Question

He stripped the leaves from the plant, leaving a small white fleshy root. Without even washing it, he put the root in his mouth, chewed it vigorously, and then held the spittle there while he took the child forcibly from Mrs. Farquar. He gripped Teddy down between his knees, and pressed the balls of his thumbs into the swollen eyes, so that the child screamed. … He knelt over the writhing child, pushing back the puffy lids till chinks of eyeball showed, and then he spat hard, again and again, into first one eye, and then the other. He finally lifted Teddy gently into his mother’s arms, and said: “His eyes will get better.”
Why is the title of Doris Lessing’s “No Witchcraft for Sale” ironic?


A. There is witchcraft involved in Gideon’s responses to the scientists.


B. There is no witchcraft in Gideon’s remedy, only wisdom from his father.


C. There is no witchcraft that will allow Teddy to be adequately healed.


D. There is witchcraft involved in the act of saving Teddy’s eyesight and health.

Answer 1

Answer:

The title of Doris Lessing’s “No Witchcraft for Sale” is ironic because there is witchcraft involved in Gideon’s responses to the scientists.

Explanation:

After the event in this excerpt, and the full recovery of Teddy, The Farquars told around how this "magic" plan of Gideon had made the miraculous cure, then one day a scientist after listening to the story paid The Farquards a visit to their house to know how was the plant used and what plat was it, after not giving direct answers and being evasive Gideon tells the scientist that witchcraft or native plant remedies are not for sale. It is Irony because everyone wanted to pay for something that they couldn't buy and people wanted to sell something that they didn't possess, the only person in known was no interested in being part of it.