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Song Of Solomon Chapter 1 Analysis

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2. The chapter I read was the second chapter, which starts with the author; Solomon Northup meeting two strangers near a tavern beside Broadway. Their names are supposedly Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton. They claim to be interested in Solomon’s expertise in playing the violin; which they promptly begin to discuss. Brown’s described as around 40 years old and short while Hamilton is tall, skinny and looked no older than 25. Soon after, they request the services of Solomon and inform him that they are associated with a circus company that was currently in Washington. Preparing to return to the circus, the duo mention encountering difficulty in acquiring music for their acts. Offering Solomon a generous wage if he accompanies them and plays …show more content…

Although the chapter mainly focuses on Solomon Northup’s journey to Washington and kidnapping, Solomon’s actions and thoughts reveal a lot about him. An example is how the chapter conveys how innocent and optimistic he is and how he tries to see the best in people. Despite only seeing one performance from Merrill Brown to a scattered crowd, and never seeing the circus, Solomon still believes Brown and Hamilton to be who they say they are. His desire to find “present employment until the busy season should arrive” also shows his work ethic and what a hard worker he is. In addition, throughout the chapter, Solomon exhibits behaviour that reveals how observant he is. For example, he notes how sparse the crowd is for Brown’s only performance. Also, he noticed that there was still no sign of the circus when the men arrived at Washington. Finally, Solomon dwells on the past and comments every so often in the chapter. From this we see how these events have affected him. For instance, his justified hatred towards his kidnappers is evident as he ponders to if Brown and Hamilton played a part in his capture. Also, it seems that he has become more wary and suspicious of others due to Brown and Hamilton’s seemingly fabricated

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