Twelve Years as a Slave

In the movie Twelve Years as A Slave, Violence plays a role which render Solomon Northup’s transformation from a free man to a slave. Some forms of violence that takes place are beating, hanging, and whipping. In the movie, while Solomon is kidnapped to a slave pen by Brown and Hamilton, A slave trader whipping Solomon to force him to accept his new status as a runaway slave from Georgia. Later, the slave trader give Solomon a new name- Platt. Another scene in the movie, when Solomon was working under Mr. Ford, Tibeats a white plantation worker, who jealous about Solomon’s talents decides to give Solomon a lesson. He beats Solomon because he wants Solomon to understand that he is just a slave, he has to follow Tibeats’ orders. However, Solomon fight back. Later, Tibeats lead two other white workers to hang Solomon. Fortunately, Solomon survives by standing on his toe. The slave trader and Tibeats both want Solomon to know that he is a slave not a free man. However, Solomon never give up to restore his freedom. He meet a Canadian laborer named Samuel Bass and reveals his story to Bass. Solomon asks Bass to send a letter to Saratoga. Bass agrees to help Solomon. One day, Solomon is called over by the local sheriff, after asking several questions, the sheriff confirm Solomon is a free man from New York. Solomon finally go back to his home after twelve years.

The gangs of New York tells a violent story. Violence is the central theme of this film shows the conflict between Nativists and Irish Immigrants, the poor people against the draft policy, and Amsterdam’s decision to revenge his father. In the film, the Nativists lead by Bill Cutting and the Irish immigrants lead by Priest Vallon fight a bloody battles against each other. Cutting kills Priest Vallon in this battle and the Nativists dominates the Five Points. Cutting uses violence to oppress these Irish immigrants, hope the Irish immigrants will leave the America because in his view, they are not Americans. However, each week, there are thousands of Irish immigrants arrive to the New York City. In the movie, the poor people against the draft policy because they are angry about that the rich people can pay $300 to avoid the draft. They don’t want to risk their lives to fight for African American’s freedom. Eventually, they start the Draft Riot, hope to force the government stop the draft policy or send the rich people to the war together with poor people. Many upper-class people and African American are attack by these rioters. However, the Riot fail because the Union soldiers open fire to these rioters. At the same time, Priest’s son Amsterdam gather his men, decides to kills Bill Cutting and revenge for his father. In the end of the movie, Amsterdam kill Bill Cutting.