Gideon in "No Witchcraft for Sale"
Gideon
Short stories are truly fascinating because they allow an audience to experience adventures through the characters. Authors often include interesting characters into their stories to capture the reader's attention. Doris Lessing includes such a character in her short story "No Witchcraft for Sale". Gideon is the protagonist of the story and plays role of a cook and a good friend of the Farquar family. Through his actions Gideon shows his loyalty, heroism and trustworthiness.
First of all, Gideon shows his loyalty to the family of Farquars. Gideon was family's cook and their good friend. "He had been with her now for several years; he was one of the few natives who had his wife and children in the compound and never wanted to go home to his kraal, which was some hundreds of miles away"(Lessing 150). He was devoted to his employers for a long time. Gideon took care of Teddy, Farquars' son and was with him through his childhood. Mrs. Farquar had a close relationship with her servant too. "Because of that 'we' Mrs. Farquar felt a warm impulse towards her cook; and at the end of the month she raised his wages"(Lessing 150). Mrs. Farquar appreciated all the things Gideon had done for her and her family. Loyalty is a value that Gideon shows in his relationship with Farquar family.
Gideon also displays heroism when saving Teddy. He was playing in the bushes when suddenly a snake, that was hanging from the tree, spat poison into his eyes. He came crying to his mother who was in the house. "It was no more than a few minutes before she saw Gideon come bounding back, and in his hand he held a plant"(Lessing 151). Gideon knew he had to act quickly in order to save Teddy's eyes so he ran into the bushes to find a plant that would heal Teddy's eyes. Then, he put the leaves of the plant on Teddy's eyes. After several minutes, "He finally lifted Teddy gently into his mother's arms, and said 'His eyes will get better'"(Lessing 152). Gideon was sure of his recipe and
Short stories are truly fascinating because they allow an audience to experience adventures through the characters. Authors often include interesting characters into their stories to capture the reader's attention. Doris Lessing includes such a character in her short story "No Witchcraft for Sale". Gideon is the protagonist of the story and plays role of a cook and a good friend of the Farquar family. Through his actions Gideon shows his loyalty, heroism and trustworthiness.
First of all, Gideon shows his loyalty to the family of Farquars. Gideon was family's cook and their good friend. "He had been with her now for several years; he was one of the few natives who had his wife and children in the compound and never wanted to go home to his kraal, which was some hundreds of miles away"(Lessing 150). He was devoted to his employers for a long time. Gideon took care of Teddy, Farquars' son and was with him through his childhood. Mrs. Farquar had a close relationship with her servant too. "Because of that 'we' Mrs. Farquar felt a warm impulse towards her cook; and at the end of the month she raised his wages"(Lessing 150). Mrs. Farquar appreciated all the things Gideon had done for her and her family. Loyalty is a value that Gideon shows in his relationship with Farquar family.
Gideon also displays heroism when saving Teddy. He was playing in the bushes when suddenly a snake, that was hanging from the tree, spat poison into his eyes. He came crying to his mother who was in the house. "It was no more than a few minutes before she saw Gideon come bounding back, and in his hand he held a plant"(Lessing 151). Gideon knew he had to act quickly in order to save Teddy's eyes so he ran into the bushes to find a plant that would heal Teddy's eyes. Then, he put the leaves of the plant on Teddy's eyes. After several minutes, "He finally lifted Teddy gently into his mother's arms, and said 'His eyes will get better'"(Lessing 152). Gideon was sure of his recipe and