bass, Solomon would have probably never escaped slavery
or would have died from the brutality of Mr Epps.
Question for discussion:
- It is undeniable that most white characters in this film behaved inexcusably towards slaves. However, to what extent are there additional factors that result in certain characters behaving the way that they do? (Particularly focussing on Mr and Mrs Epps and the points mentioned above in their character analysis)
Question for discussion:
- It is undeniable that most white characters in this film behaved inexcusably towards slaves. However, to what extent are there additional factors that result in certain characters behaving the way that they do? (Particularly focussing on Mr and Mrs Epps and the points mentioned above in their character analysis)
Sources:
Benedict Cumberbatch Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFqBbHpZSvk
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/twelve-years-a-slave/character-list
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL2cb0g4IQ4
[1]
Benedict Cumberbatch Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFqBbHpZSvk
[2] https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/twelve-years-a-slave/character-list
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL2cb0g4IQ4
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