Characterizationoffiela

The Characterization of Fiela in Fiela's Child In Fiela's Child, Dalene Matthee, through the use of imagery, repetition, and religion in this passage, characterizes Fiela as a very polar being. The passage begins with “Sheer hatred came up in her”, which establishes her vengeance towards the woman, and “the woman without a face” creates a sense that she does not see the humanity, the expressions, the feelings of the woman, also displayed in her hatred of the Laghaans, despite her husband murdering one of them, she still can not see them as human or sympathize with them, people are either with Fiela, or against her. “Wood cutter's woman... white woman” establishes the sense of otherness, as she repetitively defines the woman by her outside appearance, creates a disdain for outsiders and their lack of humanity. In the repetition of “Had she ..”, it is established that she has a motherly side, a very protective and loving side, but the repetition establishes her anger and frustration at the woman. The polarity is displayed here through the intense love and care of a mother, and the intense anger that she must be separated from her son by an unknown woman. Fiela asks “God, how could this happen?”. This displays her sense that god is in control, and her belief that god is supposed to be in line with her goals and aspirations. Fiela's polarity is evoked by her arrogant portrayal of outsiders and those she dislikes as flat, her intertwined love and hatred, and her seeming grasp upon god.