Reef by Romesh Gunesekera is a coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of Sri Lanka's political coup in 1971. This first-person narrative marks the coming of age of a young protagonist name Triton. Who at the age of eleven was sent to Mr. Salgado's house to work as a servant. “I was trapped in what I could see, what I could hear, what I could walk towards without straying from my undefined boundaries” (Gunesekera 53). Conforming to his surroundings, Triton has limited knowledge and understanding of what happens outside Mr. Salgado's house. He is almost unaware of the political turmoil that was ruining the paradise island. However, regardless of religion, background, boundaries or class, no one remains a teenager forever. Life's challenges offer the opportunity to find your place in the world. In the chapter “Thousand Fingers” the reader sees a changed Triton; we can see the transition from a naive boy to a wise man. He goes through a series of mental realizations about himself and his country. ''Something in the air has infected me too” (Gunesekera 153), indicates that he is aware of the emerging revolution. A new era moves into what marks its significant moment of awakening. This is a moment when he too suddenly becomes aware of the reality around him, of the social and political divide between the educated and uneducated class. Social inequality is not a surprise for a colonial country, but for the naive Triton this is shocking. “I wanted to get away from all of them. Their speeches” (Gunesekera 152), illustrates his understanding of his internal/external status. He recognizes that he is not of the same caliber as “them”. Nor does he find interest in “their speeches” which include insults to the lower class… at the center of the paper… social evils. He acknowledges that he was wrong to think that Joseph belonged to a palm tree. “Eat it Kolla, eat it;” this shows that he regrets wishing Joseph would leave so he could replace him. If he had tried to understand him rather and not judge him, perhaps things would have been different. The passage of time marks his journey from childhood to adulthood and the search for his social position. At the beginning of the novel he refuses to go to school, but now he realizes that he has given up the possibility of being his own man. These emotional realizations are part of the reason he went into exile with Mr. Salgado anyway. He sees an opportunity to start over and have a chance to succeed on his own. This “infection in the air” has awakened a rite of passage outside its “undefined boundaries”. He initiated a boy into adulthood and a servant into an expert restaurateur.