12 years a slave

Northup does not depict slaves as mindless cogs in the machine of plantation slavery: rather, they are alive and unique. They may vary in terms of their intellect and personality, but they understand their conditions, desire freedom, and seek to make their lives as meaningful as possible even when their autonomy is limited in all respects. They form relationships, make a little money on the side, rebel and/or try to escape, play music, dance, share stories, and ultimately reveal their humanity. This allows his work to resonate with readers in that they can recognize the "characters" as authentic human beings.