Solomon Northup's Kidnapping

In the beginning of the book, Solomon Northup describes his early life all the way to the point of his kidnapping. He talked about where he was born and where he came from. Northup also talked about his education, in particular, his talent for playing on the violin. When he was 21, he married a girl named Anne Hampton and conceived three children with her.
After Northup describes his life prior to his abduction he transitions to when and where he was kidnapped, which was Washington D.C in 1841 at age 33. The moment he realized he was imprisoned so he could later be sold as a slave is when the story of his 12 year trek begins. When Northup kept on insisting that he was a free man his captor James H. Burch would physically beat him. But after

a while he stopped stating claims of being a free man and was eventually transported downriver to New Orleans.
On the way to New Orleans, Burch’s assistant, Theophilus Freeman changed Solomon Northup’s name to “Platt”.

When they land Northup is immediately placed up for sale at the slave auction. But while at the auction Northup contracts small pox which nearly kills the man. But he eventually makes a speedy recovery and is later sold to a man named William Ford along with a woman named Eliza.
After being purchased by William Ford, Northup treks to Louisiana where Ford’s plantation is located at. Due to his devotion to his Christian faith, Ford is humane and friendly towards his slaves. Ford is so kind that Northup actually found it a pleasure to be in his service. Northup even goes as far as saving Ford time and money by devising a more profitable route by transporting lumber by water instead of land. But unfortunately, Ford runs into a number financial problems and eventually sells Northup to a carpenter by the name of John M. Tibeats.
In a stroke of bad luck, Tibeats turns out to be a cruel and vile man. Northup describes that he was continually threatened and yelled at by Tibeats. The two would eventually end up having a physical confrontation. In which Tibeats attempts to whip Northup but with Northup being the stronger man he seizes the whip and whips Tibeats instead. Afterwards, Tibeats attempts twice to take Northup’s life but is saved by William Ford and his supervisor. Unable to take Northup’s life, Tibeats sells him to an infamous slave owner named Edwin Epps, whom is affectionately

nicknamed the “nigger breaker”.
The next eight chapter’s focuses on the ten years he was under the cruelty of Edwin Epps on two different estates in Bayou Boeuf, Louisiana.

Northup described that a whip was always by Epps side and used it on a daily basis on the slaves. Northup goes into detail of what he witnessed, telling stories of human depravity and abuse. A story worth noting is of a slave girl by the name of Patsey. She is frequently raped and whipped by Epps due to his jealous wife. One story of her being whipped was when Epps’ wife refuses to allow her to have soap. In search of soap, Patsey heads to another plantation to find it. But when she returns, Epps is there and furious, believing that she had been intimate of another man. So he resorts to whip her, with Northup holding the leash. He described her as naked and helpless while begging for

mercy.
As the years pass by Northup eventually loses hope in that he will eventually gain his freedom. But is rekindled when he meets a man named Bass who is a Canadian carpenter who just so happens to an abolitionist who is employed to work on a construction project for Epps. Northup tells Bass of his story, in turn, Bass decides to help by sending letters to Northup’s friends in the north, asking them to come and rescue Northup from his captivity.
For the finale of the book, end of the Northup’s escape from a slave to a freedom in the north. Because of Bass, Northup’s friends in the north are warned of his whereabouts and proceed to set him free. Henry B. Northup, a white man who is a relative to the man who set Solomon’s father free, gathers legal backing and treks to Louisiana to find the once free man. After extensive searching, he finds “Platt” and with the help of a local sheriff, frees him from Edwin Epps.
After being freed they travel to Washington D.C to sue James H. Burch for his role in kidnapping Northup. Burch is eventually acquitted because of lack of evidence and racial bias in the courtroom. Northup then continues to New York to reunite with his family. Where he discovers that he is now a grandfather.