Solomon Northup I will not fall into despair. I will keep myself hardy, till freedom is opportune!
Most-quoted character in 12 Years a Slave (2013): in 10 of its 18 quotes
Most scenes with: Edwin Epps (2), Clemens (2)
I apologize for my appearance. But I have had a difficult time these past several years.
More lines from Solomon Northup
1 quote Solomon Northup Scenes with Solomon Northup
8 scenes
Burch Well, my boy, how yah feel now?
Solomon Northup I am Solomon Northup. I am a free man; a resident of Saratoga, New York. The residence also of my wife and children who are equally free. I have papers. You have no right whatsoever to detain me...
Burch Yah not any...
Solomon Northup And I promise you - I promise - upon my liberation I will have satisfaction for this wrong.
Burch Resolve this. Produce your papers.
Burch [Solomon searches and finds no papers]
Yah no free man. And yah ain't from Saratoga. Yah from Georgia. Yah ain't a free man. Yah nuthin' but a Georgia runaway. Yah a runaway **** from Georgia.
Solomon Northup We need a sympathetic ear. If we have an opportunity to explain our situation...
Who in your estimation is that sympathetic ear?
Solomon Northup The two men I journeyed with. I'm certain they're making inquires at this very moment.
I would be just as certain they are counting the money paid for delivering you to this place.
Solomon Northup They were not kidnappers. They were artists. Fellow performers.
You know that? You know for certain who they were?
[Solomon cannot answer]
How I reckon the situation: whatever past we had... well, that's done now. The reality to come is us being transported southward. New Orleans if I were to venture. After we arrive, we'll be put to market. Beyond that... Well, once in a slave state I suppose there's only one outcome.
Robert I say we fight.
Solomon Northup The crew is fairly small. If it were well planned, I believe they could be strong armed.
Three can't stand against a whole crew. The rest here are ****, born and bred slaves. **** ain't got the stomach for a fight, not a damn one.
Robert All I know, we get where we traveling we'll wish we'd died trying.
Survival is not about certain death, it is about keeping your head down.
Solomon Northup Days ago I was with my family, in my home. Now you tell me all is lost. "Tell no one who I really am" if I want to survive. I don't want to survive, I want to live.
Ford
I believe Tibeats is skulkin' about the premises somewhere. He wants you dead, and he will attempt to have you so. It's no longer safe for you here. And I don't believe you will remain passive if Tibeats attacks. I have transferred my debt to Edwin Epps. He will take charge of you.
Solomon Northup Master Ford, you must know; I am not a slave.
Ford
I cannot hear that.
Solomon Northup Before I came to you I was a free man.
Ford
I am trying to save your life! And... I have a debt to be mindful of. That, now, is to Edwin Epps. He is a hard man. Prides himself on being a "**** breaker." But truthfully I could find no others who would have you. You've made a reputation of yourself. Whatever your circumstances, you are an exceptional ****, Platt. I fear no good will come of it.
Mary Epps
Where you from, Platt?
Solomon Northup I have told you.
Mary Epps
Tell me again.
Solomon Northup Washington.
Mary Epps
Who were your Master?
Solomon Northup Master name of Freeman.
Mary Epps
Was he a learned man?
Solomon Northup I suppose so.
Mary Epps
He learn you to read?
Solomon Northup A word here or there, but I have no understanding of the written text.
Mary Epps
Don't trouble yourself with it. Same as the rest, Master bought you to work, that's all. Any more'll earn you a hundred lashes.
Solomon Northup [Solomon awakens Armsby in the middle of the night. He offers him a handful of coins]
The proceeds of my fiddling performances. A few picayunes, but all I have in the world. I promise them to you if you will do me the favor I require. But I beg you not to expose me if you cannot grant the request.
Armsby What do you ask?
Solomon Northup First, your word, sir.
Armsby On my honor.
Solomon Northup It is a simple enough request. I ask only that you deposit a letter in the Marksville post office. And that you keep the action an inviolable secret forever. The details of the letter are of no consequence. Even at that, there would be an imposition of much pain and suffering were it known I was the author. A patron is what I require, sir.
Armsby Where is the letter now?
Solomon Northup It is not yet written. I will have it in a day. Two at most, my skill with composition as poor as it is.
Armsby I will do it. And will accept whatever payment is offered.
[Having awakened Solomon in the middle of the night, Epps coaxes him outside, puts his arm around him as if consoling a friend, and guides him into the woods]
Well, boy. I understand I've got a larned **** that writes letters and tries to get white fellows to mail 'em. Well, Armsby tol' me today the devil was among my ****. That I had one that needed close watchin' or he would run away. When I axed him why, he said you come over to him and waked him up in the middle of the night and wanted him to carry a letter to Marksville. What have yah got to say to that?
Solomon Northup There is no truth in it.
You say.
Solomon Northup How could I write a letter without ink or paper? There is nobody I want to write to 'cause I hain't got no friends living as I know of. That Armsby is a lying drunken fellow. You know this, just as you know that I am constant in truth. Now, master, I can see what that Armsby is after, plain enough. Didn't he want you to hire him for an overseer? That's it. He wants to make you believe we're all going to run away and then he thinks you'll hire an overseer to watch us. He believes you are soft soap. He's given to such talk. I believe he's just made this story out of whole cloth, 'cause he wants to get a situation. It's all a lie, master, you may depend on't. It's all a lie.
[reveals a pocket knife he'd had pressed against Solomon's gut the entire time]
Well I'll be damned... Were he not free and white, Platt. Were he not free and white.
Solomon Northup [Epps has just whipped Patsey within an inch of her life]
Thou devil! Sooner or later, somewhere in the course of eternal justice thou shalt answer for this sin!
No sin! There is no sin! A man does how he pleases with his property. At the moment, Platt, I am of great pleasure. You be goddamn careful I don't come to wantin' to lightenin' my mood no further.
