Under these circumstances they knew that they had to survive, and the only way to do that was by working under the harsh conditions that the plantation owners had instituted. The lack of choice is visible everywhere in the film. The workers must slave day in and day out on the plantations because their only other choice is to starve. They could try to escape but many attempts are unsuccessful and they end up being killed. I do not think so.
Death occurs in every instance.
They either act as the violent enforcers or they too will be working on the plantations or starving to death, as outside forces could probably easily be brought in to replace them. One can see how it will take time to adjust to, as it doesn't seem to be an ideal way of life either-although better than being at gun point day in and day out. Again, however, still not much of a choice. The only way to break free of these horrible conditions, and this apparent terrible system, would have been if they could have broken the power and apparent monopoly of the plantation owners. Or perhaps they could have broken free if they could somehow have loosened the control of the owners over the enforcers, and in turn the workers, that was necessary to maintain feudalism.