Abstract
This paper reviews the book "Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave" in which Sue Eakin describes the life of a free black man, Solomon Northup, from Saratoga, N.Y., who was kidnapped in 1841 and forced into slavery in Louisiana for twelve years. The author relates that the first chapter gives the background of Northup's life beginning at his birth and his freedom, which he gained through his father's tribulations; however, the second chapter delineates the process whereby Northup is deceived into his entrapment. The paper continues, chapter by chapter, and ends with chapter twenty-one with the trip back to New York; a warrant is issued for Burch for his role in the kidnapping and the chapter continues through Burch's trial in which he is acquitted, but the story still ultimately is completed with Northup's reunion with his beloved wife and daughters.

From the Paper
"Chapter four begins with more of the recount of "Eliza's sorrows" and continues with another suggestion of the irony of the locale: "the Capital of a nation, whose theory of government...rests on the foundation of man's inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It is here that Northup seems to resign himself to his position and seems to regain a sense of hopefulness, although the other characters remain downtrodden. Disturbingly, it is also in this chapter that Northup calls Burch by the title "Master" for the first time, before the reader is introduced to several other new characters facing the same fate as Northup."

Tags:kidnapped, trail, identity, masters, harvesting

Abstract
This paper reviews the narrative account of Solomon Northup's experiences as a slave in his work entitled "Twelve Years a Slave." The paper discusses the widespread appeal of Northup's book, in both the US and abroad. The paper describes "Twelve Years a Slave" as rich in narrative concerning the relationships between master and slave, overseers and among the slaves themselves. Additionally, it depicts very graphically the physical violence and coercion heaped upon the slaves by their masters and overseers. According to the paper, however, Northup also discusses how it was his fortune to be owned by several masters during his captivity, some of whom were humane. The paper concludes by citing Northup's account as showing citizens the beauty of freedom.

From the Paper
"In Chapter Three, Northup describes in great detail one of his first encounters with a slave trader and owner named James H. Burch while being held in the city of Washington in a dark underground apartment that served as a prison, filled with damp and moldy odors. Burch was "a large and powerful man" with an expression of "nothing but cruelty and cunning" (40-41) and with the assistance of another man named Radburn, Northup was stripped naked and beaten severely with a paddle, shaped like an oar with holes drilled into it. In the words of Northup, "Drawing me over a bench, face downward, Radburn placed his heavy foot upon the fetters

(chains). . .and with the paddle, Burch commenced beating me. Blow after blow was inflicted upon my naked body. . . (44). One of these men also held a cat o-nine tails, a type of whip often with metal spurs on the end of each piece of leather which when used against naked skin tore away pieces of flesh, leaving the victim bloody..."

Tags:kidnapping, captivity, James H. Burch, deep South

Abstract
A paper which shows how the image of windows serves as a divide between the innocent and the not so innocent William Faulkner's "A Light in August". It shows that those who dare to go outside the windows through which they gaze, are subject to the gossip and hypocrisy of society and those who remain inside are subject to this same torture as well. It discusses the character Gail Hightower chooses to stay inside, while Lena Grove chooses to venture outside. Lena is innocent because she has not experienced the falsehood of society while Hightower is not.

From the Paper
"Windows play a major role in the first seventy- six pages of William Faulkner's novel, A Light in August. Faulkner first mentions a window on page five. It is through this window that the young Lena Grove climbs through during the night in order to see her boyfriend, Lucas Burch. Faulkner again mentions a window on page fifty-seven, while describing the daily life of former minister, Gail Hightower. According to Faulkner, by staying inside windows people are just as likely to be victimized by society as those who venture outside. The only thing that separates those who stay inside or go outside, is experience."

Tags:burch, grove, lucas, pregnant