The United States of America was founded upon the basic principles of freedom, entitling every man to equivalent rights. “All men are created equal” is a powerful phrase echoed in a young American constitution. Although this constitution promised individuals a uniform set of liberties, an entire race of people were brushed aside. African Americans were rejected the undeniable right of freedom and thrown into slavery, solely based on the color of their skin. Slavery during the pre-Civil War era divided society into two groups, one that sought after the permanence of slavery, and the other trying to destroy its very existence. Many individuals were caught between which sides they believed in. Michael [C.] White’s novel Soul Catcher portrays the struggle of a southerner whose profession is to capture runaway slaves. Cain, the main protagonist, has excessive pride in the south, which binds his judgment at times. He is forced to track down a particular slave girl that is of high value to a wealthy slave owner. After recovering the runaway slave in Boston, Cain is set on a path, which ultimately alters his perception of society and its establishment of slavery. This occurs due to the exposure and amount of time Cain is required to endure with her. There were three distinct influences that determined the emotional and spiritual development of the protagonist, Cain: the slave girl Rosetta, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and the slave catchers/black birders. Rosetta acts as Cain’s conscience, Milton’s Paradise Lost serves as his spiritual reading, and the slave catchers/black birders become a motive, which drives Cain to protect Rosetta; of all which reflect the novel’s realistic and historical portrayal of a society struggling with divisions among its citizens