No Witchcraft For Sale By Doris Lessing Analysis

A Clash of Cultures

( An analysis of the messages from No Witchcraft for Sale by Doris Lessing)

What were the motives and effects of Britain’s imperialistic nature in the 19th century? Indeed, there were various motives to begin colonizing in other countries; however, the effects of imperialism were substantially larger on the cultures that were forced to coexist together than the motives leading to the action. In No Witchcraft for Sale by Doris Lessing this short story is about the Farquars, a white family living on a homestead in Africa. The Farquars employ Gideon, a local man, as their cook. Gideon is kind and loving toward the Farquars’ young son, Teddy. Though, Gideon never forgets his place as a servant. When a medical emergency causes Gideon to use his traditional healing skills to restore Teddy’s eyesight, from being spit in the eyes by a venomous tree snake. As a result, the Farquars are forever grateful and even give Gideon a raise. This incident however leads to a cultural clash when the

In this text it is evident that Gideon, the servant and cook of the Farquars genuinely loves the Farquars’ son Teddy. Gideon calls Teddy Little Yellow Head. Doris Lessing relays in No Witchcraft for Sale, “Mrs. Farquar was fond of the old cook because of his love for her child” (Lessing 1329). The prior quote is very self-explanatory, Gideon loves her little boy Teddy. Gideon after giving Teddy his first haircut picked up a piece of Teddy’s golden hair and smiled at Teddy, and gave him a native name, Little Yellow Head. Furthermore, after Gideon is done working he would lift Teddy up on his shoulders and play with him, spent much of his time with Teddy. Likewise, Gideon even despite his tribal position loved Teddy enough that he saved Teddy’s eyesight after Teddy was spat in the eyes by a tree