The Importance Of Self-Discovery In Fiela's Child

In the novel Fiela’s Child by Dalene Matthee, one of the major characters Benjamin Komoetie is on a quest of self-discovery and through his experiences in three distinct settings he gains a clear understanding of who he truly is. The novel begins by briefly introducing us to Barnard’s Island and Long Kloof, then interchanges between describing general life in both places. Further into the novel we are introduced to the coast and Coney Glen, where life is completely different from the other two major locations. The only link amongst these three places is a young man, who is tied to each location for different reasons. Benjamin Komoetie openly struggles with his inability to ascertain his true roots, which would explain his strange adaptability

Due to the fact that Benjamin, a white child, has been discovered living with a black family and has unknowingly adopted their mannerisms. In the beginning although he knew “that he was his parent’s hand-child” (Matthee 8), he is neither bothered by this notion nor is he knowledgeable of the racial differences that manifested severe issues. Benjamin is integrated into daily life in the Kloof, partaking in the Komoeties’ unified chores, which further accentuates his undiluted sense of belonging. The Kloof is depicted as the perfect combination of the novel’s three major settings. Benjamin has a supportive and financially progressive family and access to a water source on which he can sail his boats, which he only realizes after temporarily residing in both the forest and the coastal region. After the peace-breakers’ invasion of Wolwekraal’s tranquillity, Benjamin becomes hungry for knowledge about his lineage and ruthlessly questions Fiela: “Ma, why is a person white or brown?”(Matthee 51), “Why are you all brown and I’m white?”(Matthee 52). Though the Kloof’s landscape is undesirable, the strength of the familial relationships is admirable even when permeated by long periods of doubt and anxiety-filled separation, as when Benjamin is removed to the