The masters and their slaves
In the first chapter, Solomon talks briefly about his life and how he planned to earn enough money to buy himself and his wife a suitable home. During his time as a free man, he often saw black slaves with their masters. The image of the slaves is important for Solomon because it made him realize that while he has the opportunity to be free, other black people do not have that same ability. This image also contrasts with Solomon's imminent enslavement.
The Slave Pen
After being captured, Solomon describes the building he is held in. From the inside, the building looks extremely grim, with small rooms, steel doors, and bars at every window. From the outside, however, the building looks completely normal, the people passing by having no idea what is happening inside it. The image of the building is important because it shows that in a similar way, American society ignores the reality of the inhumanities, indignities, and immorality of Slavery.
Master and Slave
Another important image is that of Solomon walking alongside Ford while Ford rides on a horse. The image is important because it shows the difference between a slave and his master. While a master can ride a horse and do everything he wants to make his life easier (such as avoiding the extreme heat of the day), the same cannot be said about a slave who has to walk and do everything without the help of any type of convenience.
The Swamp
Solomon's description of the swamp when he runs away is mesmerizing in its strange, terrifying beauty. Here slaveowners and dogs cannot come, but snakes and alligators are legion. The trees are tall and dense, the water fetid. The wildlife is at times silent, snd at other times cacophonous. This image reveals the new dangers Solomon (and all runaways in the area) must endure, reminding readers that it is not just the world of men that is perilous.
