Throughout the film ’12 Years a Slave’, the representations of White people within society is approached in various leading roles but also through those who have potentially insignificant roles within the film at first glance.
Our first engagement with the representations of White people occurs with Solomon in a shop. This scene although at first is deemed unimportant holds a significance in the mutual respect for one another within society. The White shopkeeper greets not only Northup and his family but also a black man who is shortly taken away by an unnamed white man. Within the scene, the silence that is spoken among the men suggests a conflict of views. Why? Because although no aggression is vocalised, the singular interaction of eye contact between the men suggest that this behaviour within the Northern States is uncommon due to the White and Black people respecting each other. This behaviour leads to many questions of who is this Black man? A wandering ex-slave who is experiencing freedom for the first time or potentially an existing slave? How can we tell when the Black unidentified man is voiceless and has a simplistic yet modern style of clothing.
This neutral encounter with the White people of the North changes immediately once Northup is kidnapped into slavery. From here onwards it is clear that it become a rarity to view kindness from a White human to a Black man and therefore Northup endures extreme punishment due to the use of a whip and the paddle when asked “What is your name?”. By Northup replying with his true identity, the slave traders are harsh from the outset and throughout in attempts to dehumanise him as a person and into the mindset of a slave. The removal of Northup’s original clothing to what a slave would wear could symbolise the change in lifestyle and treatment towards himself simply due to the colour of his skin.
The progress in the transportation of Northup shows the behaviour and representation of White people becomes more harsh, abrupt and ill-mannered. However, as the ship docks, a slave owner demands for the retrieval of his slave who had been captured only to be resold for profit. At first this communication can be interpreted that Clements Ray, the slave will be punished severely for being recaptured, however as they reunite by embracing each other with a hug shows the clear expression of gratitude for each other. The representation of this slave owner differs from the slave traders. How? The slave traders beat their slaves into obedience whereas this specific slave owner treats his slave with respect and most of all, showing he has more than property value. The polar opposites shows that not all White people treat Black Africans in the same way within the Southern States of America. Does this potentially change the loyalty of a slave? Does this define that a slave will or will not act out in attempts for freedom, depending on the behaviour that is outlined for them by their owner and or overseer?
However, conflict occurs not solely between White and Black humans but also between the White owners and their workers. Tibeats who takes part in overseeing the plantation mocks the slaves by encouraging them to clap to a song he sings. While smirking and dancing in front of them he is taunting them while singing that he caught three slaves stealing in his field and that ‘one has a rope, it was hung around his neck’. The childish behaviour that is portrayed by Tibeats differs greatly to Ford, the plantation owner who lets Northup challenge the plans for a new building. This simple action of letting a Black slave challenge the plans is so enriching and unheard of that even when Tibeats becomes angered by Northup for speaking out, he is still encouraged to use his skills and knowledge of a freeman by Ford.
The multitudes of behaviour towards black slaves is clearly represented through the White people. Tibeats consistently attempts to reinstate his power over the slaves whereas Ford treats them with a sense of humanity. Ford gives a violin to Northup and has hopes of a good lifelong friendship but cannot continue to protect him when Northup is hanging from the tree and only surviving by standing on his toes. The distress in Ford’s body language and communications suggests a mass conflict occurring within Ford himself. Does this suggest that Ford believes that the treatment towards the Black Africans is wrong? Does he treat them with respect and tolerance to ease the burden he holds upon himself by being the owner of a plantation? Is there more to Ford’s lifestyle other than the simplistic reasoning as to owning a cotton plantation and making a profit?
The representation of White people is not only portrayed through the White characters such as Ford, Tibeats and Epps themselves but also a niche faction that is spoken of by the slaves. Mistress Shaw had become the ‘object of her master’s interest’ and had not worked ‘a day in her life on the field and not been lashed in years’. This lifestyle that Mistress Shaw experiences daily has subjected her to believe that she is above the slaves due to the fine clothes, makeup and jewellery that she is adorned in. By being adored by the plantation owner instead of being belittled by him or his overseers shows that the White people are portrayed as to having an obsession with slaves whether for personal use, gain or to reinstate their superiority. Why does a minority of White people in America at this point in time have a desire for Black slaves? Is it simply due to curiosity of the plantation owners or overseers, or is there another reason to the behaviour that is shown through the presentation of the White people?
However, Eliza’s account portrays that her primary owner adored her and continuously gave Eliza and her children ‘silks and mass jewellery for nine years’. However, the power and superiority that a White female has surpasses over not only slaves but also men who work for their husbands. In Eliza’s account, the daughter overtook power and led Eliza to falsely believe that she were to be freed whereas in reality, the daughter sold Eliza and her children into slavery due to the dissatisfaction of her father’s obsession with Eliza. Not only did this occur prior to the events surrounding Northup’s enslavement but also during his time on Master Epp’s plantation.
Mistress Epps is dissatisfied with her husband’s fascination over Patsy – one of the slaves on his plantation. Mistress Epps therefore throws a glass jar at her face in front of the rest of slaves, restricts her food intake and demands that “she is to be sold”. This singular yet powerful statement voiced by Mistress Epps enforces the authority that she has over the slaves and the power she holds highly above the overseers. Not only does she physically burst into dissatisfaction with Patsey but also verbally threatens Northup if he attempts to read as the consequence would be one-hundred lashes “so don’t bother troubling yourself with trying to figure out what it says”.
This representation of influential power that is outlined by a female is reinforced when Mistress Epps orders her husband to whip Patsey and “beat the life out of her” not only for disobeying her master but also due to her personal hatred for her. By Master Epps not completing this task and physically flinching each time Northup whips Patsey suggests that by being unable to reinforce his personal authority over the slaves leads to the conclusion that he cannot fulfil his duty. By leaving his duty unfulfilled it is not necessarily the primary task of reinforcing his power at hand but also satisfying his wife. If he can satisfy himself elsewhere but not satisfy his wife through whipping a slave, what is this to suggest? The conflict that is held within the two people suggests a fight for overall power. The conflict for personal desire versus the authority and reinforcement of oppressing the slaves as a whole becomes dominant throughout the film.
Another character that reinforces the differences between White and Black people is Armsby – the white labourer. The outcome of being unable to meet the average requirement outlined for the slaves between Northup and Armsby clearly states the social differences. Due to Armsby being White he escaped punishment whereas Northup was punished as he had no rights due to being a slave, the fact that skin colour can determine the outcome of failure to meet requirements dictates that injustice within the slave trade was prominent. The only other White person to argue the corrupt system of slavery is Bass. Regardless as to whether a White man has ownership to withhold a slave does that dictate that he has the right to enforce hard labour upon them?
Conclusively, it is clear that the representation of White people within ’12 Years a Slave’ is approached in multiple forms, the White megalomaniacs who were of low class who openly attempt to reinforce their power to maintain their credibility compared to the owners or overseers who were lenient with their slaves, such as Master Shaw and Master Ford who did have power and authority but did not abuse the power that was placed upon them. Regardless to social status it is clear that being a White man or woman entitled you to automatically having some degree of power over slaves. Whether it was to escape punishment as mentioned above with Armsby or whether it was to relief the hardships of Northup as a slave, regardless of job position within society, it was Mr Parker – the shopkeeper primarily mentioned who ensured the emancipation of Solomon Northup.
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