# Chapter XVIII explained — Twelve Years a Slave > Chapter companion for Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup. ## What happens Solomon recounts the brutal and capricious nature of Master Epps, who views slaves as mere animals. After overhearing Solomon express a wish to be sold to a tanner named O'Niel, Epps flogs him as a 'lesson in tanning.' Solomon also describes the stabbing of Uncle Abram by a drunken Epps. The chapter culminates in the horrific whipping of Patsey, whom Epps suspects of visiting the profligate Shaw. Despite her pleas and explanation that she only went to get soap from Shaw's wife Harriet, Epps orders Solomon to tie her to stakes and lash her, a scene of unimaginable cruelty. ## Themes in this chapter ### Brutality and Dehumanization Epps' view of slaves as animals and the savage flogging of Patsey exemplify the dehumanizing violence of slavery. ### Injustice of Slavery Solomon is punished for merely expressing a desire to leave, and Patsey is brutally whipped for a harmless visit, showing the complete lack of justice. ### Resilience and Hope Despite the horrors, Patsey's defiance in maintaining her innocence and Solomon's efforts to protect her reflect enduring resilience. ## Character check-ins ### Master Epps Displays his cruel and irrational nature, flogging Solomon for wanting to leave and stabbing Uncle Abram in a drunken rage. His jealousy toward Patsey leads to a horrific whipping. ### Solomon Northup Forced to endure a flogging for expressing a wish to be sold, and later compelled to whip Patsey under Epps' orders, highlighting his powerlessness. ### Patsey Suffers the most brutal whipping in the chapter, tied naked to stakes and lashed for visiting Harriet at Shaw's, despite her innocent explanation. ### Uncle Abram A kind and faithful old man who is stabbed in the back by a drunken Epps for a minor mistake, showing the random violence slaves endure. ### Aunt Phebe Overhears the conversation about Solomon's potential sale and relays it, inadvertently leading to his flogging. ### Mistress Epps Sews up Uncle Abram's wound and censures her husband, yet her jealousy contributes to Patsey's misery. ## Key lines > He looked upon the black man simply as an animal, differing in no respect from any other animal, save in the gift of speech and the possession of somewhat higher instincts, and, therefore, the more valuable. Epps considered black people no different from beasts, except that their ability to speak and think made them more useful. _Solomon reflects on the dehumanizing ideology that justified the cruelty of slaveholders._ > How do you like tanning ? he exclaimed, as the rawhide descended upon my flesh. How do you like tanning ? he repeated at every blow. Epps mocked Solomon by asking how he liked 'tanning' as he whipped him, turning the punishment into a cruel joke. _Epps punishes Solomon for expressing interest in working for a tanner, using the word 'tanning' as a double entendre for the flogging._ > The most cruel whipping that ever I was doomed to witness⁠—one I can never recall with any other emotion than that of horror⁠—was inflicted on the unfortunate Patsey. The worst beating Solomon ever saw was the one given to Patsey, a memory that still fills him with horror. _Solomon introduces the horrific flogging of Patsey, emphasizing its lasting impact on him._ > Ropes were then brought, and the naked girl was laid upon her face, her wrists and feet each tied firmly to a stake. Stepping to the piazza, he took down a heavy whip, and placing it in my hands, commanded me to lash her. Patsey was stripped, tied spread-eagled to stakes, and Solomon was forced to whip her by Epps. _The graphic description of Patsey's binding and Solomon's forced participation underscores the brutality and moral horror of the scene._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/chapters/xviii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/twelve_years_a_slave_se/chapters