Dawid is the eldest son of Fiela and Selling. After Fiela adopts Benjamin, Dawid becomes one of his closest companions growing up. When the census-takers come to take Benjamin away, Benjamin regrets not listening to Dawid’s advice to run away. Dawid grows up to be a well-loved member of the local community. Later, Dawid inadvertently plays a key role in bringing Benjamin back to Fiela—when news of Dawid’s early death reaches Benjamin, it motivates him to return to Wolwekraal, finally abandoning his identity as Lukas.
Dawid Quotes in Fiela’s Child
The Fiela’s Child quotes below are all either spoken by Dawid or refer to Dawid. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 9
Quotes
It was late when they got home. His mother took one look at the egg, took down the strap from behind the door and beat their backsides well for them.
The next day she baked a sugar-cake with the egg.
Related Characters:
Dawid, Benjamin, Fiela, The Magistrate
Related Symbols:
Ostriches
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21
Quotes
She had to give up Benjamin to the forest people, Dawid to the grave. There was little difference in the bitterness within her. The question she put to God was the same: Why, God, why?
Related Characters:
Fiela, Benjamin, Dawid, Selling, The Magistrate
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Fiela’s Child LitChart as a printable PDF.
Dawid Character Timeline in Fiela’s Child
The timeline below shows where the character Dawid appears in Fiela’s Child. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
...fed by hand. He lives on a property in Wolwekraal in the Long Kloof with Dawid, Tollie, Kittie, and Emma.
(full context)
Chapter 3
...begin asking questions about her children. Kittie, their first child was born in 1856, then Dawid in 1857, Tollie in 1858, and Emma in 1860. Finally, after hesitating Fiela says Benjamin,...
(full context)
Chapter 6
...tells him about the trial but promises that he’ll be back on Saturday. Fiela sends Dawid out to get Benjamin some new shirts. As they prepare that evening for Benjamin to...
(full context)
Chapter 7
...say there’s only one way to get down a mountain. Benjamin wishes he'd listened to Dawid, who told him to run away.
(full context)
Chapter 9
...that Pollie has laid an egg without him. He remembers a day when he and Dawid went out to watch wild ostriches. They found the nest, and Benjamin tried to convince...
(full context)
Dawid grabbed the ostrich egg and gave it to Benjamin, but just then, Dawid shouted that...
(full context)
...if they’ve forgotten about him. He considers running away, but he’d need his things, including Dawid’s coat, which are stored in a box in another room. At last, the magistrate, a...
(full context)
Chapter 18
...off his possessions. Benjamin has lots of questions and figures out that it seems like Dawid was also with her when she came. Benjamin wants to chase after them, but Elias...
(full context)
Chapter 21
On April 2, 1881, Fiela buries Dawid at Wolwekraal. Petrus comes up to make a speech at the funeral—Dawid was so popular...
(full context)
Dawid loved the land while he was alive. Fiela’s other children have done their own things,...
(full context)
Dawid used to believe Benjamin would come back one day, even when Fiela herself had doubts....
(full context)
Chapter 25
...a man from Petrus was looking for “Benjamin Komoetie” to tell him that his brother Dawid has died. The news shocks Benjamin.
(full context)
Chapter 27
...his doctors have recommended regular exercise. Selling hasn’t wanted to do much of anything since Dawid’s death. Fiela wonders if God meant to punish someone else and hit her family by...
(full context)
Fiela is determined not to sell her property. After Dawid’s death, she has to hire two new men to help. She looks at her ostrich...
(full context)
...but everyone is happy to see him. Benjamin is exhausted and goes to sleep on Dawid’s bed. That night Fiela goes out to thank God.
(full context)
