Twelve Years a Slave · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.
Solomon Northup
major
Also known as Solomon, Northup, Sol, Solomon Northup Staunton, said Solomon, said Solomon Northup
A free black man kidnapped into slavery; the narrator and protagonist.
Master Tibeats
supporting
Also known as Tibeats, Mr. Tibeats, carpenter Tibeats, John M. Tibeats, John
A cruel carpenter and slaveholder who torments Solomon.
Elizabeth
supporting
Also known as Eliza
A slave woman separated from her children; a fellow captive.
Bass
supporting
Also known as Master Bass, Mr. Bass, XX Bass
A Canadian carpenter who helps Solomon regain his freedom.
Master Epps
major
Also known as Epps, Young Master Epps, Edwin Epps, old Epps, said Edwin Epps, Massa Epps
A brutal plantation owner who holds Solomon for years.
Patsey
major
Also known as unfortunate Patsey, Poor Patsey, tortured Patsey
A slave woman repeatedly abused by Master Epps; a central figure.
James H. Burch
supporting
Also known as Burch, H. Burch, Jim, Master Burch
A slave trader who purchases and beats Solomon in Washington.
Wiley
minor
Also known as poor Wiley
A fellow slave on Epps' plantation; often suffers alongside others.
Platt
major
Also known as Poor Platt, Platt Ford, Ford, Platt Epps
Solomon's slave name; used as an alias throughout his enslavement.
Henry B. Northup
supporting
Also known as Mr. Northup, Northup, Henry, Harry, Henry B., Mr. Henry B. Northup
Solomon's white friend and lawyer who secures his release.
Mistress Epps
supporting
Also known as Epps, Mrs. Epps
Master Epps' jealous and cruel wife.
Theophilus Freeman
supporting
Also known as Freeman, Mr. Theophilus Freeman, Theophilus
A slave trader in New Orleans who sells Solomon.
Master Ford
supporting
Also known as Ford, Mr. Ford, William Ford
Solomon's first kind master in Louisiana.
Little Emily
minor
Also known as Emily, little Emmy, Emmy
Eliza's young daughter, sold away from her mother.
Uncle Abram
minor
Also known as Abram, uncle Abram, venerable Uncle Abram
An elderly slave on Epps' plantation.
Peter
minor
Also known as Peter Tanner, Tanner, old Peter Tanner
A free black man who assists in Solomon's rescue.
Shaw
minor
A slave driver on Epps' plantation.
Mintus Northup
minor
Also known as Mintus, said Mintus Northup, said Mintus
Solomon's father, a free black man.
Overseer Chapin
minor
Also known as Chapin, a Mr. Chapin
An overseer on Ford's plantation.
Anne Hampton
supporting
Also known as Anne, said Anne Hampton
Solomon's wife, who remains free in New York.
Aunt Phebe
minor
Also known as Phebe
An elderly slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Celeste
minor
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Mr. Avery
minor
Also known as Avery
A neighbor and friend of the Epps family.
Arthur
minor
A slave on a neighboring plantation.
Bob
minor
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Sam
minor
Also known as Sam Roberts, Samuel
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Mr. Waddill
minor
Also known as Waddill, young Waddill, lawyer Waddill
A lawyer who assists in legal matters for Epps.
Clem Ray
minor
Also known as Clem, Rachel, Clemens Ray, Ray
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Lawson
minor
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Mr. Eldret
minor
Also known as Eldret
A slaveholder who hires Solomon for a time.
Armsby
minor
Also known as that Armsby
A white man who betrays Solomon's escape plan.
Robert
minor
Also known as Lambert
A slave on a neighboring plantation.
Ebenezer Radburn
minor
Also known as Radburn
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Mr. Marshall
minor
Also known as Marshall
A neighbor of Epps.
Mary
minor
Also known as Miss Mary McCoy, McCoy, young Mistress McCoy
A young woman on a neighboring plantation.
Mrs. Chapin
minor
Also known as Chapin
Wife of Overseer Chapin.
Carey
minor
Also known as Henry, Harry Carey
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Benjamin O. Shekels
minor
Also known as Benjamin, Shekels
A slave trader involved in Solomon's transport.
Augustus
minor
Also known as August
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Randall
minor
Eliza's young son, sold away from her.
Lethe
minor
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Margaret
minor
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Elisha Berry
minor
Also known as Berry, old Elisha Berry
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Sally
minor
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
James Buford
minor
Also known as Buford, Jim
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Anne Northup
minor
Also known as Ann Northup
Solomon's daughter.
Williams
minor
Also known as John Williams
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Lew Cheney
minor
Also known as Lew
A slave trader who kidnaps Solomon.
Taydem
minor
Also known as Adam Taydem, Adam
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Kentucky John
minor
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Manning
minor
Also known as John Manning, John
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Walton
minor
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Timothy Eddy
minor
Also known as Edward
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Abram Hamilton
minor
Also known as Hamilton
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Myers
minor
A slave trader who transports Solomon.
Uncle Tom
minor
Also known as Tom
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Mr. William Perry
minor
Also known as William, William Perry, Perry
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Merrill Brown
minor
Also known as Brown
One of the men who kidnaps Solomon.
Nelly
minor
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Pete Marshall
minor
Also known as Marshall
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Rose
minor
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Miss Lively
minor
Also known as Lively
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Mr. Jacob Brooks
minor
Also known as Mr. Brooks, Jacob Brooks
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Mr. Goodin
minor
Also known as Goodin
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Maria
minor
A slave woman on Epps' plantation.
Joseph
minor
Also known as Joseph B. Roberts, Joseph B., Roberts
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Alonzo
minor
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Mistress Ford
minor
Wife of Master Ford.
John Gilpin
minor
Also known as John
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Messrs. Parker
minor
Also known as Parker
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
David McEachron
minor
Also known as David
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Judge Turner
minor
Also known as Turner
A judge who hears Solomon's case.
Mr. O'Niel
minor
Also known as O'Niel
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Charles Hughes
minor
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
William Hampton
minor
Also known as said William Hampton
Anne Hampton's father.
Mr. Cephas Parker
minor
Also known as Cephas Parker, Parker
A lawyer who assists in Solomon's rescue.
Mr. Martin
minor
Also known as Martin
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
John David Cheney
minor
Also known as Cheney
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Jim Burns
minor
A slave on Epps' plantation.
Mr. Roberts
minor
Also known as Roberts
A slaveholder who hires Solomon.
Joseph H. Bradley
minor
Also known as Joseph
A lawyer who assists in Solomon's rescue.
