12 Years a Slave
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22
Themes
All Themes Racism and Slavery Truth and Justice Family Christianity The Power of Music
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Solomon Northup Edwin Epps Bass William Ford John Tibeats James Burch Henry B. Northup Patsey Mistress Epps Theophilus Freeman Eliza Berry Ebenezer Radburn Cephas Parker Emily Berry Arthur Lew Cheney
Symbols
All Symbols Free papers Chains Whip
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dialect Ethos Flashbacks Foil Foreshadowing Genre Hyperbole Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Motifs Pathos Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone Verbal Irony
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12 Years a Slave

by

Solomon Northup
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John Tibeats Character Analysis

Tibeats is the carpenter who buys Solomon from William Ford when Ford runs into financial troubles. A sharp contrast from the warm and tender Ford, Tibeats is a cruel and erratic master, frequently trying to harm or even kill Solomon despite the fact that Solomon is a hardworking and skillful craftsman. He eventually tries to hang Solomon, and almost succeeds, but he is stopped at gunpoint by an overseer named Chapin. Ultimately, Ford compels Tibeats sell Solomon, leading Tibeats to sell Solomon to the vicious Edwin Epps.

John Tibeats Quotes in 12 Years a Slave

The 12 Years a Slave quotes below are all either spoken by John Tibeats or refer to John Tibeats. 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:
Racism and Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

He was my master, entitled by law to my flesh and blood, and to exercise over me such tyrannical control as his mean nature prompted; but there was no law that could prevent my looking upon him with intense contempt.

Related Characters: Solomon Northup (speaker), John Tibeats
Racism and Slavery Theme Icon
Truth and Justice Theme Icon
Page Number: 72
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9 Quotes

I must toil day after day, endure abuse and taunts and scoffs, sleep on the hard ground, live on the coarsest fare, and not only this, but live the slave of a blood-seeking wretch, of whom I must stand henceforth in continued fear and dread. […] I sighed for liberty; but the bondman’s chain was round me, and could not be shaken off.

Related Characters: Solomon Northup (speaker), John Tibeats
Related Symbols: Chains
Racism and Slavery Theme Icon
Truth and Justice Theme Icon
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis:
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John Tibeats Quotes in 12 Years a Slave

The 12 Years a Slave quotes below are all either spoken by John Tibeats or refer to John Tibeats. 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:
Racism and Slavery Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

He was my master, entitled by law to my flesh and blood, and to exercise over me such tyrannical control as his mean nature prompted; but there was no law that could prevent my looking upon him with intense contempt.

Related Characters: Solomon Northup (speaker), John Tibeats
Racism and Slavery Theme Icon
Truth and Justice Theme Icon
Page Number: 72
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9 Quotes

I must toil day after day, endure abuse and taunts and scoffs, sleep on the hard ground, live on the coarsest fare, and not only this, but live the slave of a blood-seeking wretch, of whom I must stand henceforth in continued fear and dread. […] I sighed for liberty; but the bondman’s chain was round me, and could not be shaken off.

Related Characters: Solomon Northup (speaker), John Tibeats
Related Symbols: Chains
Racism and Slavery Theme Icon
Truth and Justice Theme Icon
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis:
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