Maru: Love and Yellow Daisies Essay

Introduction Maru is a book that reflects on the life of an orphaned young girl of Basarwa tribe who gets an opportunity of teaching and she is sent to teach in a remote village in Botswana where her own people are kept as slaves. Her existence separates a community which does not recognise Basarwa people as human beings thus condemn her to the lonely life of an outcast. This Book Maru in a way reflects on the life of its writer Bessie Head who is recognised as one of the best African writers, she also went through traumatising life experiences of racial prejudice in the late South-African government. She fled South Africa seeking refuge in Botswana where she settled in a small village which was filled with tribalism and people of her tribe were in slaved Part One That year the rains were so late, though the atmosphere was mysterious and threatening with menacing dark clouds, the summer season climatically was hot and dry. The clouds brought confusion in people’s minds as each evening roaring sounds of thunders and lightning would be heard only to live people with empty promises of rain. The man was fully equipped with necessary tools planning for the seasonal ploughing ground breaking was done for easy sowing two brand new tanks were installed on the nearby houses waiting for the rains to fall so they catch and contain the storm water. He wanted to plough something that will signify his wife’s beauty and resemble his true love for her and for that he prepared a flower garden of yellow daisies. The man’s desire was to fulfil his destinies no matter how many he had; though he knew life was short he was a born leader with an affection of pleasing and archiving his goals no matter the consequences, even if attain his goals th reatened his position as a leader he will still go for the execution as planned. â€Å"I’ll be going now (Head, 1971)† quietly said Maru to a group of three working man who were building vegetable beds. He took his time as he was nervous to speak. The three men were not ordinary farm boys but close friends of Maru who shielded and have always been there for him through his entire life, he said some harsh words to them which annoyed them but because he was their leader they said â€Å"Maru is always impossible!† they spoke in a low voice out of respect behind him, fearing being heard. â€Å"Ranko† said Maru in a deep sharp voice of annoyance. ‘Didn’t I tell you not to break the up the clods? They are for conserving moisture in the soil’. (Head, 1971) Ranko stirred up the skies like he wished God will see his sorrows or he could see answers in the skies of what exactly his leader wants him to do, he wiped his nose with one arm out of confusion. In Setswana Ranko meant a person with a big nose, since when had people not had their vegetable garden raked in a decorated fancy way. Each and every new idea no matter how impossible it looked it had to be put into practise, making no allowance for preju dice. This to him was too much and painful like his big nose, the three men knew no other life but the one of serving and pleasing their leader Maru. Without him they were lost souls wuthering around with nowhere to go and this on its own inflicted fear into their lives. Maru was their king whom loathed the kingship like a husband who hated his annoying, most demanding ever complaining wife from the deep bottom of his heart, they knew he wanted to give up his leadership seat and it was a scary shocking secret to them which brought confusion and fear which they couldn’t be at peace with. The secret was kept among him and them, they knew it has to circulate around them only though they didn’t know the verdict none the less had answers to the outcome of events when the time comes only their leader who was planning to abandon them knew what he was doing. They knew when time comes they will just pretend as if their leader passed away. Maru paused for some time and looked up the skies, where the storm looked mysterious and threatening with dark clouds. The shrubs always looked and turned black in the evening when darkness was falling and sudden breeze swerved the very dry white grass. He was in his zone where he could communicate freely with his thoughts with less or total absence of distraction and interruption from his people. The place was filled with cemetery silence. His mind, body, soul and heart communicated freely with beautifully much appreciated desired feedback. He knew that people hated him though they thought they hid it so well behind their fake smiles towards him, he could tell of their evil deeds planned for him he could feel it in their blood running up and down their veins, only if they knew what he knew wouldn’t they have ripped, torn him to pieces a long time ago, just to keep their secrets and their evil safe where bad and darkness is the ruler and possesses all things? It was an anticip ated vision that slowly accepted or permitted one dream to rule and dominate his life. The small little brown, filled with dust walk path, turned a blind eye on the noisy fast highways of life. Alongside the dusty footpath grew the yellow daisies which always danced in the sun and wind, the sight and the beautiful rhythm of dancing movements of the yellow daisies will eventually dominate his fantasies, an overwhelming feeling, filled with joyful moments. So much it made his heart beat pound with everlasting joy. He promised himself that as soon as the first rain fell he will sow those yellow daisies alongside the walking path that leads to his house as he was reflecting and joyfully feasting on his dreams on which he brought to life for that peaceful moment, at least the present and the on-going moment was simple to interpret, though he kept a deep secret of things to happen which only him was holding like those black clouds which knew what they kept beneath them which no man could interpret but hope for the best out of them, he had that cloud coiled in him, waiting to be unleashed like clouds filled with plenty of water that will cause a storm so strong and heavy it will cleanse and wash away all those ugly undesirable bad things that he forever despised and bring forth happiness which was hindered by all those things he hated. As he walked on tortoise pace walking on a path that will land him at his house he was doing so with his eyes leaned towards the sky on which a clear display of beautiful fantastic vision of things to come were set resembling a beautiful tale. As he silently entered the house his wife fearfully gazed at him from the dinner table she was preparing. He sometimes had an angry and hurtful mood whereas every word he said was verbally abusive and repeatedly hurt one’s feelings. Most certainly she never kept into her heart all past experiences of pain and suffering. Most often she felt full of joy and hallucinated by happiness it was not an everyday thing for her to parade around the whole day with a very excited smile drown on her face, because the days of being deliberately been hurt and pain inflicted on her were few thus were over shadowed by the days of deeply showered and expressed love. The darkest days may have been there as to balance the situation. Maybe Maru had to face an d experience reality to know how bad man can be to one. He moved with confidence. He never took a second thought over his Godly conscious. The major threat in his life was Moleka. He was afraid that one day his anger will get the best of him and drive him to kill Moleka one way or the other. His wife’s heart had two rooms filled with love for both men Moleka and Maru. Maru feared and dreamt that his room of love in his wife’s heart would eventually be over taken on by Moleka. This fearful dream continuously occurred. He dreamt Moleka with a broken leg and bleeding from a wound that was from his mouth and heart. His wife always cried with pain whenever Maru had these dreadful dreams. He usually woke up to his wife’s tears pouring on him as her eyes were closed. ‘Why are you crying?’ asked Maru, in pretence that he did not know. She would see the tears but feared to account to them as to what they were for when she woke up as she was not aware of them when she was sleeping, except the tears she cried for Maru. He had no power over destroying the love his wife had for Moleka. He seemed to have no control over his wife’s affair as much as the raging jealousy he had that drove him crazy as much as it did on Moleka. No one else was. Maru allowed Maleka to do and as he pleased to avoid any further fights. He did not care about other people’s judgments. He allowed Moleka to have his most desired and best woman, his wife. She had all the good attributes of a real lady, intelligent, eye catching and caught everyone’s attention. These entire things seemed to have caught Moleka interests, as he also caught people’s eye. What did he want with a woman who did not suit people’s interest? In fact, after he married her she had turned into an infidelity woman of the village, well enticing men of her interest. Moleka did not want to live his life as a joke and anger and could have avoided exposing her wrong doings. The community was always around. A well-known man tried to please the people. When he decided to take charge he thought twice on what he thought would suit both him and Moleka. He thought hard about this. Perhaps he had under estimated Moleka’s power, That Moleka beard more quality than him who he had no control over .Was he loved the most? Or did he just have more power? He believed in love but not the power as power can change into anything. He would cry too, over that Moleka could have stronger love than him. His heart interpreted that Moleka had more power than him, and he felt no guilt over what he had done to his wife as Moleka beard feelings for her to. The intense thoughts and confusion made him have so much anger and hatred. Maybe his heart had forsaken him and one day he would end up giving up his wife to Moleka, as he had concluded that Moleka’s love was stronger than his. If this feeling was within him, he would go up to his wife and tell her that ‘I only married you because you were the only woman in the world who did not want to be important. But you are not at all important to me, as I sometimes say you are’. This could destroy the world. The worlds turned to darkness as his words were all coming to action. That night he was so jolly. The yellow daisies. As he walked through the door and said, softly ‘My sweetheart.’ Those were very beautiful words, if only one had the knowledge of what damage could the human heart. ; Horrible danger that seemed very dangerous because the main causers of it were so tender. Children adopted this behaviour from their parents. Parents spat on the ground to show belittlement and disgust, Low nation passed by. Children took over from the ir parents. They disrespected one. They hurt you. They danced very hard. Introduction Maru is a book that reflects on the life of an orphaned young girl of Basarwa tribe who gets an opportunity of teaching and she is sent to teach in a remote village in Botswana where her own people are kept as slaves. Her existence separates a community which does not recognise Basarwa people as human beings thus condemn her to the lonely life of an outcast. This Book Maru in a way reflects on the life of its writer Bessie Head who is recognised as one of the best African writers, she also went through traumatising life experiences of racial prejudice in the late South-African government. She fled South Africa seeking refuge in Botswana where she settled in a small village which was filled with tribalism and people of her tribe were in slaved Part One That year the rains were so late, though the atmosphere was mysterious and threatening with menacing dark clouds, the summer season climatically was hot and dry. The clouds brought confusion in people’s minds as each evening roaring sounds of thunders and lightning would be heard only to live people with empty promises of rain. The man was fully equipped with necessary tools planning for the seasonal ploughing ground breaking was done for easy sowing two brand new tanks were installed on the nearby houses waiting for the rains to fall so they catch and contain the storm water. He wanted to plough something that will signify his wife’s beauty and resemble his true love for her and for that he prepared a flower garden of yellow daisies. The man’s desire was to fulfil his destinies no matter how many he had; though he knew life was short he was a born leader with an affection of pleasing and archiving his goals no matter the consequences, even if attain his goals th reatened his position as a leader he will still go for the execution as planned. â€Å"I’ll be going now (Head, 1971)† quietly said Maru to a group of three working man who were building vegetable beds. He took his time as he was nervous to speak. The three men were not ordinary farm boys but close friends of Maru who shielded and have always been there for him through his entire life, he said some harsh words to them which annoyed them but because he was their leader they said â€Å"Maru is always impossible!† they spoke in a low voice out of respect behind him, fearing being heard. â€Å"Ranko† said Maru in a deep sharp voice of annoyance. ‘Didn’t I tell you not to break the up the clods? They are for conserving moisture in the soil’. (Head, 1971) Ranko stirred up the skies like he wished God will see his sorrows or he could see answers in the skies of what exactly his leader wants him to do, he wiped his nose with one arm out of confusion. In Setswana Ranko meant a person with a big nose, since when had people not had their vegetable garden raked in a decorated fancy way. Each and every new idea no matter how impossible it looked it had to be put into practise, making no allowance for prejudice. This to him was too much and painful like his big nose, the three men knew no other life but the one of serving and pleasing their leader Maru. Without him they were lost souls wuthering around with nowhere to go and this on its own inflicted fear into their lives. Maru was their king whom loathed the kingship like a husband who hated his annoying, most demanding ever complaining wife from the deep bottom of his heart, they knew he wanted to give up his leadership seat and it was a scary shocking secret to them which brought confusion and fear which they couldn’t be at peace with. The secret was kept among him and them, they knew it has to circulate around them only though they didn’t know the verdict none the less had answers to the outcome of events when the time comes only their leader who was planning to abandon them knew what he was doing. They knew when time comes they will just pretend as if their leader passed away. Maru paused for some time and looked up the skies, where the storm looked mysterious and threatening with dark clouds. The shrubs always looked and turned black in the evening when darkness was falling and sudden breeze swerved the very dry white grass. He was in his zone where he could communicate freely with his thoughts with less or total absence of distraction and interruption from his people. The place was filled with cemetery silence. His mind, body, soul and heart communicated freely with beautifully much appreciated desired feedback. He knew that people hated him though they thought they hid it so well behind their fake smiles towards him, he could tell of their evil deeds planned for him he could feel it in their blood running up and down their veins, only if they knew what he knew wouldn’t they have ripped, torn him to pieces a long time ago, just to keep their secrets and their evil safe where bad and darkness is the ruler and possesses all things? It was an anticipated vision that slowly accepted or permitted one dream to rule and dominate his life. The small little brown, filled with dust walk path, turned a blind eye on the noisy fast highways of life. Alongside the dusty footpath grew the yellow daisies which always danced in the sun and wind, the sight and the beautiful rhythm of dancing movements of the yellow daisies will eventually dominate his fantasies, an overwhelming feeling, filled with jo yful moments. So much it made his heart beat pound with everlasting joy. He promised himself that as soon as the first rain fell he will sow those yellow daisies alongside the walking path that leads to his house as he was reflecting and joyfully feasting on his dreams on which he brought to life for that peaceful moment, at least the present and the on-going moment was simple to interpret, though he kept a deep secret of things to happen which only him was holding like those black clouds which knew what they kept beneath them which no man could interpret but hope for the best out of them, he had that cloud coiled in him, waiting to be unleashed like clouds filled with plenty of water that will cause a storm so strong and heavy it will cleanse and wash away all those ugly undesirable bad things that he forever despised and bring forth happiness which was hindered by all those things he hated. As he walked on tortoise pace walking on a path that will land him at his house he was doing so with his eyes leaned towards the sky on which a clear display of beau tiful fantastic vision of things to come were set resembling a beautiful tale. As he silently entered the house his wife fearfully gazed at him from the dinner table she was preparing. He sometimes had an angry and hurtful mood whereas every word he said was verbally abusive and repeatedly hurt one’s feelings. Most certainly she never kept into her heart all past experiences of pain and suffering. Most often she felt full of joy and hallucinated by happiness it was not an everyday thing for her to parade around the whole day with a very excited smile drown on her face, because the days of being deliberately been hurt and pain inflicted on her were few thus were over shadowed by the days of deeply showered and expressed love. The darkest days may have been there as to balance the situation. Maybe Maru had to face and experience reality to know how bad man can be to one. He moved with confidence. He never took a second thought over his Godly conscious. The major threat in his life was Moleka. He was afraid that one day his anger will get the best of him an d drive him to kill Moleka one way or the other. His wife’s heart had two rooms filled with love for both men Moleka and Maru. Maru feared and dreamt that his room of love in his wife’s heart would eventually be over taken on by Moleka. This fearful dream continuously occurred. He dreamt Moleka with a broken leg and bleeding from a wound that was from his mouth and heart. His wife always cried with pain whenever Maru had these dreadful dreams. He usually woke up to his wife’s tears pouring on him as her eyes were closed. ‘Why are you crying?’ asked Maru, in pretence that he did not know. She would see the tears but feared to account to them as to what they were for when she woke up as she was not aware of them when she was sleeping, except the tears she cried for Maru. He had no power over destroying the love his wife had for Moleka. He seemed to have no control over his wife’s affair as much as the raging jealousy he had that drove him crazy as much as it did on Moleka. No one else was. Maru allowed Maleka to do and as he pleased to avoid any further fights. He did not care about other people’s judgments. He allowed Moleka to have his most desired and best woman, his wife. She had all the good attributes of a real lady, intelligent, eye catching and caught everyone’s attention. These entire things seemed to have caught Moleka interests, as he also caught people’s eye. What did he want with a woman who did not suit people’s interest? In fact, after he married her she had turned into an infidelity woman of the village, well enticing men of her interest. Moleka did not want to live his life as a joke and anger and could have avoided exposing her wrong doings. The community was always around. A well-known man tried to please the people. When he decided to take charge he thought twice on what he thought would suit both him and Moleka. He thought hard about this. Perhaps he had under estimated Moleka’s power, That Moleka beard more quality than him who he had no control over .Was he loved the most? Or did he just have more power? He believed in love but not the power as power can change into anything. He would cry too, over that Moleka could have stronger love than him. His heart interpreted that Moleka had more power than him, and he felt no guilt over what he had done to his wife as Moleka beard feelings for her to. The intense thoughts and confusion made him have so much anger and hatred. Maybe his heart had forsaken him and one day he would end up giving up his wife to Moleka, as he had concluded that Moleka’s love was stronger than his. If this feeling was within him, he would go up to his wife and tell her that ‘I only married you because you were the only woman in the world who did not want to be important. But you are not at all important to me, as I sometimes say you are’. This could destroy the world. The worlds turned to darkness as his words were all coming to action. That night he was so jolly. The yellow daisies. As he walked through the door and said, softly ‘My sweetheart.’ Those were very beautiful words, if only one had the knowledge of what damage could the human heart. ; Horrible danger that seemed very dangerous because the main causers of it were so tender. Children adopted this behaviour from their parents. Parents spat on the ground to show belittlement and disgust, Low nation passed by. Children took over from their parents. They disrespected one. They hurt you. They danced very hard.