12 Years A Slave Patsey

In 2014, Lupita Nyong’o stunned the world with her Academy Award winning performance as Patsey in the Best-picture winning 12 Years a Slave. This was her first after graduating from the prestigious Yale School of Drama and her rapid rise to Academy Award winning actress was unheard of. Her award was rightfully awarded, as critics lauded at the new actress’ range and emotional depth that was brought to the role. Lupita’s performance encompassed the film’s theme of survival and carried the film into new depths with her deep humanizing characterization of Patsey. Lupita made Patsey not just a slave whom the audience would feel sorry for, she made Patsey a woman who the audience could relate to despite the obvious differences in time and situation.

During the film, Solomon has many encounters with many characters of different types who really test who he is and what he stands for. Solomon’s goal for the whole period is to survive until he can go back home to his family in New York. On the plantation in which he works, he meets Patsey who is the embodiment of survival. From her first appearance onscreen, we the audience see a sense of confidence despite the horrendous situation she is in. Lupita made a choice not to make Patsey a weak character who was ready to die, but instead made her into a character who was ready to fight through her circumstances and not be unsettled by her unfortunate circumstance. This was assisted by the director’s choice to be upfront with everything that happened to her on screen. This can be seen in her first scene where after she had picked 500pounds of cotton, more than any other man, she goes to the fields and begins to make dolls out of corn cobs. The scene highlights what is different about Patsey, she is the only character in the film who is enjoying herself. Lupita’s performance made Patsey into a strong woman who was not going to let her circumstances destroy her. While she is making the dolls, she is singing in a joyous tone. This scene could have easily been one that showed sad slave just trying to take make time pass by, but instead it was one of a slave who was enjoying her hobby of creating dolls. This apparent confidence can also be seen when Patsey is having tea with Misress Shaw. In the scene, Lapita uses her eyes and body to show hope while mimicking Mistress Shaw’s body and speech. Any other actress playing Patsey could have seen Mistress Shaw’s class and elegance and made Patsey into an insecure character who is intimidated by her company and would’ve portrayed Patsey as if she did not belong.