Describe the differences between Northrup’s response to separation from his children and Eliza’s response to separation from her children?
From reading Solomon Northrup’s autobiography, I have gained much insight and history into the Southern Slave System. This book is a fascinating account of the vile, in noble, entrapment that is called slavery. Of course all slave books show how terrible and abusive captivity was, this book presents some incredibly disturbing stories. One narrative that sticks out is how he was reduced to enthrallment. He was originally a freeman from the north. This changed, however, as he was kidnapped and brought into slavery for twelve years. During these years he worked tirelessly. He was beaten and abused. He had no way to see his family.
As stated previously, Solomon Northrup was born and raised a free man. He had a family of his own, which he loved dearly. He, of course, was in sorrow and despair over his family as he was kidnapped and torn from them in a day. However, he found the positive aspect in his life and became hopeful. Needless to say, how he handled the separation was better than others. He kept his head high, and looked toward the future. This is difficult to do in these types of situations, and he stayed strong. He fought through his innate feeling of being companion less. This would be difficult for anybody. In the passage he discusses how others felt with the separation.
Eliza,who was a slave on the same plantation, had children who were sold and torn from her arms in a matter of hours. She had a much different reaction. Eliza was, too, in the grasp of sorrow and despondency . As the family was auctioned off, and inevitably sold, Eliza was stricken with tears and sobs. She immediately started crying and begging the owners not to purchase her children, or buy the whole family together. Unfortunate to Eliza, the slave owner only had enough money for a few slaves, and could not afford the rest the family as a set.
Naturally, their reactions were much different. Solomon’s reaction was much more put together, quite and kept, while Eliza’s was very open and vocal. Both, however, experienced immense loss very quickly. This would be very difficult for anybody if their own bloodline was torn out of their hands. Every person handles loss differently and that is expressed clearly in the book. Some people are very spoken and expressed. Others are Voiceless and hushed. But all feel the pain of loss.
Solomon Northrup’s autobiography is a tale of perseverance and integrity. He was snatched as a citizen, and was sold into the evils and turpitude of enthrallment and bondage. He suffered great loss of his family, as he was not able to be with them for twelve years. He met many other slaves and people along the way and had a very transfixing life. He handled his losses better than others, and stayed positive. He kept his head up high, and looked toward a brighter more free future.
JBSchool 