This novel showed how enslaved women had to fight to preserve their purity; a right that was viewed as an object that could be taken and controlled by the master or plantation owner. African American women were then reduced to using their bodies in an attempt to negotiate their freedom or improve the quality of treatment that they received. Not all women were able to escape the physical abuse that came with the cost of their beauty. Society had deemed it acceptable for owners to take advantage of their “property”; however that did not lessen the envy that emerged in the hearts of mistreated mistresses. In the book Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup a simple-minded slave woman named Patsey was constantly beaten for her mistress’ jealousy. Patsey was also a valuable asset to Master Epps because she could bring in more cotton then most men. Whereas on an ordinary day an average male slave would bring in two hundred pounds of cotton, Patsey could bring in almost five hundred pounds of cotton. Since she brought more profit to the Epps than two slaves, trading or selling her was unthinkable. However her strength was a blessing and a curse. If she did not bring in almost five hundred pounds daily her actions were seen as lax and she was beaten. Patsey was a slim, tall, and attractive slave who gained the attention of her lustful master, Mr. Epps. However, due to Master Epps indiscretions his wife looked upon Patsey with disgust and contempt. As a woman Mistress Epps possessed very little authority, but at her insistence Master Epps would beat Patsey to pacifier her anger. Although at times Mistress Epps would direct her rage toward Master Epps, those periods were short lived and few and far between. Patsey was a woman trapped between lust and hate. This novel portrayed how some enslaved