12 Years a Slave

by Solomon Northup

12 Years a Slave: Foil 1 key example

Chapter 14
Explanation and Analysis—Ford and Epps:

As the two white men who enslave Solomon for the longest periods of time, Ford and Epps act as foils to each other, meaning their juxtaposition reveals aspects of each of their characters. For example, Ford is kind and sympathetic to the people he enslaves—treating them as if they were members of his family—whereas Epps is needlessly cruel and self-serving. He whips, tortures, and sexually abuses the people he enslaves. It is only because of Solomon’s initial positive experience with Ford that Solomon so acutely experiences Epps’s cruelty.