Good example of 12 years a slave vs. uncle tom's cabin essay

Compare and contrast ” 12 years a slave” (the movie) with Uncle Tom’s Cabin ( The story). This needs to be an argumentative paper with a clearly stated thesis supported by appropriate examples.
‘ Twelve Years a Slave’ is an excellent film portraying the trials and tribulations of Solomon Northrup who is a free negro living in New York but who is eventually abducted to go an live in Louisiana as a slave. Although there are similarities with Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the story takes a slightly different turn and we get to observe the intricate goings on between the inherent racism of the whites in Louisiana and the relative benevolence of their masters. In ‘ Uncle Tom Cabin’, Harriet Beecher Stowe is at pains to point out the difference between certain masters whilst music also plays a common theme with Solomon Northrup himself receiving a violin as a present from his master for his musical skills.
The abduction of slaves seems to be a common theme in both the film and the novel as is the physical abuse, Northrup observes at close quarters what happens when some slaves do not perform up to their master’s wishes and it is often the lash which talks in a horrifying and most brutal way. The lynching attempt when Tibeats who is a carpenter (and who is deeply resentful of Northrup for his closeness with his master) gears up his pent up hatred to wreak violence on the negroe is also personified in other characters such as the overseer who maltreats Tom on a regular basis in a brutal manner. Other parallels include the similarities in the slave markets as well as the auctions which demonstrate the wanton brutality and inhumanity that is present at these auctions.
Both slaves are sold to cruel masters at some point and they both try to run away, however the only difference is that Solomon Northrup is actually a free man while Tom is not. The horrifying conditions of the slaves in Louisiana and Mississippi confirm the fact that the Deep South is not a good place for those negroes who wish to survive and these eventually plan to run away. Music is also an important leitmotif for the slaves, in both the film and the book, this is used as a soothing element especially when slaves are beaten.
The trials and tribulations faced by slaves are also important and crucial parts of both ‘ Twelve Years a Slave’ and ‘ Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. In the former we observe the proud dignity of Solomon Northrup who although being a free man has ended up a slave and his fight for freedom is distinguished and full of spiritual desire. On the other hand, Tom who is quiet and reserved goes along with his master’s wishes to sell him. The older generation of slaves accepted their lot with some alacrity whilst the younger generation are more scatterbrain and defiant in their attitudes.
Superstition also plays an important part in the book and the film. In fact the outbreak of worm in the cotton fields owned by Northrup’s new master is also mirrored in the plague sent to the fields of the plantations in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The moral issues are also prevalent throughout the movie and the book with children playing an important part in bringing a relative innocence to proceedings. Solomon Northrup and uncle Tom are different characters but both have suffered greatly and are to face the future with foreboding after which they will eventually gain their freedom.