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12 Years A Slave

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Recommended: Film analysis on 12 years a slave

FINDING MEANING IN MY FAVOURITE TEXT While several movies grab one by the throat, 12 Years a Slave appeals to heart. That’s how a film gets its name inside that big, golden envelope. Sometimes one has to prepare for the journey a movie takes one. So it is with “12 Years a Slave,” a harrowing, unforgettable drama that doesn’t look away from the reality of slavery, and in so doing, helps one to fully, truly confront it. My spontaneous reaction on viewing the movie was awe, however, only to find out soon after the unforgettable land mark encounter with the movie that it is not the producer’s masterpiece. How well may a movie which stars a gifted director, a skilfully gifted cast, and a vividly developed true life account from a biography not …show more content…

The societal class of individuals was the basis of their happiness. Their lives were limited by the amount of freedom they had. In the movie “12 years a slave”, two classes of people known as the Whites and the Negros separated by race define the hierarchies of autonomy and conformity. On the one hand were the Whites who came from rich backgrounds, educated and, of course, light skinned. From the movie, the important figures in the White class were William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch), John Tibeats (Paul Dano) and the psychotic Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) (Laurier, 2013). These three were the bourgeoisies in the movie. They feel superior to the Negros (the black race). On the other hand are the Negros, representing the proletarian society, whose only freedom is confined to their families. Solomon is the important figure among the Negros upon whom the most disturbing horrors of the movie were vented, being the central …show more content…

It was when Solomon first discovered he was a slave, after waking up in chains. He had been over-fed with alcohol the previous day by his captors and was made to fall into a deep, long sleep. The slave auctioneer comes in almost immediately and announces to him, just to reassure him, that he (Solomon) was a slave. He is introduced to the world of slavery by merciless beating. This shows a deep contrast between his status the previous day when he was merrying, wining and dining before his two unsuspecting captors. This view show how the life of each actor represented revolved around their freedom. The Whites had devised a system where the Negros were generally derided and seen as non-humans. This is seen in the kind of chains used on Negros, the whips they were subjected to and the way the captured Negros were displayed by slave auctioneers. There was no possibility that the Negros were ever going to have an equal say with the

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There are many similarities and differences in Narrative of Fredrick Douglas and the movie 12 years of slaves; both contents were talking about slavery. The main characters just had different ways they were brought up during slavery. The similarities to Narrative of Fredrick Douglass and 12 years of slaves are both many characters worked on some type of plantation during they life as a slave. Both Fredrick Douglass and Solomon Northup had a poor overseer.

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It was the blood- stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass. It was a most terrible spectacle. I wish I could commit to paper the feelings with which I beheld it.” Analysis: There is no way to convey the true feelings Douglass must have felt the first time he witnesses the terrible abuse inflicted the people he cares for. For this incident to be only the beginning is saddening.

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Throughout the narrative, the author includes his personal stories about experiencing the violence of slavery first-hand. For example, on page 20, he writes about the first time he witnessed a slave, his own aunt, getting the whip. “The louder she screamed, the harder he whipped; and where the blood ran fastest, there he whipped longest…I remember the first time I ever witnessed this horrible exhibition… It struck me with awful force. It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery…” The author including his experience of his aunts whipping, in detail, appeals to the emotions of the reader.

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Even after the abolition of laws to protect African Americans from slavery it has proven to be only but a false promise to protect them against discrimination and racism, and leaving them with doubt in their hearts of future suffering for generations to come. Furthermore, the subject of slavery is subject that the author want to use to make one understand what suffering an African American person continue to experience. In addition, Austin Wilson has been a great historian towards the suffering of African Americans. Moreover, Austin Wilson’s play make us comprehend the severity of the discrimination and racism.

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Throughout this autobiography, Frederick Douglass reaches out to his readers to be compassionate to slaves, and persuades them using rhetorical devices when recounting his life's story. He uses striking imagery describing the pain his body endures in order to show how dehumanized slaves are and make their pain tangible to his northern audience, as well as builds his credibility to the readers by bringing up facts and stories of his first hand experience through life as a slave, while also gaining their sympathy. Exploiting the abuse of slaves, Frederick Douglass uses imagery of the interactions between his owner and his aunt, Hester, to enlighten and horrify readers about how these people were dehumanized by their owners and environment, and Douglass desires readers to sympathize.

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Whether or not a slave narrative is able to persuade its readers of the inhumanities of slavery, the complexities within slave narratives and the discussions they create should not be overlooked. There is power within the act of writing one’s personal journeys and hardships throughout life, and that power gives former enslaved people the opportunity to express their own thoughts while making changes for future generations. Solomon Northup’s 12 Years A Slave gives a heart-wrenching depiction of what slavery was like in America. If the cruel images of the realities of slavery do not affect readers emotionally, then there is at least hope that the logical arguments raised throughout the novel can persuade those who are unwilling to see slavery

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The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass presents an insight into the power differences between a slave and his master. In this account , Douglass proves that slavery destroys not only the slave but also the owner. The “poison of irresponsible power” that masters hold has a damaging effect on their morals and beliefs (Douglas 39). This immense control in the hands of a person will break their kind heart and finest feelings turning them into those of a demon. Douglass uses flashbacks , deep characterization, and appeals to the emotions to address the negative effects of slavery.

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Utilizing ethos, logos, pathos, and empathy, Douglass paints the portrait of his life as complete as possible, laying bare the horrors of slavery and calling for action. He creates a narrative flow that encapsulates the reader into himself, and forces them through the hell he crawled through to give them these few but full pieces of paper. All the anger, pain, hope, desire, bravery, and fear. Every emotion, every lashing, every aching step is summarized and imprinted into the reader for the sake of humanity’s collective soul, and for the salvation and deliverance of those in bondage. Had Frederick Douglass not have the strong grasp on literature, we might not ever have had such a complete picture of slavery, and might not have solved the issue as completely as we

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Through his story, Douglass proves that slavery has negative effects on slaveholders. He uses imagery, flashbacks, and characterization to persuade the reader of the true nature of slavery. His deep thoughts and insights of slavery and the unbalanced power between a slaveholder and his slave are unprompted for a social establishment. Douglass insists that slaveholding fills the soul with sadness and bitter anguish. In addressing effects of slavery on masters cause one man to rethink his moral character and better understand the laws of humanity.

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He creates powerful imagery to depict the treacherous treatment slaves are enduring that floods the audience with shame. He provides them with a chance to recall their moral standards and compare them to slavery. He questions them to evoke the truth that slavery is never justifiable. The denouement of his speech is that it is patent to his audience that celebrating freedom with slavery existing is atrocious and want to eradicate

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English Essay This essay is about the movies Django Unchained and 12 Years a Slave. These movies were directed by Quentin Tarantino and Steve McQueen respectively. Django Unchained is the story of a black slave named Django, who, set free by a mysterious man named Dr. Schultz, sets out to rescue his wife, Broomhilda. 12 Years a Slave is based on a real story.

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In addition, the juxtaposition between what Marlow sees as irritating for himself and the slave’s difficult work demonstrates the different perspectives of the white and black people working for The Company. Conrad’s comment displays how humanity and society have different expectations of different people and how those expectations change the way people are treated. Marlow also struggles to find an appropriate name to call the

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1731 Words | 7 Pages

In the film 12 Years a Slave the editor, Joe Walker, makes use of a couple of techniques and styles that adds to the film in its own way. Long shots – Joe kept the long shots as long as he thought was necessary to add to the subject matter and the feeling he wanted to bind with the story. At the end of the film there’s this extremely long shot where Solomon is practically staring at the camera for about a minute and a half. The timing of that shot is so perfect because it’s not too short so you don’t have enough time to think about what just happened or too much time to overthink the situation. Closer to the end of the shot he lets the sound fade slowly and rapidly gives you a wakeup call when the next shot starts off where Solomon and the rest of the slaves are busy working in the field.

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3436 Words | 14 Pages

The movie clearly exposes the many ways that the human dignity of African- American maids was ignored. They had suffered daily embarrassment but were able to claim their own way dignity. The film described about empowerment of individuals as well as about social justice for a group. It is a moving story depicting dehumanization in a racist culture but also the ability to move beyond the unjust structures of society and to declare the value of every human being.

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Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.

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