The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Twelve Years a Slave and what it means. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Dec 2, 2013 · In our historic culture of slavery, it was generations, time and the whip that reduced those heroes. For two hours covering twelve years, you watch a man … An Introduction to Whipping: A Study of Slavery and Violence where I was, hard at work. He seemed to be that morning even more morose and disagreeable than usual. By doing so, I propose that the film demonstrates how even something—or someone—innocent, clean of any stain of guilt, can be twisted With the whip, whites incite fear in their slaves and make them pliant, submissive, and obedient. The whip thus stands for the cruel and violent way in which slaves are treated by their owners.