My Point of View About "Twelve Years a Slave"

I was amazed by the book Twelve Years A Slave which the author, Solomon Northup depicts the life of an African American from the North, Saratoga Springs in New York is kidnapped in Washington DC and live a suffering and slavery life in Louisiana until Mr. Bass saved him through his friends.

Interestingly, the book is not about a guy who is born as a slave and get freed but someone who was born free, but his freedom is exploited in the middle of his life while he has a perfect family, living a life that he wants, playing his violin, etc. The difference between the two, in my perspective, a person who is born as a slave will adapt quickly to his or her environment when he or she is very young and knows nothing of being a freed person, yet only an imagination of being a freed person told by someone else or through seeing. However, Solomon Northup was betrayed and lived a new life that he was not used to, that he dislike, unequal, working very hard, being whip during work, hurting other people by the force of Edwin, etc. He basically lost many, yet still hope that someone can come and save him.

Another point that draws my attention is that, the author described so detail about the landscapes when Northup was travelling, putting every bit of the geography into his mind. The slave traders and slave owners that treat him cruelty and recall every person's full name that he met during that period. This really presents what he really feels. Every bit of emotion, humanity, actions are deeply carved in his mind that he never forgets. He feels grateful to work with William Ford as he treats Northup the best among the other slave traders.

If slavery is still a practice today, this book will inspire the particular nation to abandon such an inhumane and horrible practice, either with force or peace legislation process. Undoubtedly, today, its effect will remind people not to go back to slavery, but during the 1850s, it is not only legally accepted but also morally accepted by many countries in the world. Even though the owners are Christian, in the bible slavery is unacceptable, yet the owners has no conscience about it. Overall, I think the author sympathizes not only the slaves in United States, but potentially also other corners in the world.