Solomon's Journey: From Slavery to Freedom

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The book is arranged into 22 chapters with the chapter number being the only heading present. The content of the book is for the most part ordered chronologically according to the events that occurred in Solomon’s life from his capture into slavery to his freedom from it. The first chapter can be considered an exception from the chronological trend as it serves more to give an overview of what to expect from the book. Solomon has an omniscient point of view, occasionally referencing other moments in his life that pertain to what he speaks of.
The chapters are presented chronologically so that the reader can follow the events of Solomon's life as they actually occurred, from his capture to his liberation. Some chapters can be grouped together …show more content…

Solomon is an expert violin player and gets a job with Merill Brown and Abram Hamilton to be in the circus. Solomon trusts these men but ends of being captured in chains, being “robbed of liberty” (Northup 18).
Chapters 3-5: Solomon meets James Burch, a well known slave dealer, and explains his situation as being a free man just be be brutally beat and whipped. This is the first time readers get an understanding of the cruelty of slavery. Solomon gets sold and moves down south with other slaves he has met, ending up with Theophilius Freeman, who changes Solomon’s name to Platt. On the way down to the South, Solomon gets help from a sailor, John Manning, who delivers a letter on behalf of Solomon to his family.
Chapters 6-7: Platt describes the separation of Eliza, a slave mother he's met, from her children. The buying and selling of people causing this separation from mother and child caused a heartbreaking and distraught tone to arise. They are bought by William Ford, a kind and caring slave owner who Platt appreciates. William Ford was unlike other slave owners in that he was humane and cared for his

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