MARU – BESSIE HEAD

CHITAMBO’S NOTES

PLOT SUMMARY
Maru, one of the Totems or chiefs in his African village of Dilepe and soon to be the village’s
paramount chief, is the title character of Bessie Head’s novel, but it is Margaret Cadmore, a
member of the Bushman tribe and thus an untouchable in his society, who changes Maru’s
personal history and that of her tribe as well when she comes to teach school in Dilepe.
Because she is a Bushman or a Masarwa, Margaret is as looked down upon as the village’s
stray dog, with tin cans tied to its tail as a form of torment by the cruel boys of the village.
Margaret’s mother dies on the day that Margaret is born, and her corpse lies untouched by the
roadside until Margaret Cadmore, a white missionary, and issues orders that it be buried and
takes the motherless baby into her home, giving it her name and an education. The young
Margaret is rejected and even spit upon by her prejudiced classmates, and in her loneliness she
turns to the world of her books, thus becoming an excellent student. She realizes early that
survival is difficult for a Bushman, and thus she prepares her mind and soul to help her fight
the battles that are inevitable because of the colour of her skin. Her outstanding academic record
wins for her a teaching job in Dilepe, where, her tribal background unknown, she could easily
pass as a “coloured,” a person of mixed white and African blood and thus at least marginally
acceptable to the African society. Yet she chooses instead to state openly that she is a Masarwa.
Her willingness to declare openly her heritage wins for her the love and respect of...
Maru is a love story that takes place in the African village of Dilepe. The narrative tells the
story of Margaret, who belongs to the Bushman, or Masarwa, tribe. Her tribe is looked down
upon by others, and yet she overcomes adversity and begins teaching at a school in the village.
Though she is looked down upon as a Bushman, her arrival in the village nonetheless causes a
rift in the friendship between Maru, one of the village’s chiefs, and his friend Moleka, who
seems to genuinely love Margaret. This love affair between Margaret and her two suitors comes
to redefine the lives of everyone involved, thus pitting love against racial and tribal prejudices.
On the day Margaret is born, her mother dies. The corpse is left untouched and the child
abandoned until a white missionary, Margaret Cadmore, takes in the child and has her mother’s
body buried. Not only does Margaret take in the “untouchable” child, she gives the girl her
own name and also provides the young Margaret with an education. Though accepted in this
way, the village itself is rife with prejudice. As a Bushman, Margaret is considered an outcast
by society. Some even liken her to the stray dogs that run around the village and are cruelly
tormented by the children. At school, Margaret is taunted by her classmates. The tormenting
and isolation eventually cause Margaret to immerse herself in her studies, and she becomes a
bright and promising student in no time. Given her status in the village, Margaret comes to
realize that life will be difficult for her as a Bushman, and so determines to ensure her safety
and survival as both a Bushman and a woman of colour

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Margaret’s luck soon changes again when, due to her stellar academic record, she is offered a
teaching job in Dilepe. For Margaret, this is a fresh start. No one in Dilepe knows her tribal
background. If she chooses to, she can pretend she is not a Bushman by passing for “coloured,”
which is a person mixed with white and African blood. Though she would still be looked down
upon, she would fare better in the village and society as a “coloured” person than a Bushman.
Though Margaret wants to be accepted, she ultimately chooses to reveal her tribal background
upon arriving in Dilepe. Stating that she is indeed a Bushman, or Masarwa, Margaret not only
garners the respect of one of her students, Dikeledi, but finds herself the object of affection for
two of the village’s most powerful men, Maru and Moleka.
Maru is Dikeledi’s brother, and in line to be the village’s top chieftain. Maru is also best friends
with Moleka. He is known to be extremely insightful, and intuits that the two friends’
relationship, which none thought breakable, would be ended by a woman. Indeed, Maru told
this to Moleka before Margaret ever arrived in the village. When Margaret arrives, it is Moleka
who gives his all to win the love of Margaret. Even though she is a Bushman, Moleka feels that
being with Margaret can bring about a different, better life path for him. He thinks that they
are meant for each other. Even when others in the village are shocked to find that a Bushman
has been hired to teach their children, Moleka breaks tradition by having his Masarwa servants
dine with him. Though Moleka is willing to show the village his break with tradition and
prejudice, he must ultimately face a greater challenge: Maru.
Maru intends to make Margaret his wife, even though doing so will mean giving up his
chieftaincy. He also knows it will destroy his friendship with Moleka. Because Maru is the
most powerful man in the village, Moleka must ultimately step aside. He then turns his attention
toward Dikeledi. When Dikeledi becomes pregnant, Moleka marries her even though he still
loves Margaret. On the night of Dikeledi’s marriage to Moleka, Maru makes his intentions
known to Margaret, who has been enamoured with Moleka up until this point. Maru takes
Margaret as his bride, thus giving up his chieftaincy. Like Moleka, however, Maru wants to
abandon tradition somewhat and find a different path in life, and so embraces his new life with
Margaret.
Maru deals with the themes of love, forbidden love and prejudice. Margaret’s identity as a
Bushman, or Masarwa, means that she is considered by many to be not only lower class, but
untouchable. As such, she should in no way have won the love of Maru and Moleka. Indeed,
the village of Dilepe cannot even fathom that the feud between the two friends is on account
of Margaret. Instead, the village thinks the two men are fighting over Dikeledi’s marriage. This
shows to what extent a Bushman’s place in society is deemed non-existent. Tribal prejudices
show the reader that, though Margaret has made something of herself and risen above her status
in life, society still deems her unworthy and will continue to do so.
For Margaret, it is not until Moleka and Maru show a romantic interest in her that the rules and
guidelines of tribal society are questioned and, eventually, abandoned. Maru himself comments
that a woman will break his friendship with Moleka. Ironically enough, it is a Masarwa woman
who not only breaks the two men’s friendship, but breaks the rules that want to keep her as an
untouchable in society. Maru even goes as far as giving up his chieftaincy for Margaret. His
sacrifice, as well as Moleka’s love for Margaret, highlight how society and prejudice can
indeed change, and how love is a driving force for change. Both men are willing to show their
love for Margaret publicly, thus defying the long-held prejudices concerning tribes like the

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Masarwa. Though Maru takes Margaret as his bride, even though she seems to pine for Moleka,
the story shows that, at the end of the day, love is stronger than prejudice. As such, the lives of
Margaret, Maru, Moleka, and Dikeledi are changed forever by the acts of love each character
finds him- or herself willing to endure and learn from.

CHARACTERS
Moleka and Maru
Maru and Moleka are presented as kings of two opposing kingdoms, not earthly kingdoms, but
inner, spiritual kingdoms. Maru believes that the gods have granted him a special insight into
the ways of the world and its people, but he quietly fears Moleka, whose kingdom to him is
unfathomable:
The king who had insight into everything feared the king whose door was still closed. There
was no knowing what was behind the closed door of Moleka’s kingdom. Maru had no key to
it, but he knew of its existence because if he touched Moleka’s heart with some word or gesture
a cloud would lift and he would see a rainbow of dazzling light.
The friendship between the two men ends the second that Maru realizes that the balance of
power has shifted in favour of Moleka, because of Moleka’s love for Margaret. Margaret
completes Moleka’s previously incomplete kingdom and gives him more power than Maru has:
“’He is greater than I in power,’ he thought, at first stunned, taken aback by the sight.” He
thinks further, “Moleka had to wait until his door was opened by another hand. Moleka is only
half a statement of his kingdom. Someone else makes up the whole. It is the person he now
loves.” What makes Moleka a king is his over-abundance of energy. Maru’s gift, on the other
hand, is creative imagination.
Maru and Moleka are two men of many similarities but also of vast differences. Maru and
Moleka both lived in a small village, Dilepe, in Botswana. At first it seems like Maru and
Moleka are inseparable, but the arrival of Margaret Cadmore clearly outlines the differences
between the two men.
Maru and Moleka are both leaders of men and have enormous influence over the people they
come into contact with. This is stated on page one, where Bessie Head asks the rhetorical
question? Who else is born the leader of men...? Referring to Maru. Both men have incredible
power for better or worse, and were able to destroy their friendship by their selfishness. Both
decided on what to do, and took no consideration of what might be best for the other. With the
arrival of the Masarwa, both parties? Main goal was to win Margaret, and therefore the great
friendship was at risk.
Moleka is an energetic character and does things with enormous spirit and power. Maru though,
never has any energy outbursts. He is a gentle, quiet, unchanging and loving person. This is
shown on page twenty three, where Dikeledi compares Maru to Moleka. She calls Maru??A
God in his kindness towards people, unlike that swine. That swine refers to Moleka, who
seldom shows any kindness. People always know where they stand with Maru. He is, unlike
Moleka, predictable and peaceful, but forceful. His unchanging personality and complete
character is very independent and he knows exactly what he wants. Moleka, in contrast, has an

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incomplete personality. With the arrival of Margaret it seems to change and? Complete itself?
Although Moleka does not win Margaret, he does settle down with Dikeledi, and I would think
that he becomes happy.
Maru
Maru, an African tribal leader soon to be installed as hereditary Paramount chief in the village
of Dilepe, Botswana. Adhering to the gods within him rather than to any external source of
personal feeling, he is prompted to marry a woman of Bushman origin, an “untouchable” in
the eyes of his fellow tribespeople. To do so, however, he must renounce his chieftainship,
even though he is more just and wise a ruler than the brother who will take his place. With
three trusted companions and his bride, the younger Margaret Cadmore, he travels a thousand
miles away to start a new life as a subsistence farmer.
Moleka
Moleka, the second most powerful man in Dilepe. He and Maru are close friends but then
become bitter enemies and rivals for the love of the younger Margaret Cadmore. With the help
of his spies, Maru manoeuvres Moleka into a marriage with Dikeledi, even though Moleka
loves Margaret.
Margaret Cadmore (younger)
Margaret Cadmore (younger), an orphan and a light-skinned woman of the Masarwa tribe,
reared by and named for a missionary. She becomes a schoolteacher in the village of Dilepe.
When she first arrives in Dilepe, she is subjected to the same racial humiliation and ridicule as
she was in her childhood. Treated as an outcast, she once again becomes a victim of racial
oppression.

STUDY QUESTIONS
1. In the book "Maru," what is Margaret Cadmore's experiment? Is it successful?
In the book "Maru," Margaret Cadmore is an orphaned Masarwa girl who goes to the village
of Dilepe to teach. That was her "experiment"--to become a fully trained primary school...
2. What are the main themes developed in Maru?
One of the most present themes in Maru is how unjust social norms and practices can and must
be challenged by individuals in order to create lasting change. The process of social isolation
and...
3. Why was the book by Bessie Head, "Maru," titled that?
The title of the work, Maru, is derived from the main character, Maru, who gives up his chance
to be a chieftain to wed Margaret, a Masarwa, which is unheard of. This is a tale of heroism
and the...
4. What is the principal's attitude towards Margaret when he first sees her?

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To answer your question, we will have to refer to Part One of the novel. At the beginning of
the new school term, Margaret has to wait outside the principal's office to receive her
assignment for...
5. Why was the book by Bessie Head, "Maru," titled that?
The title of the work, Maru, is derived from the main character, Maru, who gives up his chance
to be a chieftain to wed Margaret, a Masarwa, which is unheard of. This is a tale of heroism
and the fight to overcome social injustice. The Masarwa are looked down upon more than any
other tribe or race; Maru has great status. However, in his marriage, he is able to follow the
untrodden path, the...
The title of the work, Maru, is derived from the main character, Maru, who gives up his chance
to be a chieftain to wed Margaret, a Masarwa, which is unheard of. This is a tale of heroism
and the fight to overcome social injustice. The Masarwa are looked down upon more than any
other tribe or race; Maru has great status. However, in his marriage, he is able to follow the
untrodden path, the path where his heart leads him!

compiled by
Happy Chitambo Mapulanga Kunda
Admiral Business Centre
Lusaka
chitambokunda@hotmail.com

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