The theme of fate worse than death in 12 Years a Slave parallels stagecoach. Patsey, in the film, was prepared to let Northup take his own life rather than be left at the mercy of the Epps. Likewise, in the stagecoach, Mr. Hatfield was ready to shoot Mrs. Mallory to protect her from the fate that would await her at the hands of the Native Americans. Also similar to the protagonist of the film The Counterfeiters, Solomon's mindset was that of what is necessary to survive. This mentality was verbalized in the film during an argument with Eliza. Northup was willing to help Ford and the other slaves be more productive in their work habits by implementing a new way of transporting lumber instead of overland. Comparably, Salomon Sorowitsch also aided those who had imprisoned him by producing counterfeit money to assist in the German War