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Edwin Epps
Bass is a kind-hearted white carpenter from Canada who works on a construction project for Edwin Epps. This makes it possible for him to befriend Solomon, as Solomon has skills in carpentry, and the two work side by side. Bass and Solomon quickly form a tight-knight, secret friendship due to Bass’ abolitionist spirit, outspoken opinions, and his deep empathy for the injustice of Solomon’s situation. Bass is pivotal in securing Solomon’s freedom, as he sends several risky letters to Solomon’s contacts in New York, including Judge Marvin, Perry and Parker, and the Collector of Customs at New York. Bass, who has no family of his own, remains unblinkingly loyal and loving to Solomon and dedicates months of his life to helping him.
Bass Quotes in 12 Years a Slave
The 12 Years a Slave quotes below are all either spoken by Bass or refer to Bass. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 19
Quotes
If they are baboons, or stand no higher in the scale of intelligence than such animals, you and men like you will have to answer for it. There’s a sin, a fearful sin, resting on this nation, that will not go unpunished forever. There will be a reckoning yet—yes, Epps, there’s a day coming that will burn as an oven. It may be sooner or it may be later, but it’s a coming as sure as the Lord is just.
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He spoke of himself in a somewhat mournful tone, as a lonely man, a wanderer about the world—that he was growing old, and must soon reach the end of his earthly journey, and lie down to his final rest without kith or kin to mourn for him, or to remember him—that his life was of little value to himself, and henceforth should be devoted to the accomplishment of my liberty, and to an unceasing warfare against the accursed shame of Slavery.
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Chapter 21
Quotes
The secret was out—the mystery was unraveled. Through the thick, black cloud, amid whose dark and dismal shadows I had walked twelve years, broke the star that was to light me back to liberty.
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Bass Quotes in 12 Years a Slave
The 12 Years a Slave quotes below are all either spoken by Bass or refer to Bass. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 19
Quotes
If they are baboons, or stand no higher in the scale of intelligence than such animals, you and men like you will have to answer for it. There’s a sin, a fearful sin, resting on this nation, that will not go unpunished forever. There will be a reckoning yet—yes, Epps, there’s a day coming that will burn as an oven. It may be sooner or it may be later, but it’s a coming as sure as the Lord is just.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
He spoke of himself in a somewhat mournful tone, as a lonely man, a wanderer about the world—that he was growing old, and must soon reach the end of his earthly journey, and lie down to his final rest without kith or kin to mourn for him, or to remember him—that his life was of little value to himself, and henceforth should be devoted to the accomplishment of my liberty, and to an unceasing warfare against the accursed shame of Slavery.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21
Quotes
The secret was out—the mystery was unraveled. Through the thick, black cloud, amid whose dark and dismal shadows I had walked twelve years, broke the star that was to light me back to liberty.
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Page Number and Citation:
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