“No Witchcraft for Sale” by Doris May Lessing Essay Example

without learning very soon that there is an ancient wisdom of leaf and soil and season – and, too, perhaps most important of all, of the darker tracts of the human mind – which is the black man’s heritage.” (p. 3. l. 23-25. )

When the word got spread about how the black man saved the little boy with his knowledge of ancient medicine, scientists from the city came to ask Gideon about the root and where he had found it. The Farquars welcomed him after he explained that this root might help save thousands of people and because they felt that they would do something good, they used the hegemonic power to put a pressure on Gideon as I see it.”

The Big Baas wants to know what medicine I used?” He spoke incredulously, as if he could not believe his old friends could betray him. Mr. Farquar began explaining him how a useful medicine could be made out of the root, and how it could be put on sale, and how thousands of people, black and white, up and down the whole continent of Africa, could be saved by the medicine when some spitting snake were filling their eyes with poison. Gideon listened, his eyes bent on the ground, the skin on his forehead puckering in discomfort. When Mr Farquar had finished he did not reply.” (p. 4. l. 27-36)

However after many excuses and hour-long search, Gideon chose to find the root. At least that’s what the scientist thought. Just a random flower, which the old cook picked up and handed over. The conflict in this story began when

Gideon saved Teddy and the Farquars from there on were forever grateful to Gideon, therefore the roles changed and created an unbalance, a disorder. Moreover, the knowledge of native medicine is all that his people "own", their legacy, and not yet exploited by the white people.

By maintaining the secret within “The black man’s heritage” he keeps both. The treasure of dignity- not selling out, and secures that the secret is forever to stay in Africa. As far as I’m concerned, if he gives the black heritage to the white man, the "black peoples’" value suddenly becomes redundant and the natives truly will become marginalized in their own eyes. By not revealing the plant he retained the crucial dependence tape. Nevertheless, imagine if it happened again!