Character List & Key Facts from the Movie

United States History I

12 Years a Slave

Study Guide

Character List & key facts from the movie:

Solomon Northup (Platt) –

·  Main character.

·  Recruited to join the circus.

·  Talented musician (plays the fiddle/violin)

·  Originally from Saratoga, NY

·  He is captured in Washington D.C.

·  Sent South on a steamboat after being captured.

·  Is given a new “slave” name when he arrives in the South. That new name is Platt.

·  Northup is very careful to hide that fact that he can read and write to avoid punishment.

·  Northup’s owner forces him and other slaves to clap their hands to the rhythm of a racist song that the “overseers” sings.

·  Northup’s owner is impressed with Northup’s ability to guide a raft.

·  Northup is nearly killed after he attacks his overseer and beats a white man.

·  Solomon ends up being sold to Master Epps.

·  Witnesses two black men being murdered one night (thrown into the air with ropes around their necks).

·  Tries to escape from Master Epps – he runs one night after getting Patsy from the plantation.

·  He is whipped one night by Epps after his cotton poundage was considered inadequate.

·  He steals writing paper from a store when the clerk turns his back to him.

·  Is forced by Master Epps to whip Patsy while Master Epps held a pistol facing towards him.

·  Destroys his fiddle after he is forced to lash Patsy by Master Epps.

·  Asks the carpenter to write his friends and family in North to let them know about his current situation as a slave. He is desperate to see his family again. (The carpenter DOES send that letter.)

·  Solomon is eventually set free by the Sheriff.

·  When he is freed, there is another white man with the Sheriff who knew Solomon as a free man. His name was Mr. Parker, the owner of a store that Solomon went to often in the North.

·  When Solomon returns home to see his family, he finds out that he has a grandson named, Solomon. (His daughter had a baby boy.)

Randall –

·  A slave. Called on to demonstrate his fitness in front of prospective slave “buyers.” He runs in place, raising his knees up to the level of a stick placed in front of him.

Eliza –

·  A slave. She is sold and separated from her children – a boy and a girl in the age range of 7-14 years.

·  Eliza and Solomon are bought by the same owner.

·  The plantations owner’s wife at her new home tells her to have something to eat and rest, when she arrives at the house hysterical from being separated from her children. The wife tells her that her children will soon be forgotten.

Master Epps –

·  A cruel slave owner

·  Reads scripture to his slaves that states that the servant who does not obey his master will be beaten with a lash.

·  Rapes a slave (Patsy)

·  Lends his slaves to Judge Turner after insects destroy his cotton crop.

Mrs. Epps –

·  Is very mean, especially to Patsy.

·  Hits Patsy in the head with a bottle when she witnesses her and other slaves dancing for Master Epps in his parlor.

·  Makes baked treats for the slaves but will not give any to Patsy.

·  Scratches Patsy’s face badly after denying her the baked goods.

Patsy –

·  Is raped by Master Epps.

·  Is known as “the queen of the fields” because she picks more than 500 pounds of cotton in a day.

·  Is hit in the head by a bottle thrown by Mrs. Epps as she is forced to dance in Mr. Epps parlor with the other slaves.

·  Is scratched by Mrs. Epps after being the only slave who was denied baked goods.

·  Begs Solomon to end her life by drowning her.

·  Master Epps strips her and ties her to a post to be whipped after she goes missing to Shaw’s Plantation to find soap.

Judge Turner –

·  A slave owner (a neighbor of Mr. Epps).

·  Watches Master Epps’ slaves while they get rid of the insect infestation at Epps Plantation.

·  Rewards Solomon with money after he plays the fiddle during one of his parties.

Armsby –

·  A white slave owner.

·  He is friendly to Solomon.

·  He does not like whipping his slaves.

·  Drinks heavily to deal with his guilt from slaves being whipped and beaten.

·  He cleans Solomon’s wounds from being whipped.

·  Is offered money by Solomon to mail a letter home to his family in the North.

Bass: A Canadian carpenter –

·  Is asked by Solomon to write a letter to his friends and family in the North.

·  He agrees to do this for Solomon but is afraid to do so – writing a letter would be a great risk to both Solomon and himself. (He does end up sending the letter.)