为奴十二载帕特茜分析
《为奴十二年》的意指理论解读word精品文档6页

《为奴十二年》的意指理论解读2014年,史蒂夫?麦奎因导演的电影《为奴十二年》收获了奥斯卡、金球奖等众多奖项。
电影改编自所罗门?诺瑟普1853年所著自传体小说《为奴十二年》。
《为奴十二年》传达的勇敢无畏,令读者难忘。
意指一直都是黑人的职业。
所罗门继承了非裔人民擅长运用意指传达心声的传统,探析了命名的意指;分析了文本意指,包括对《道格拉斯自传》的继承性意指和对《汤姆叔叔的小屋》的改写性意指。
基于盖茨的意指理论的分析,《为奴十二年》不仅是一部纪实作品,而且为非裔文学提供了很高的研究价值。
所罗门?诺瑟普和《为奴十二年》所罗门?诺瑟普(Solomon Northup,July 1808―1863),美国黑人,他于1808年出生在纽约密涅瓦。
1841年,自由黑人身份的所罗门?诺瑟普,在华盛顿被绑架,成为奴隶。
1853年,重获自由的所罗门?诺瑟普将自己的人生经历写成了一部自传体小说――《为奴十二年》。
该部小说以他作为奴隶的十二年经历为主线,控诉了奴隶制的历史是一部血泪和心酸史。
从1841年到1853年,在这12年中,所罗门?诺瑟普从自由的纽约州萨拉托加被拐骗到了蓄奴的路易斯安那州。
在那里,他遭受了非人的虐待,但是他选择了隐藏身份和会读写的能力来逆境求生。
他隐忍了十二年,最终在一个进步人士的帮助下,写信给家人,得到了救助。
所罗门将他自己作为黑人种族的缩影,本部小说贯穿了自由、隐忍和救赎的话题,超越了黑人题材和奴隶制度本身,体现了黑人种族对生命礼赞的大爱!《为奴十二年》是一部荡气回肠的神曲,奏响了献给所罗门的赞歌,奏响了献给黑人种族的赞歌。
该部小说展示出了黑人文化的魅力,黑人灵歌的齐声合唱,带给了读者艺术的享受。
所罗门在十二年的为奴生涯中,他本人也在感受着这种艺术的魅力和享受,所以他无时无刻不在向往着自由,都在为了逃脱奴隶制而做准备,“我渴望自由,可奴隶的锁链绑住我,无法撼动。
我只能忧愁地凝视着北方,想着横亘在我和自由之地之间的数千里路,这是一个黑皮肤的自由人无法跨越的距离。
为奴12年中的精神价值分析

为奴12年中的精神价值分析作者:吴孙玉笑来源:《中国校外教育(上旬)》2017年第13期《为奴12年》是美国非裔作家所罗门·诺瑟普的一部奴隶叙事作品。
在12年炼狱般的生活中,传主仰望上苍,守望着梦想。
他在创造性的劳作中,努力实现生命的价值;在对大自然的体验和对亲情的回味中,感受生命且获得理性启悟;以一种不可剥夺的精神自由,把没有尊严的奴隶生活过得坚韧、倔强而尊贵。
而对苦难的意义的寻索和对自由的热爱,让他最终找到语言这个“家”,并在此把个人的心志和精神颐养,把存在的意义考量。
所罗门·诺瑟普《为奴12年》精神价值美国非裔作家所罗门·诺瑟普的自传《为奴12年》在发表之初,曾引发强烈反响。
在第863届奥斯卡金像奖颁奖礼上,改编自同名自传作品的电影一举荣获最佳影片、最佳女配角、最佳编剧三项大奖,让这一奴隶叙事文本再度走进读者的视线,使人们对美国蓄奴制的荒谬和残酷有了更深层次的认识。
在12年炼狱般的奴隶生活里,诺瑟普竭力保全性命,以对家人的至爱、对上帝的信仰、对大自然的顾盼来消解身心的屈辱和劳困。
一、在创造中实现生命的价值弗兰克认为,人所拥有的任何东西都可以被剥夺,唯独人性最后的自由——也就是在任何境遇中选择自己态度和生活方式的自由——不能被剥夺。
当人只剩下所谓最后一件自由,即“在既定的境遇中采取个人态度的能力”时,他可以选择创造和体验,使自己“苦得有价值,以证实其超越外在命运的能力”。
诺瑟普在意识到自己已失去自由,且逃跑的机会微乎其微,一味地反抗只是意味着死亡时,他选擇将希望埋在心底,凭借自己的智慧和技能,在不同的奴隶主手下埋头干活,在不同的工种中努力探索,从而在卑微的苦力劳动中为自己赢得了尊严。
艰苦的外在环境给了诺瑟普某些不得已的“机会”,让他在劳顿与痛苦中用主动积极地创造超越自我,感悟生命。
在被卖往南方的奥尔良轮船上,诺瑟普用小刀在发给奴隶的锡杯上刻下自己名字的首字母,让同行的伙伴们羡慕不已。
为奴十二载

为奴十二载根据所罗门〃诺瑟普在1853年所著传记体小说《为奴十二年》改编。
由史蒂夫〃麦奎因执导,切瓦特〃埃加福特、迈克尔〃法斯宾德和露皮塔〃尼永奥等联袂出演。
影片于2013年11月8日在美国正式上映。
电影讲述一个生活在纽约的自由的黑人,受过教育且已婚。
随后遇到两个人,他们许诺在华盛顿帮他找一份工作,当所罗门到了华盛顿才发现自己被诱拐绑架了,从此开始了他的奴隶生涯。
经历多年磨难才依靠一个好心的加拿大人帮忙送信回家,经过一场诉讼,他重获自由。
电影《为奴十二年》在2014年第71届金球奖上获得金球奖最佳剧情片。
而在第86届奥斯卡金像奖颁奖礼上,《为奴十二年》获得了最佳影片奖、最佳女配角、最佳改编剧本奖三项大奖。
剧情简介1841年,所罗门〃诺瑟普是一个木匠兼小提琴手,与妻儿生活在纽约州的萨拉托加斯普林斯。
后来两个白人以给他提供一个在马戏团伴奏表演的机会为由,把所罗门骗到了华盛顿卖为黑奴。
所罗门被改名为“普拉特”,一个从乔治亚州逃跑的奴隶。
他被特奥菲卢斯〃弗里曼卖给了种植园主福特先生。
所罗门与福特先生相处融洽。
他修建的运输水渠工作效率高,福特先生为了表扬送了他一把小提琴。
但是这惹来了木匠约翰〃提毕兹的记恨,开始对他恶言相向。
提毕兹勾结朋友要对所罗门处以私刑,昏迷的他被福特先生救下。
福特先生说他要想活下去,就必须把所罗门卖给埃德蒙〃艾普斯。
他想告诉福特先生其实他不是奴隶,但是福特先生说“我不能听你说这个”,“他有债要还”,身不由己。
艾普斯相信虐待奴隶是被圣经所允许的,奉劝他们接受所谓的宿命。
他要求每个奴隶每天必须采200磅棉花,否则便会挨打。
帕特茜每天能采超过500磅的棉花,艾普斯经常表扬她,对她一直不怀好意。
艾普斯夫人非常嫉妒,在艾普斯先生当众说如果他受人威胁他宁可选择帕特茜而非妻子之后,一有机会她就会暴戾地虐待帕特茜。
多次被艾普斯先生强奸,欲自寻短见的帕特茜向所罗门求助,但是他拒绝了。
艾普斯认为新来的奴隶带来了棉花蠕虫,他把这些奴隶租给了邻近的糖料种植园。
为奴十二载帕特茜分析

为奴十二载帕特茜分析《为奴十二载》改编自所罗门·诺瑟普同名小说,由史蒂夫·麦奎因执导,切瓦特·埃加福特、迈克尔·法斯宾德、露皮塔·尼永奥等出演的剧情电影。
影片讲述一个生活在纽约的自由的黑人,受过教育且已婚。
随后遇到两个人,他们许诺在华盛顿帮他找一份工作,当所罗门到了华盛顿才发现自己被诱拐绑架了,从此开始了他的奴隶生涯。
经历多年磨难才依靠一个好心的加拿大人帮忙送信回家,经过一场诉讼,他重获自由。
影片于2013年11月8日在美国上映。
角色介绍:帕特茜《露皮塔·尼永奥饰》:埃德温·艾普斯手下的女奴,年轻貌美,她在棉花地里一天干的活抵上别人的两倍。
为艾普斯所爱,因而成为女主人的眼中钉,常常对她百般折磨。
影片改编自真实的故事。
背景是在美国的19世纪中期,一个自由贩卖黑奴的黑暗社会。
故事主要讲述了,一个以拉小提琴为生的自由黑人,被两个骗子给卖到了黑奴贩子,接着又被两个白人资本家买去,在沦为黑奴的过程中,他试图多次逃跑,但都没有成功,无论如何他始终没有放弃希望,终于通过一个崇尚自由、反对奴隶制度的加拿大人帮他传信,通过诉讼,重获自由,结束了长达12年之久的奴隶生涯。
影片最为触动我的是一个女黑奴,帕特茜,她是一个漂亮能干的黑奴,每天能采摘200磅以上的棉花,主人对她甚是喜欢,经常强迫她与他发生关系,这使得女主人极为不满,经常故意刁难她,什么都不给她用。
帕特茜因为受不了这种不堪的生活,曾经想要故事的男主人工所罗门帮她自杀,但是被所罗门拒绝了。
她因为三天没有洗澡而去找了一块小香皂,回来后竟然被主人拿鞭子抽的皮开肉绽。
在这一刻,她始终还是一个奴隶,没有任何权利,她的生死完全掌握在主人的手里。
相比帕特茜,所罗门是幸运的,相比其他黑奴,所罗门是幸运的,因为他重新获得了自由,虽然是那么的不容易。
这部影片把当时的黑暗社会披露的淋漓尽致,是一部值得深思的电影。
打动人心的影片《为奴十二年》

打动人心的影片《为奴十二年》《经济学人》:为奴十二年译者:pinkkylin发表时间:2014-01-17新片上映:《为奴十二年》麦奎因的胜利在史蒂夫·麦奎因执导的电影《为奴十二年》开头,有位路易斯安那的种植园主带着他刚买的一男一女两个黑奴回家。
他温文尔雅的妻子等在阳台上,看到那个女奴在哭泣,就问为什么。
“她和孩子分开了,”做丈夫的叹了口气,不无同情地说,“没办法。
”这三个字成为麦奎因这部令人震惊的电影的关键词,像许多镜头表现的那样,人们把奴隶制视为常态:由来已久、合乎法律、天经地义。
对于本片19世纪中期的角色来说,把人作为财产是很平常的事,没有办法改变这种制度。
在前面的场景中,有个快活的奴隶贩子(保罗·吉亚玛提饰演)向主顾展示他的货品。
他说,“这是个很有才华的黑鬼,”可是这里没有台词暗示店里的人可能受到惊吓。
在奴隶贩子看来,赤裸受惊的黑奴和其他货色没什么不同。
在另一幕惊人的场景中,主人公所罗门·诺萨普(切瓦特·埃加福特饰演,如图)被绞索吊在树上。
在令人痛苦的漫长折磨中,他大口喘着粗气,脚尖刚刚碰到泥泞的地面。
但是麦奎因并没有用激动人心的音乐或突出的特写镜头加剧紧张的气氛。
他只是让这种残酷的折磨继续下去,在镜头的背景中,仆人干着自己的活儿,孩子们嬉戏玩耍。
这种情形持续到影片即将结束,加拿大工人(联合制片人布拉德·皮特饰演)阐述奴隶制可能是错误的概念。
与此同时,就连诺瑟普都认为,这是生活的现实。
他唯一的抱怨是,这不该是他生活的现实。
在这本根据同名回忆录改编的电影中,诺瑟普作为自由人开始了他的讲述。
1841年,他是位受人尊敬的中产阶级小提琴家,与他的妻子和两个孩子生活在纽约州萨拉托加。
但是在华盛顿特区享用了精美的晚餐后,他遭到了绑架。
当他醒来时,发现自己锁在囚室里,被告知他是从佐治亚州“逃跑的黑鬼”。
他竭力反抗,却遭到了狱卒的狠毒鞭打。
另一名囚犯劝告他,他唯一生存的机会就是对自己的真实身份保持沉默。
从《为奴十二年》来看黑奴命运的悲惨

从《为奴十二年》来看黑奴命运的悲惨2012级历史学三班梁海祥 1221110028《为奴十二载》是根据真实故事改编而成的一部电影,而我也是在看了这部影片之后,深刻的感受到了在反抗被殖民的令人向往的美利坚合众国的土地上,被称为世界民主典范的国家,竟然在摆脱自己的悲惨命运的同时又把他人推向了悲惨命运的深渊。
之后,我又进一步的了解到,原作是一本小说《为奴十二年》,并饶有兴趣的把它读完。
原文《为奴十二年》作者所罗门·诺瑟普(1808-1864),是一个有着自由人身份的黑人。
从他父亲时起他们便被废除奴隶身份,成为了一名美国州的自由人。
但作为纽约州市民的他却被人欺骗后于1841年在华盛顿州被人绑架,被强迫的成为一名奴隶。
在经历了12年被奴役的生涯后于1853年被解救出来,便根据自己亲身经历的奴隶生活,回忆了自己的悲惨境遇并写作出版。
“人人生而平等,人人都有追求生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权力”这是美国独立战争期间,美国为了反抗英属殖民统治,争取早日独立解放而广而告之的宣言。
对于当时被统治、被奴役的北美人民,是多么的震耳发聩!他们仿佛感觉自己是世界上最不幸的民族,无情悲惨的被英属所奴役着,遥遥无期。
意识到了一个人最基本的尊严和人格是需要为之奋斗,拼命争取而来的。
不得不说北美人民勇敢、勤劳、伟大、敢于追求自己权利的解放。
但在美国建国之后便把自己所承受过的痛苦、所经历过的奴役又以另一种“合法合理”的形式转嫁给无辜的黑人种族。
需要注意的是在杰斐逊起草的《独立宣言》草稿中,有谴责英王乔治三世允许在殖民地存在奴隶制和奴隶买卖的一段话的。
并且还说道:“他向人性本身发动了残酷的战争,侵犯了一个从未冒犯过他的远方民族的最神圣的生存权和自由权。
他诱骗他们,并把他们运往另一半球充当奴隶,或使他们惨死在运送途中。
”却在后来,大陆会议通过的最后宣言中删去了这一段话。
政策、国家、和谐等都是妥协的产物,人人都有追求自由的权力这时便是被分割开来了。
《为奴十二年》电影解说文案

《为奴十二年》电影解说文案历史上美国的黑奴究竟有多惨这个男人已经在树梢上挂了八个小时了路人来来往往但就是没人帮忙只因为他是黑人是奴隶黑奴只能算财产不算人在当时健康男青年卖1000元差不多的800黑人女孩最便宜傍晚主人回到家发现了垂死的切瓦特用刀子割断绳子还把他带进房间切瓦特以为主人真的对自己好他说出了自己的真实身份他不是奴隶而是一个拥有小提琴手身份的自由人在被贩卖为奴隶之前切瓦特受过良好的教育精通小提琴有着幸福的生活以及爱他的妻子和家人可世事难料一天两个衣冠楚楚的白人他们自称是华盛顿一家马戏团的工作人员正在寻找一位伴奏者在两个人的忽悠下切瓦特跟着他们去了繁华的大都市在一个盛大的派对上切瓦特像个客人毫无准备地喝下了桌上的饮料很快就两眼一抹黑失去了意识当他醒来的时候发现自己被困在船舱里手铐脚镣加身虽然切瓦特歇斯底里地否认自己不是奴隶可迎来的却是白人们劈头盖脸的一顿毒打特种钉板后背血肉模糊被活生生驯服为了生存就必须服从切瓦特放弃了抵抗他终于意识到自己中了白人的圈套沦为了奴隶由于环境的恶劣和缺少食物大量的黑人就这样病死饿死在了船上然而此时对于黑人来说他们的噩梦才刚刚开始船到岸后一场浩大的黑奴买卖开张了白人农场主一个个出现精心挑选着适合的奴隶中间商让一个孩子当着白人的面做起了高抬腿以表现他旺盛的体力和健康的身体一对母子也不幸沦为奴隶母亲不想和孩子分离苦苦哀求白人白人心软了可中间商直接坐地起价2000 干不干白人没办法只能让他们母女分离而切瓦特也遭遇了同样的命运他被卖到一处田园一双用来拉小提琴的大手每天干着脏活累活稍有不慎就是一顿鞭打主人福特先生一直很赏识切瓦特因为他和其他黑人奴隶都不一样不仅会拉小提琴还足智多谋给福特先生想出了通过水路运送货物的办法既省时又省力福特先生为了表扬送了他一把小提琴切瓦特从始至终都没有放弃过挣扎他骨子里的韧劲和对自由的向往使他成为了最特立独行的一个黑奴但是这却惹来了农场里的包工头的不满动不动就要找他麻烦切瓦特一再忍让包工头却变本加厉最终切瓦特控制不住气愤对着包工头大打出手包工头不是切瓦特的对手可很快切瓦特就遭到了报复切瓦特被五花大绑吊在树上泥潭中他竭尽全力地踮起脚尖勉强喘气他不知道何时脚撑不住自己的身体直接被绳索勒死可长期遭受奴役的黑人奴隶已经没有反抗的意识只是默默注视没有伸出援助之手直到主人回家说黑奴都是主人的财产是生是死主人说了算切瓦特这才捡回一条命他趴在地上奄奄一息地告诉福特先生自己根本不是奴隶他是一个自由民切瓦特本以为主人得知真相后会为自己主持公道可他太天真了福特先生根本不在乎他的真实身份他只关心自己能不能从他们身上赚到钱但不管怎么样福特先生知道是自己太宠爱切瓦特才会给他带来麻烦说他要想活下去就必须把切瓦特卖给艾普斯艾普斯是个棉花田的农场主相信虐待奴隶是被圣经所允许的奉劝他们接受所谓的宿命他要求每个奴隶每天必须采200磅棉花如果不够就要挨打然后第二天继续摘直到达到目标为止不仅如此艾普斯有个怪癖喜欢大半夜叫人们起来开party把人整得精疲力尽才能睡觉其中一个叫做帕特茜的女人显得尤为显眼漂亮又勤劳每天能采超过500磅的棉花为此艾普斯称她为黑奴中的佼佼者天生的奴才还会在晚上偷偷叫来打扑克等结束之后再给帕特茜一巴掌渐渐地艾普斯的妻子发现不对劲接下来帕特茜要惨了这个女性黑奴每天可以为主人采摘500磅棉花却依然要被打得皮开肉绽仅仅只是因为她用了一块肥皂洗澡自从艾普斯夫人发现丈夫对帕特茜不一般后便开始疯狂的报复她在晚宴上当着所有人的面狠狠扇了帕特茜一巴掌帕特茜知道自己在劫难逃当天晚上她叫醒切瓦特递给他一把刀要求切瓦特杀死自己(我只求了结自己的生命)(把我的尸体运到沼泽边上去)(掐死我把我按到水里)(直到我没气了为止)(把我埋到荒无人烟的地方)(我不会做那种事的)切瓦特根本不会答应他没有理会帕特茜躺下身继续睡了下去任凭帕特茜在黑暗中哭泣第二天帕特茜没有按时出工艾普斯在农场里发了疯似地寻找逮着一个黑奴就要狠狠地骂上一顿直到帕特茜再次出现原来她没有逃跑只是去拿了一块肥皂(肖夫人给了我这个)(艾普斯夫人连洗澡用的肥皂都不肯给我)(我身上臭得连自己都恶心)(五百磅棉花天天如此)(比任何男人摘得都多)(而我想要的只是干净些)(别无他求)(这就是我去肖那儿的目的)可艾普斯根本不听解释他见不得任何忤逆他的行为冲上去一把拽住帕特茜扒去她身上所有衣服浑身赤裸地绑在刺挠又灸热的树干上又命令切瓦特拿鞭子抽打帕特茜让帕特茜好好尝尝抵抗的滋味切瓦特对这种惨无人道地行径深感厌恶怎么都下不去手艾普斯见状拿枪用所有黑奴的性命威胁切瓦特切瓦特只能扬起手上的鞭子一下又一下抽打在帕特茜裸露的背上帕特茜疼得叫出了声可艾普斯的妻子还是不满意她冷眼站着嘴里不停地添油加醋要切瓦特更用点力帕特茜的叫声渐渐变成了笑声她无奈而又痛苦地叫着艾普斯手持猎枪走到切瓦特面前威胁他必须用力直到帕特茜皮开肉绽血肉模糊才能停下切瓦特痛苦极了他后悔自己没有听帕特茜的话那天晚上就给她一个痛快可现在为时已晚切瓦特咬咬牙更加用力地鞭打帕特茜凄厉的叫声再次响起一遍遍回荡在农庄切瓦特再也下不去手了他停了下来艾普斯却一把抢走鞭子先是狠狠地抽打切瓦特又转向帕特茜直到他精疲力尽才满意的离去而帕特茜的背上早已皮开肉绽切瓦特救下帕特茜又把她带进屋里上药此时的帕特茜生不如死她请求切瓦特帮忙杀了自己切瓦特依然没有放弃他把每天餐盒为数不多的桑甚收集起来用作写字的墨水就这样日复一日地攒着终于有一天攒够了切瓦特在昏暗的灯光下艰难地写下求助信幸运的是切瓦特认识了一个白人木匠他不像别的白人那样高高在上时常和切瓦特谈心聊天原来他在外面欠了很多债被迫来到农场打工有时白人木匠还会给切瓦特清理伤口渐渐地切瓦特对木匠越来越信任或许这个木匠就是他的最后一根救命稻草夜深人静切瓦特敲开了木匠的房门男人手里拿着一枚硬币这是他唯一的财产交到白人木匠手上请求他帮助自己把信寄出去这样就会有人来救他木匠答应了切瓦特看到了希望满心欢喜地等待着自由可切瓦特还是太天真了木匠不仅没有送出信还把信上报给了主人艾普斯这天夜里艾普斯提着灯找到切瓦特(我听说我有个会识字的黑奴)(写了信)(托白人朋友为他寄出去)切瓦特害怕极了他强忍着紧张和心虚说自己只是个奴隶根本不会写字肯定是木匠为了邀功故意污蔑和陷害自己艾普斯一听觉得有道理暂时放过了他切瓦特虽然没有受到惩罚但他也不敢再打逃跑的主意只能赶紧把好不容易写好的信烧掉切瓦特的希望再一次破灭他不知道这样的日子什么时候才能是个头直到这天农场里又来了一个白人巴斯巴斯来自加拿大性格直率正义敢当着艾普斯的面抨击黑奴制度大喊总有一天这个社会会觉醒巴斯的言论吸引到了切瓦特他似乎又看到了希望这天俩人搭伙干活切瓦特试探地说出自己的悲惨遭遇巴斯表示很同情切瓦特说着说着不由得留下了眼泪善良的巴斯答应为切瓦特写信并且送出去切瓦特简直不敢相信这是真的好在巴斯没有辜负切瓦特的期望在一个炎热的午后切瓦特正在地里大力挥舞着锄头一个治安官突然出现大声呼唤着切瓦特的名字纽约州的州长亲自来接他回家至此切瓦特终于结束了长达12年的黑奴生活离开前帕特茜叫住了他俩人对视一眼随后紧紧相拥他们的命运有过重合最终又走向分离帕特茜何去何从结果如何没有人知道切瓦特坐在颠簸的马车上却高兴不起来因为庄园里还有那么多的黑奴继续遭受着非人待遇切瓦特洗了个澡换上一身干净的西装站在家门口他的牙齿都在颤抖迈开步子走进去一群人正在等待切瓦特女儿已经长大成人并且结婚生子切瓦特看着眼前熟悉而又陌生的一切仿佛置身于梦镜中眼泪止不住地流下来一家人紧紧相拥这清晰的触感在提醒切瓦特这不是梦历经十二年的苦难他真的自由了切瓦特是为数不多的摆脱奴隶制重获自由的受害者之一他起诉了绑架他的人但是由于美国的政策和政治偏见切瓦特并没有得到满意的结果坏人没有受到惩罚切瓦特也没有放弃自己的争之路后来他出版了一部小说讲述自己的经历后来他参加了各种美国的黑奴解放运动就为了尽快帮助那些受苦的黑奴们重获自由电影《为奴十二年》真的还原了美国黑奴的悲惨的世界现实往往比电影更残酷在美国200年的历史中就有100多年是黑人的血泪史那时黑人在美国就是奴隶大量的奴隶主购买黑人让他们采摘棉花无日无夜的劳作虽然美国靠这些黑人积累了资本但这是人类历史上最黑暗无耻的一页所以现在他们口口声声说着人权可正是因为缺啥所以才需要补啥他们缺少的恰恰就是人权本期故事到此为止。
为奴十二年中人性与尊严

On Dignity and Self-Redemption of Human in12 years a slaveIntroduction12 Years a Slave is a film adapted from Solomon Northup’s autobiography of the same name. It narrates the 12 years’ experience that the free man Solomon is kidnapped by two white men to be a slave in South America. The movie has won many awards in 2013. Freedom, dignity and redemption are the three parts of the theme of the film. In our society, there are great number of books, articles and movies on the subject of the slavery in the United States. As an important part of American history, the slavery has been researched by many scholars including its influences on African-Americans’ mentality, life, and social status, and also the racism. This thesis attempts to focus on the analysis of the perspectives of the personal experiences, internal world and language of different representative characters in the film. And then it will deeply research the impacts of dignity and self-redemption on slaves’fate and on our daily life.1. Introduction to 12 Years a Slave and Characters1. 1 Introduction to 12 Years a Slave3 Oscar Awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. In 1841, in Saratoga Spring, New York,Solomon Northup, who is a free rich African-American man working as a violin player, lives with his wife and children. One day, two white men, Brown and Hamilton, disguise themselves as workers in a circus and want to offer Solomon a two-week job in Washington D.C as a violin musician. Solomon goes with them; however, Brown and Hamilton drug him and then sell him as a slave. All the things are clear when Solomon wakes up in a small black room with his hands and feet shackled. He resists and tells people that he is a free man, but what he gets are brutal beats. Then the cruel 12 years starts.Solomon is shipped to New Orleans with other slaves and a slave trader gives him anew name “Platt”. After struggling, for survive, Solomon had to hide his identity and the truth that he had ever been educated. His first master called William Ford who is more kind than his second owner, and Solomon helps Ford a lot transporting logs without much efforts, however, it contributes to Ford’s carpenter John Tibeats’s resentments to Solomon. Tibeats attacks Solomon who defenses him.Tibeats and his friends attempt to lynch Northup, but they are prevented by Ford's overseer, Chapin, though Northup is left in the noose standing on tiptoe for many hours. Ford finally cuts Northup down, but chooses to sell him to planter Edwin Epps to protect him from Tibeats.The second master Edwin Epps, called by people “nigger breaker”, is a sadistic man who regards those black people as accessories belonging to them which can be used by any way they want. Epps is attracted to Patsey, a young female slave in his home, and repeatedly rapes her, causing Epps' wife to become jealous and frequently humiliate and degrade Patsey. Patsey's only comfort is visiting Mistress Shaw, a former slave whose owner fell in love with her and elevated her to Mistress. Patsey wishes to die and begs Northup to kill her but he refuses.Eventually, a Canadian carpenter Solomon met before called Bass who is a abolitionist helps Solomon send a letter to hometown, and he went back home at last.1.2 Social BackgroundThe film reappears from 1841 to 1853 the twelve years’ real life of Solomon as well as the black slaves’in some extent. Slavery in the United States was the legal institution of chattel slavery that existed in the United States of America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Slavery had been practiced in British North America from early colonial days, and was recognized in the Thirteen Colonies at the time of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. In the years when the story of the film happened, Northern America had abolished the slavery, and black slaves were all free and had their own life. In the South America, slave trade still existed, and those African-Americans were oppressed without any dignity. At the same time, in the south agriculture technology was far more developed than the north causing high demand of workers. The slave trade became more popular in the South America and some of people also kidnapped the black from the north. The population of slaves skyrocketed in 1810to 1860.The consequent American Civil War, beginning in 1861, led to the end of chattel slavery in America.2. Analysis2.1 Analysis of Solomon NorthupSolomon Northup lives happily with his family in New York but he has never imagine that one day he will become a slave who is oppressed, helpless, miserable without any dignity. He is educated and the liberation is solid in his mind, and he knows everyone is free and equal. At beginning, faced up with the circumstance, Solomon sits with two slaves and tries to persuade them to find a kind man and tell him the situation for helping him to free. However, the two men disagree. Later, Solomon is on the boat to Washington D.C. where he will be treated as a real slave. Solomon plans with other two men on the boat but they find it is impossible to escape only relying on the strengths of them. “Survival is not about certain death. It's about keeping your head down” (12 Years a Slave). Clements, one of slaves says. But Solomon answers” I don’t want to survive, I want to live” (12 Years a Slave). Solomon still wants to fight back. He has tried to escape for five times. In the first master’s home, Solomon works hard and wait for the opportunity to go back home. He tells people he is a free man repeatedly, but no one makes a response and he is beaten to death. Because of Tibeats’s brutal treatments, Solomon beats up on Tibeats just like a fury. His heart fills up with angry. In the conversation between Solomon and Eliza (12 years a slave): SOLOMON. I survive. I will not fall into despair. I will offer up my talents to Master Ford. I will keep myself hardy till freedom is opportune.ELIZA. So you settle into your role as Platt then?SOLOMON. Northup My back is thick with scars for protesting my freedom.Solomon is waiting and waiting. And he chooses to give in for a moment then look for a chance to help him send a letter to hometown. One day, Epps’s wife asks him to buy things in the town and Solomon thinks he have the chance to escape. However, on the way to the town he finds some escaping slaves are hanged as punishment. So he has to give up this opportunity. “His surrender is not a real surrender but a protection which puts survival to thefirst place at the moment. He looks for hope in despair all the time with an unyielding heart” (Wang Taoyu). He never forgets what pains he has suffered and how inhumanly he has been treated with his back’s bleeding and the rope round his neck.What he has done and said shows the conflicts between his mind and the situation that everyone should be free but the situation gives him no freedom and no dignity. The conflicts push him to save himself rather than beg for a little time’s peaceful life without insulting and maltreatments.2.2Analysis of Other SlavesIn the film, all of the slaves are under much oppressed and their lives are so tragic. One of the slaves is the poor Pastey. She is the most hardworking one of all the slaves in Epps’s plant that she picks most pounds of cottons but also the most tragic one that her master rapes her and female master humiliates and degrades her. She has no right to decide what she does, where she goes as the same as other slaves. She is whipped with her skin cut open and flesh torn. She can’t stand such a life anymore but cries for death. She is so helpless that she can only cry and beg to her master again and again. She has never thought about changing the current situation. Under the strict system and inhuman treatment, her mind has absolutely been fettered and what she can do is just resting with Mrs. Shaw and talking for a while.Clements is a male slave Solomon has met on the boat. One day his master came to the boat with his lawyer and certification to ask for returning his property---Clements. Clements runs happily and quickly to his master ant leans close to him. The master pats his head just like patting a dog. Before sent to the south, one of the slaves sitting together with Solomon says” for me, I was not kidnapped. I was for debt. That’s all. After paying off the debt we will be redeemed”(12 Years a Slave). From his words, it shows that his life depends on his master that no one including himself can save him except his master. He is waiting for master but not for dignity and freedom. He never thinks about even never dares to think about releasing from affliction and chase their human dignity that they have rights to decide what they think and what they should do. “The rest here are niggers, born and bred slaves. Niggers aren’t got stomach for a fight. Not a damn one” (12 Years a slave).Clements has said. Maybe what he said is not all right but from it we can see most of the slaves’ attitudes towards the oppressions.3. ComparisonBetween Solomon and those slaves, there are some differences in essence. Solomon has ever been educated and he is a free man before while some of the African-Americans who suffer to slavery grow up under the control of slave traders. Solomon compromises, strives, tries and searches for the opportunity all the time. He is on the way of self redemption on the way to go back home. He makes a clear mind that he will never fall into despair. However, those poor slaves are treated inhumanly and ferociously. They have no more energy to plan for their future, fight for their freedom and rights. What they have done is working hard for a prize of their master which comforts them for a while. For a long time, they gradually adapt to the situation which they have no idea to change. Maybe they can say some words like that”all I know, where we keep traveling we wish we died trying”(12 Years a Slave). But all the things become different when they have an opportunity to be redeemed by their ex-master. They forget what the dignity is and what the freedom is. Solomon defenses the overseer and beats up on him while the slaves completely obey master s’ orders and finish them perfectly. And there are also similarities. All of them experience the mistreatment and the pains unbearable. All of them realize how cruel and inhuman the slavery is. All of them know the meaning of being a slave. In their hearts, pains and sores are everywhere. How about their endings? Solomon eventually goes back home after the tough and incredible 12 years. He attempts to seize every chance that seems to be able to get him out of trouble although at the end, it’s not totally by Solomon himself but a man helping him escape there. As for those slaves, some of them die; some of them like Patsey still suffer endless agony. Attempt to overcome the obstacles behind you and keep clear minds with dignity as a man. ConclusionThe film, 12 Years a Slave, is not quite same with other movies which are also on the subject of slaves. 12 Years a Slave narrates a story about a free man who becomes a slave after a night. It has won 3 Oscar Awards for Best Pictures, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay in 2013. The movie including its shooting skills, frames and its meaning impresses most of audiences a lot. During the twelve tough years, Solomon Northup never gives up hoping. He is kept in bondage by whips physically but his mentality and mind aren’tchanged. He knows clearly that everyone has the right to live and everyone has the dignity of living which makes you resist on your own desires. However, those salves such as Patsey and Eliza have no choice but spend the rest of their life in desperation. They settle into their identity as a slave and receive their fate. As for Clements, the servility is deep-rooted in his mind contrasting strikingly with Solomon. Physical bondage is not terrible and what the most terrible thing is that the mind has been kept in bondage.As Mandela said “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of the death again and again before we reach the maintop of our desire”(Mandela). Slavery is a profound disaster for Africa-Americans without doubt. It seems simply incredible that any man could endure even one year a slave, much less such an ordeal. But, Solomon made it. As what Mandela has done and told, there will be wounds, bloods and deaths. And Solomon has to pass through them; only he can redeem himself. On the way of self-redemption, Solomon is thinking, taking acts and looking for solution all the time. In conclusion, thinking, taking acts and looking for solution will have important impacts on getting out of trouble and changing one’s fate. The dignity as a man supports people to fight for the rights. Sometimes there seems to be no way to overturn the rules or change the situation but we should try our best at least more and more people will find us and agree with what we have done.Work citedMandela, Nelson Rolihlahla, 1918-2013.Twelve Years a Slave (Film), Steve McQueen (Director), 2013, United States, Fox Searchlight Pictures.汪韬钰,“《为奴十二年》:在绝境中寻找希望”,《电影评介》,2014年第16期(8月下)总第499期。
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为奴十二载帕特茜分析
没有什么比真实的生活来的更有力,而平白直述的方式则是对这种发人深省的故事的最好诠释。
每个能看到这部电影的人,几乎都出生在一个自由世界,或者冠以自由的世界。
于是,我们如何能看观影完,提出一个疑问“为什么,他不反抗,为什么他们不反抗”?
19世纪中旬的美国南方大陆,那些黑奴们,从祖辈就被贩卖到了庄园里,一代又一代的奴役与驯化,从肉体,从精神上的虐待。
他们也有上帝,不过那肤色是白色的,正如他们的命运掌握在他们的主人手里。
他不反抗,是因为他出生成长在北方的自由人,黑人里的上流阶级,受过高等教育,自由出入与白人上流的派对,在满是白人的高级餐厅里也能出人意表的表现自如。
他不反抗的原因,更是因为他相信制度,相信一张证明自己自由身的文件,可以证明他生而自由,而非如那些黑奴。
电影里从开头,他被人绑架,卖给蛇头,苦苦解释自己的自由身,惨遭毒打,镜头从他绝望的脸,上掠,监狱的围栏,红色的砖墙,直到凝固在远方的白宫,拷问这个许诺给予黑人平等的国家。
他想过逃跑,但是看到最逃脱念头的同伴被蛇头一刀刺死,逃跑的念头慢慢抑住。
而同伴的尸体,被抛入河里,漂在船动的水流里,隐喻了这代人或几代人的奴隶之路。
他被卖,被转卖,遇到还算善良的奴隶主,也遇到丧心病狂的奴隶主,却被最终来自国家之外的人解救。
被奴役的故事本来就已经是够学院级别的题材,而故事里纷繁的人物塑造,也着实更有这个故事的真实性奠了基础。
这三重的安排,想来也对应了百年黑人解放的漫长运动。
Ford先生对应了,善良的人可以一定程度上的保护弱者,却不一定能解救别人,且往往沦为别人的帮凶。
Epps,典型故事书里奴隶主形象的代表,恶,完全没有人性,没有一点点善念存在。
而对于恶人,反抗成功的例子更多也是在书里。
能帮助别人获得自由的人,也就是Bass先生,一个游历过美国,享受过自由滋味的人。
享受过爱才能予其与人。
说到主角为奴十二年的历程,Mcqueen的电影自然不像Django
那样快意恩仇。
当然昆丁电影里面竟是些戏剧冲突极大的变态奴隶主,黑人最后反抗胜利,杀光了仇人。
是,看的都挺大快人心地。
但是,请别忘了Django也是被牙医还了自由身,顺便教会了如何去反抗,才最终到达彼岸。
反观,我们的主角所罗门,在北方的时候,也不过是个自管自己自由身的人,若不是亲自被人贩卖到南方,体验了一把黑奴生活,估计历史里多么受磨难的经历,对他也不过是纸上的黑字与自己世界外的酒席谈资。
人的虚伪,只有生活的磨难才能撕下来,停歇片刻。
而他的变化,从当初在Ford庄园里,敢体现自己的才能,到被
领队挑衅且敢于反抗,到之后被卖到Epps手里,不敢怒也不敢言,甚至到最后遇到Bass先生,也是推诿之下,才肯相告自己的故事。
一系列的转变,并不如其他黑奴题材电影来的激荡人心,但是生活不就是这样么,温水煮青蛙,让人一直不停的适应温度,直至失去反抗能力,慢慢老死?
而最后的等待换来了自由,倒不是他如何去坚持些什么,而是遇到享受过自由的人也肯予人与自由的人,这更多是运气。
这不就是大多数人的人生么?失败者与成功者之间的差距,恐怕更多是差在运气。
坚持是因为你要活着,才能等到运气来的一天,获得自由的一天。
历史,是让人读完之后,不再去重复。
而这电影,这故事,则是在向人发问,“如何人可以如此凶狠与残酷地对待其他人?而解决这些对抗,暴力,虐待,歧视,问答只有一个。
正如曼德拉所说的,爱是通往自由之路的唯一方式。