No Witchcraft for Sale Summary

Doris Lessing’s short story No Witchcraft for Sale, first published in 1951, is set on a farm in Southern Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe) and explores themes of colonialism, race, and cultural conflict. The story revolves around Gideon, the Farquars’ African cook, who possesses traditional knowledge and wisdom. He shares a deep affection for Teddy Farquar, the young son of the white settler family. When Teddy suffers an eye injury from a spitting snake, Gideon uses indigenous medicine to cure him, astonishing the Farquars. However, when a European scientist arrives, eager to learn the secret remedy for potential commercial gain, Gideon refuses to share it, symbolizing the resistance against colonial exploitation of indigenous knowledge.

Teddy’s Birth and His Bond with Gideon

The Farquars were childless for many years, so when their son Teddy was born, they were overjoyed. Their black servants were also happy and brought gifts like eggs, flowers, and chickens. They admired Teddy’s golden hair and blue eyes, calling him “Little Yellow Head.” Gideon, the family’s cook, developed a special bond with Teddy. He would play with him, make little toys out of twigs and mud, and help him walk. Mrs. Farquar was grateful to Gideon for loving her son so much, and she even increased his wages.

Gideon had his own children, and sometimes a black boy from the servant compound would watch Teddy from a distance. One day, Teddy reached out to touch the black child’s face, and Gideon observed the difference between their fates. He told Mrs. Farquar that one child would grow up to be a master (baas) and the other a servant. Mrs. Farquar sadly agreed, saying it was “God’s will.” This religious belief created a bond between the servants and the white family.

Teddy’s Change in Attitude

As Teddy grew older, he became playful and mischievous. When he got a scooter, he loved riding it around the house. One day, he showed off in front of Gideon’s young son, calling him “piccanin” (a racist term) and scaring him away. Gideon was disappointed and scolded Teddy. Feeling guilty, Teddy later offered Gideon an orange as a silent apology. However, Gideon’s attitude toward Teddy changed—he became more distant, treating Teddy with respect but also formality. This made Teddy feel like a grown-up, and he began acting like a white master towards Gideon.

Teddy’s Snake Bite and Gideon’s Healing

One day, when Teddy was about to stop his scooter near a plant tub, a tree snake hanging from the roof spat venom into his eyes. Teddy screamed in pain, and his eyes swelled up, making his mother panic. Mrs. Farquar feared that her son would go blind.

Gideon, seeing what had happened, ran into the bush to find medicine. Mrs. Farquar tried using her own medicine, but it didn’t work. Soon, Gideon returned with a plant. He chewed its root and then spat the juice directly into Teddy’s eyes while forcefully holding the struggling child down. At first, Mrs. Farquar was horrified, but within a few hours, Teddy’s eyes were healed. He could see again, and his mother realized that Gideon’s traditional medicine had worked.

 Mr. and Mrs. Farquar were a white couple living on a farm in Africa. They had a little son named Teddy, who was loved by their black servant, Gideon. One day, Teddy accidentally got snake venom in his eyes. The Farquars were terrified, but Gideon quickly treated Teddy using a secret African herbal remedy. Soon, Teddy's eyes were completely healed, and the Farquars were deeply grateful. They gave Gideon gifts and a raise in his wages, but they still felt that it wasn’t enough to repay him for saving their son’s sight.

The news of Gideon’s cure spread across the district. Many white people had heard similar stories about African traditional medicine, but they were frustrated because the native healers never shared their knowledge. Eventually, a scientist from a laboratory in town heard the story and came to the Farquars' farm. He wanted to discover the secret plant Gideon had used so that it could be turned into a medicine for the world. The Farquars, simple and kind people, liked the idea of helping others but felt uncomfortable when the scientist mentioned making money from it.

When Gideon was called and asked to share his knowledge, he became defensive. He couldn’t believe that the Farquars, whom he had served for years and treated as friends, would betray him by trying to take away his people's secret healing knowledge. The scientist tried to convince him by offering a reward, but Gideon kept refusing, making different excuses. The Farquars started to feel annoyed and no longer guilty for pressing him.

Eventually, Gideon pretended to give in. He led them on a long, exhausting walk in the hot sun, making them search for the plant. After two hours, he casually picked a handful of common blue flowers that had been growing everywhere along their path and handed them to the scientist. The scientist understood that he had been tricked but remained polite. He threw the flowers into his car and left. Gideon returned to the kitchen, sulking and acting coldly toward the Farquars for days.

Later, the Farquars tried to find out more about the root from other African workers, but they either refused to answer or claimed they didn’t know. One cattle boy finally admitted that Gideon was the son of a great healer, but he jokingly reassured them that white doctors were still better.

Over time, Gideon and the Farquars mended their relationship. They would joke about the incident, and Gideon would laugh, pretending that he had truly shown them the plant. Years later, when Teddy was a schoolboy, he would tease Gideon about making them walk so far for nothing. Gideon would laugh along, but then he would look at Teddy with sadness, realizing that one day, the boy he had cared for would grow up and take his place among the white people who could never truly understand the wisdom of his ancestors.

The story highlights the tension between Western science and African traditional knowledge, showing how colonial attitudes often dismissed or tried to exploit indigenous wisdom. Gideon’s refusal to share the secret root symbolizes the resistance of African culture against exploitation.