Twelve Years a Slave Quotes | Gimme Some Reads
Twelve Years a Slave Quotes
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"Anybody matters or no ane matters," Adam Carter declares during an episode of the BBC show, MI-five, which I happened to rewatch in the midst of readingTwelve Years a Slave. I remember being struck by the line when I saw the episode the beginning time, but in the light of Solomon Northup'due south existent life struggles, its truth struck me even more sharply this fourth dimension.
This is the mental attitude that Solomon seemed to choose throughout his life — whether he was considering himself, slaves, or slave owners.
Hither are just a few passages that particularly caught my attention in Solomon's personal narrative.
Quotes on Slavery
Upon leaving the slave pen in Washington, DC, to be sold elsewhere (p. 34):
Then we passed, paw-cuffed and in silence, through the streets of Washington — through the Uppercase of a nation, whose theory of authorities, we were told, rests on the foundation of human being'due south inalienable right to life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness!
His thoughts on his first "primary" William Ford, show Solomon's astute understanding equally well every bit his graciousness of middle (p. 62):
The influences and associations that had always surrounded him, blinded him to the inherent wrong at the bottom of the system of Slavery. He never doubted the moral correct of one man property some other in subjection. Brought up nether other circumstances and other influences, his notions would undoubtedly have been different. Nevertheless, he was a model main, walking uprightly, co-ordinate to the light of his agreement, and fortunate was the slave who came to his possession. Were all men such equally he, Slavery would be deprived of more than one-half its bitterness.
On the human being spirit (p. 99):
There accept been hours in my unhappy life, many of them, when the contemplation of death every bit the end of earthly sorrow — of the grave as a resting place for the tired and worn out body — has been pleasant to dwell upon. But such contemplations vanish in the hour of peril. No human, in his full forcefulness, can stand undismayed, in the presence of the "King of Terrors." Life is dearest to every living affair; the worm that crawls upon the footing will struggle for it. At that moment it was love to me, enslaved and treated as I was.
His reflections on the furnishings of the establishment of slavery (pp. 157-158):
The existence of Slavery in its most cruel class amongst them has a trend to brutalize the humane and finer feelings of their nature. Daily witnesses of man suffering — listening to the agonizing screeches of the slave — beholding him writhing beneath the merciless lash — bitten and torn by dogs — dying without attention, and buried without shroud or coffin — it cannot otherwise be expected, than that they should become brutified and reckless of human life…There may exist humane masters, every bit at that place certainly are inhuman ones…notwithstanding, the institution that tolerates such wrong and inhumanity every bit I have witnessed, is a brutal, unjust and barbarous one. Men may write fictions portraying lowly life as it is, or as information technology is not — may expatiate with owlish gravity upon the bliss of ignorance — discourse flippantly from arm chairs of the pleasures of slave life; only let them toil with him in the field — sleep with him in the cabin — feed with him on husks; let them behold him scourged, hunted, trampled on, and they will come up back with another story in their mouths. Permit them know the heart of the poor slave — acquire his secret thoughts — thoughts he cartel non utter in the hearing of the white man; permit them sit by him in the silent watches of the nighttime — antipodal with him in trustful confidence, of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and they will notice that 90-9 out of every hundred are intelligent enough to understand their situation, and to cherish in their bosoms the love of freedom, as passionately as themselves.
Affiliate xix (pp. 205-207) relates a fascinating dialogue on slavery that Solomon overhears. Bass, a white transient worker, asks Epps, a typically barbarous slaveowner and Solomon's third "master," these questions:
- Is every thing right because the constabulary allows information technology?
- In the sight of God, what is the difference between a white man and blackness i?
- Are all men created gratis and equal every bit the Declaration of Independence holds they are?
- What difference is there in the color of the soul?
In the midst of a somewhat rowdy argument, to notice such a poetic line as that last question — so simply and eloquently getting right at the heart of things, I was surprised into stopping for a moment to consider.
Note: All page numbers correspond toTwelve Years a Slave past Solomon Northup | © 1996 Louisiana Country University Press.
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What passages or lines stood out to you?
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