12 Years a Slave Characters

Brown is one of the two men (along with Abram Hamilton) who convince Solomon to travel with them from New York to Washington D.C. to take part in their circus. Brown and Hamilton betray Solomon by drugging him, beating him, stealing his free papers, and selling him into slavery.

Hamilton, with help from his accomplice, Brown, convinces Solomon to travel from New York to Washington D.C. to play fiddle in the circus with which the men are connected. Once in Washington D.C., Hamilton and Brown drug Solomon, steal his free papers, and sell him into slavery.

Perry, an old friend of Solomon, is one of the men that Bass writes to in order to rescue Solomon from slavery. Perry and his business partner, Cephas Parker, are able to forward the letter on to Solomon’s family, setting the ball in motion for Solomon’s rescue.

Armsby is an impoverished white man who works for Edwin Epps. Armsby proves himself untrustworthy and deceitful when Solomon asks Armsby mail a letter for him, and Armsby agrees, feigning secrecy. Armsby immediately betrays Solomon by telling Epps.

Chapin is the kind overseer at Ford’s Bayou Beouf plantation. He intervenes when John Tibeats and his accomplices try to hang Solomon.

Waddill is a Louisiana lawyer who helps his brother, Young Waddill, and Henry B. Northup find and rescue Solomon from slavery.

Young Waddill, the brother of John P. Waddill, helps Henry B. Northup rescue Solomon from slavery.

Anne is Solomon’s wife and the mother to Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo. She is a hard worker and known as an excellent cook.

Elizabeth is the eldest child of Anne and Solomon’s three children. She is the sister of Margaret and Alonzo.

Margaret is the middle child of Anne and Solomon and later is the mother of Solomon Northup Staunton. She is the sister of Elizabeth and Alonzo.

Alonzo is the son of Anne and Solomon, as well as the brother of Elizabeth and Margaret. Once he is old enough, he goes west in order to save enough money to purchase his father’s freedom.

Edwin Epps’ son is between the ages of ten and twelve. His behavior is violent and inhumane, just like that of his father. He sees slaves as nothing more than animals.

Randall is Eliza Berry’s young son and Emily’s brother. He is quickly separated from the both of them but is too young to understand the gravity of his situation as a slave and his separation from his family. Eliza never sees him again.

Abram is one of Edwin Epps’ slaves. At sixty years old, Abram is a sweet, aging man who acts like a father to the other slaves. Epps treats him and a slave girl named Patsey with particular violence.

Manning is the empathetic sailor that befriends Solomon aboard the ship headed for New Orleans. He risks his safety to help Solomon write and send a letter to Henry B. Northup.

Tanner is William Ford’s brother-in-law, whom John Tibeats hires Solomon out to. Like Ford, Tanner is a devout Christian, though he uses the Bible to support racism and scare his slaves.

Phebe, also called Aunt Phebe, is one of the slaves that works in Edwin Epps’ home. She is married to Wiley and is the mother of Edward, Bob, and Henry. Phebe is a chatty woman, known for being a gossip and eavesdropping as she works in the house.

Wiley, one of Edwin Epps’ slaves, is Phebe’s husband and Edward’s father. He is forty-eight years old and has a quiet, solemn temperament. Wiley tries to run away but is captured by white patrollers and returned to Epps three weeks later, earning Wiley violent punishment.

Robert is one of the slaves on the slave ship whom Solomon befriends. Robert, Solomon, and Arthur make a detailed plan for their escape off the ship, but the plan is never put into action because Robert falls sick with smallpox and dies.

Celeste is a runaway slave from a plantation nearby that of Edwin Epps. She turns to Solomon for food, and he helps her stay alive for many months. She has fairer skin than her master.

Mistress Ford is William Ford’s gentle, kind wife whom Solomon loves and respects.

One of the slaves Solomon meets while imprisoned in Williams’ Slave Pen, overseen by James Burch.

The thirteen-year-old son of Wiley and Phebe who works in Edwin Epps’ household serving Epps’ children.

One of Edwin Epps’ slaves and Phebe’s twenty-year-old son from an earlier marriage.

One of Edwin Epps’ slaves and Phebe’s twenty-three-year-old son from an earlier marriage.

A close friend of Patsey and the black wife of a dishonest white gambler.

One of the men to whom Bass writes a letter in an attempt to rescue Solomon from slavery.

A slave trader who acts as a false witness for Burch when Solomon brings Burch to court.

One of James Burch’s false witness when Solomon brings Burch to court.

One of the slaves that Solomon meets while in Williams’ Slave Pen, overseen by James Burch.

A white man who works as a foreman for William Ford.

A dignified man for whom Solomon briefly harvests sugar cane.

Solomon’s father, who was born a slave but earned his freedom when his master died.

The slave trader in Richmond, Virginia, whose complexion is as dark as his slaves’.

One of Chapin’s slaves at Bayou Boeuf.

The nice man that Solomon is hired out to by Tibeats to chop lumber.

The murderous man who lives at a plantation near Epps, at one point challenging Epps to a duel. Marshall is well-respected for having killed another man, according to Solomon.

Margaret Northup’s son and Anne and Solomon’s grandson.