Maru And Head
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Maru is a story that has a large focus on the image of the Masarwa or Bushmen. First the Marsarwa are shown as the lowest form of human but Bessie Head works on improving their image through the course of the story. Second, there are parallels between this story and the life of Bessie Head.
First the story of how Margaret Cadmore Jr. came to be makes a striking image of how these lower class people were treated. The woman who is dead is described as a malnourished, poor, helpless woman. Bessie Head then showed how the Marsarwa were treated when the dead body was not properly prepared for burial. Even in death these people were shown the respect of animals.
Later in the story Margaret Cadmore Jr. is a teacher in Dilepe village. She is considered a very intelligent woman fit for a teaching job. Things come to a drastic change when she proudly proclaims herself as being Marsawa. Right away she is referred to as “it” (40) instead of her. Rumors are spread throughout the village and when she returns to class one of the children makes the prejudice comment, “Since when is a Bushy a teacher.”
Dikeledi is the voice of reason for all the prejudice people as she takes control of a volatile situation. She quiets the children as Margaret Cadmore Jr. is frozen, in a mentally unstable frame of mind. This sparks a change in the way people saw this situation. “Prejudice is like the old skin of a snake. It has to be removed bit by bit” (53). This quote is the turning point where other people in the village realize that Marsarwa are more than animals.
Furthermore, a small controversy arises when the people find out about Moleka eating at the same table and using the same fork with the Marsarwa (53). This is followed up by Marus conversation with Moleka where he tries to reason with Moleka by telling him the place Marsarwa have in the village, as slaves (61). The brothers are in constant competition