12 Years a Slave

The DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria for a Narcissistic Personality Disorder, associated with the term sociopath, is a lack of empathy, with a grandiose sense of self-importance creating the ideology of superiority over others. This disorder is observed through an obvious lack of empathy or the unwillingness to identify with the feelings or needs of others, fantasies of success and power, as well as a sense of entitlement with unreasonable expectations and a need for automatic compliance. The defiance of any of these needs usually causes outbursts and they are often violent. In the movie 12 years a slave, it is hard to not see the correlation between the slave owners and sociopathic disorders. The quote “get some food and rest and you will soon forget about your children”, which shows dissociation between reality and the victim. This particular scene was after a woman had been bought and sold away from her children. The wife of the slave owner said this to her while she was weeping as if it were a valid way to comfort. It shows the deep rooted, and at the time socially acceptable, lack of empathy toward other human beings, it has been justified by the idea that because of the color of another skin they are not human; they are another incapable ignorant group of savages. Without empathy, there is no need to evaluate cruel behavior nor is there a reason to question social norms if it allows them to dominate others in order to fulfill their need for superiority.

Solomon Northup was a free man living in New York with his wife and children. He was educated and a successful musician. He set out to discuss an offer of a gig in Washington D.C. but sometime during the night he was kidnapped and chained. This was followed by a severe beating until Solomon would say he was not free and his name was Platt, in order to conceal that he had been wrongfully enslaved. He was transported to New Orleans by boat to be sold. During the passage, Solomon discussed his predicaments with two other abducted men. Escape was impossible because of the number of cruise men and the little number of able bodied passengers below deck. Eventually, a realization that the only way to survive, would be to do as they are told and prey that their freedom would be given when someone brought his papers forward. He was sold to a plantation owner named William Ford along with a mother being separated from her children. They were considered property with no valid expression or valuable emotion.

Ford was relatively kind to Solomon due to his intelligence. He was able to create a new more efficient way to transport timber and this allowed him to be granted favor with him. John Tibeats, an overseeing carpenter became incredibly resentful for this relationship and Solomon’s intelligence. This became more escalated after Solomon was presented with a violin from Ford as a gift. Tibeats had already shown the thrill he received from hurting the slaves and making them do humiliating things. So for him to accept that this lesser than creature could ever be smarted than him directly contradicted his fantasies of control and superiority. He began violently attacking Solomon with inhumane outbursts. Eventually, these outbursts became unbearable for Solomon and he fought back. After Tibeats tried to whip him, Solomon over powered him and took to lash to whip Tibeats. The humiliation was too much for his ego to bear so he retaliated again by trying to lynch Solomon. He was saved by the over seer but his punishment was to remain on the rope upon his toes to keep from being suffocated. There was a saddening moment while Solomon struggled for air, as the other slaves began playing and going about their business around him. It wasn’t because they didn’t want to help him, it was because of a beaten in fear of disobedience. It is an unforgettable trauma that caused them to ignore their empathy and God given free will.

Though Ford wouldn’t allow Solomon to be killed, he couldn’t protect him at the plantation anymore and he sold him away. This may be a cause to see the humanity in Ford, but it only stretches so far. The women who had been sold away from her children couldn’t step out of her depression. Instead of this being recognized and any comfort or solution being created, she was merely seen as a bother and sold away again. Solomon was also sold to a horrible man named Edwin Epps that lived off of abusing his slaves. His intense racism and abusive outbursts were justified by him through the bible. Claiming that the abuse his property is a spiritual right he was born into. He said many times that African Americans were as lowly as any other animal and that they are sin filled savages, yet he frequently owned slaves that he raped repeatedly. Epps wife hated the slaves for this and was constantly assaulting the raped women as if it were her fault that her husband was a sociopath with no self-control or regulations. Epps had strict lashing rules for the slaves and regardless of their behavior they were beaten at one point or another. If any slave didn’t pick at least 200 pounds of cotton a day, they would be beaten.

Everyone on that plantation cared for the other and hurt for them whenever beaten, but when an old man died in the field a new strength was awakened within Solomon. While singing a hymn for the man’s funeral, Solomon became determined not to die on the plantation knowing that he deserves freedom. This did not free him from being abused. An outbreak of cotton worm invaded the plantation. Epps believed it was a plague from God brought on by the sin of the slaves. So he leases them to another plantation for harvest in order to avoid any further infection. It is hard to not see the delusional inferiority and superstition displayed by Epps and all the other abusers. Regardless of these superstitions Epps continues to rape the woman Patsy. His wife had severe jealousy of this and Patsey was the object of her hatred. She once threw a heavy liquor holder at her face across the room and continued to yell at Epps. This is observable as an extreme disassociation from ones reactions with reality.

Solomon had earned money at the neighboring plantation due to his ability to play the violin. He knew that if anyone in New York knew where he was or what had happened, his freedom would be reinstated. He tried to pay a white man to deliver a letter to his friend in New York, the man agreed but he soon revealed Solomon’s request to Epps. The man was luckily a drunk and Solomon was able to convince Epps that the man was merely a drunk and it was all a lie. Epps believed him but nothing could protect Solomon or anyone else from his constant paranoia and violence. One day when Patsey left for a short time, Epps believed her to have run away. His anger flared believing he had been disobeyed and his control had been questioned. When she returned he attacked her violently. Solomon tried to protect her but when he did Epps forced him at gun point to tie her to a post, naked and whip her. When Solomon wouldn’t hit her hard enough, he took the lash and almost beat her to death. Misery was the only sight that could allow Epps to validate his need for superiority or his delusions.

Patsey asked Solomon to drown her because she couldn’t bring herself to kill herself but he refused. He felt that despair is useless and is not something he would risk his soul for. Though Patsey’s abuse didn’t stop, she didn’t kill herself. Solomon began working with Boss, a Canadian laborer to build a gazebo. Boss expresses his opposition to slavery to Edds and though he is angered, it gives Solomon hope. He shared the story of his kidnapping, 12 year enslavement and asks Boss to write to his friend in New York so that he can receive his freedom. Such an act would be very dangerous in the south but Boss still agrees to help him. A couple months later, Solomon was tilling the soil when a carriage containing a sheriff and another man arrive. One asks for a man named Platt, so Solomon responds. He is then asked a series of questions about his real name and life in New York as a free man. After all the questions are answered correctly they take him telling him he is now a free man again. Edds protested with an angry outburst but this did not stop the men from taking him to freedom.

Anyone could see the disbelief and peace that was overcoming Solomon. It was also great sorrow for the others he had to leave behind. The determination set in to help his people become free from the horrible life they were being disposed to by the sociopathic slave owners. The treatment of these people can only be understood by understanding the disorder that remained prevalent among the slave owners. Solomon went on to prosecute the men who kidnapped him and the previous slave owner but all of the charges were dismissed. He also aided thousands to freedom through the Underground Railroad as well as stood as a powerful leader of civil rights for slaves. His death is still a mystery because he was not investigated. His book detailing his experience is the testament left for anyone wondering if slaver was really that bad.