Civil Peace, By Chinua Achebe

 

Civil Peace : By Chinua Achebe

[Summary, Important Questions-Answers, Interpretation and Analysis]

Main Characters :

1. Jonathan Iwegbu: The protagonist and the central character
2. Maria Iwegbu: Jonathan's wife, a loyal and caring wife, like her husband she is also laborious
3. Thief Leader: in charge of robbery in Jonathan's house, boldly declares himself as a thief
4. The Army Officer : who asked for Jonathan's cycle, took two pounds as a bribe form him

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Summary: 

This is primarily a story of how a person can remain positive and optimistic even in worst situations of life. It is a story of optimism, faith in God and a hard labour.

The main character of this story is  Jonathan who has survived (continued to live in spite of danger) the Nigerian Civil War (also known as Biafran War). Although he has lost his youngest son in the war, still he is still happy to have come out of the war with his wife and three other children. It is a happy survival.

He dug out his cycle, which he had buried to save it from others. Then he found his little house still standing in Inugu. It was another miracle for him. It wasn't in a very good condition. He got it repaired and started to live in with his family.

As a very positive person he was, he restarted the journey of his life with the help of his wife and three children. First, he used his bicycle to start a taxi service and then opened a bar for soldiers. His wife sold akara balls and children started picking fruits for sale.

Although the income was not much, but it helped them as a minor comfort, till the mines, where he worked previously, would start. He accepted it all as generosity of God. So every time he used to tell his neighbours "Nothing puzzles God".

One day he was given a reward ('ex-gratia') of 20 pounds after turning over rebel currency. For Jonathan, this was another generosity of God.

But that night a group of thieves knocked at his door, demanding 100 pounds from him. At first he shouted for help from the neighbours and the police, but no body came to help him.

The thief leader told him that if he cooperated , they would not hurt the family. Jonathan realized no other option was left for him, so he gave them the 20 pounds of reward money to keep his family unharmed. 

The next morning when the neighbours arrived, Jonathan and his family had thrown aside the effects of last night and were back at their work. His neighbours were surprised at it, but he explained them that the reward money could not be compared to what he lost in the war.

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Point-wise breakdown of the story:

1. Jonathan: The Happy Survival: Jonathan Iwegbu survived with his wife and three of his four children in the Nigerian Civil War. Although he had lost one son in the war, but that doesn't lessen his optimism in life. Still he considered himself "extraordinary lucky". He also got back his cycle, which was another miracle for him. This whole thing was of course a Happy Survival 

[Jonathan and his Family: The Happy Survival]

2. History of His Cycle: When the war was still going on, an army officer dressed in rags tried to commandeer (taking possession of something for military) his cycle. But he sensed something wrong. He doubted the truth of the officer, and settled the matter by giving him a bribe of two pounds in exchange of for the bike. Then he had buried it only to keep it safe. 

[Jonathan got his cycle and started bike service]

Now after the war was finished, he dug it out. It was still in a good condition. He became very glad at this possession. With the bike he started a taxi service. He earned a little amount (115 pounds). With that little amount he went to Enugu, the capital city.

[Enugu: Jonathan's Place]

3. Enugu: Another miracle : A great surprise was waiting him there. His house still standing there, whereas many other neighbouring houses were destroyed in the war. It was another miracle for him. He was utterly delighted.

The house needed some repairs, which he did and started to live there with his family.

[Jonathan's House needed Some Repair]

4. The Industrious Family: There was no chance for the mines, where he used to work, to reopen. But this was not going to disappoint Jonathan. He was a hardworking person always with a positive outlook towards life. 

So, in order to return back to normalcy, he started working hard by opening a bar. 

His family also helped him. His wife started making breakfast (akara balls) and his children picked up fruits and sold them to the soldier's wives.

[Jonathan's wife started to sell Akara Balls]

This was of course a resilience (recovering quickly from difficulties). But this made him different from the other miners who had lost their job along with Jonathan.

5. Ex-gratia: A Windfall (money received unexpectedly): One day he was given an award (ex-gratia) of 20 pounds after turning over rebel currency. He carried the amount very carefully to home so that it shouldn't be robbed on the way. Such events were common those days. 

6. Knock at Night : That night sleep didn't come to him easily like other days. But finally he fell asleep. At about midnight there was a knock at his door. No doubt, they were thieves.  They demanded 100 pounds from him.

At first the family called the neighbours and the police for help. But nobody came. The thieves laughed at him and mocked by calling the police. They also said that if he handed them the money, they wouldn't harm the family. Jonathan told that he had only 20 pounds which he handed them.

7. Jonathan : The Ever Optimistic Person : The next morning, his neighbours came to sympathize him. By that time he had returned back to normalcy. He and his family had returned back to their daily routine work, as if nothing had happened last night. 

He explained  his neighbours that the reward money (ex- gratia) was nothing compared to what he had lost in the war. 

He had a firm optimistic attitude towards life he had placed his entire life in the hands of God. 

"Nothing puzzles God" was his life mantra.

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Questions and Answers

Before Reading :

Answer these Questions: 

Question a. : Do you think there would be complete peace after the war?

Answer: No, I don't think so. Even wars come to an end, there remain lots of violence in the aftermath period. In the case of civil wars the confrontation groups still remain active for some time.

Due to heavy destruction and ruin, lots of people become homeless and jobless. This creates an atmosphere of mistrust and fear and brings the problem of law and order in the society.

Question b. : If a disaster occurred, what would you save to ensure your "Happy Survival"?

Answer :  If such a situation ever occurred, I would try most to save my family with first priority. Along with that, I would try to save some money available at home at that time.

Question c. : If someone stole something from you out of very few possessions, how would you feel? Would you accept the loss or get angry?

Answer : In such a situation I think it is very difficult to accept the loss, as Jonathan did. I think getting angry would be my very natural and first reaction. Along with that I might curse my fate too.

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Understanding the text:

Answer the following questions.

Question a. : Why did Jonathan think of himself as 'extraordinarily lucky'?

Answer: Jonathan thought himself to be extraordinarily lucky because he had survived the Nigerian Civil War along with is wife three of his four children. He calls it 'inestimable blessings'. Along with that he got back his bicycle as a bonus.

Question b.: What are the 'five blessings' for which Jonathan is grateful?

Answer: The five blessings are the five lives -- his own life, and the lives of his wife and three children.

Question c.: Why did Jonathan mistrust the officer who wanted to take his bicycle? What does this tell you about the situation in Nigeria?

Answer : He mistrusted the officer because of his appearance, uniform and the shabby shoes. Even the two stars of his rank were done in a pencil. Another important point was that there was a lack of grip and firmness in his manner. 

This shows the situation in Nigeria was not good. There was unemployment, cheating, and crimes prevalent in the society.

Question. d : What visitors might be at the door? Jonathan and his wife completely surprised? Explain.

Answer : The visitors were a group of thieves who had come to demand money from Jonathan. Yes, they were completely surprised. They were not ready for such an event.

Question e. : Why does no one in the neighbourhood respond when thieves pound on Jonathan's door ? Why do the thieves call for the police?

Answer : No body responses to Jonathan's cries for help, because they are all were afraid of them. The thieves might attack or loot them too. 

When nobody comes out for help, the thieves mock them by crying even louder. They also show how helpless the family is.

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Reference to the context

Question a. : What does Jonathan mean by his expression "Nothing Puzzles God"? What does this expression reveal about his character? Explain by citing details from the story? 

Answer : The phrase means anything can happen, but God is not puzzled as humans are. People should have faith in God. He knows how to solve every problem you have. 

In this story, this phrase comes as a refrain (a line or statement that is often repeated) .This expression shows how optimistic Jonathan is towards his life.

In the first, second and third places he has used it when something wonderful happens in his life. But lastly he uses it when he is robbed off his money. 

Though it may seem unusual, but it shows that he remembers God both in good and bad situations.

Question B : How does Jonathan change as he experiences the conflicts in his life.?

Answer : He changes a lot. First, his belief in God grows. With a deep faith in God, he frees himself from the worries of life. This helps him to use his energy constructively to live in the difficult situations of war aftermath. He develops some skills, through which he stands against the adverse situations.

Question c.: Read the extract and answer the questions below.

"To God who made me; if you come inside and find one hundred pounds, take it and shoot me and shoot my wife and children. I swear to God. The only money i have, in this life is this twenty pounds egg-rasher they gave me today ....."

A. Who is the speaker?

Answer: Mr. Jonathan is the speaker.

B. Who is the speaker talking to?

Answer : He is talking to the leader of the thieves.

C. Who does "they" refer to?

Answer : "They" refers to the government employees.

Question d. Nigerian English has words like soja 'soldier', and katakata 'confusion' 'trouble' derived apparently from English words but transformed by native languages' phonologies. What does the author's use of dialect here add to the story?

Answer : By the use of the dialect the writer gains two effects. First, he tries to give the readers a real feeling of the setting of this story. It suits Nigerian characters. Thus he gives a local colour to the story. Second, perhaps the writer wants to show the existence of both African dialect and British English as a result of colonialism.

Question e. : Why do you think thieves who come to rob Jonathan speak English with a heavier African accent than Jonathan does?

Answer : This might be because they were the inhabitants who either never educated, or perhaps never interacted with a broader society. They were not educated and were not from the city.

Question f. : The title of the story "Civil Peace" itself is ironical as there is little to differentiate 'civil peace' from 'civil war'. Do you think that the title of of this story is appropriate, or would  "Civil War" have been a better title? Explain.

Answer: No doubt the title is ironical. There is no difference between the war and post war situation. There are still destruction, chaos, unemployment, and social crimes. 

Still I think it's an appropriate title. Firstly, the time of the story is post war period. So it can never be named Civil War. Secondly, the title suggests peace will be restored gradually. Thus it gives an optimistic attitude.

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Reference beyond the text 

Question a. How would describe the civil peace in Nigeria?

Answer : The civil peace in Nigeria isn't complete in real sense. Moving around Jonathan's story, we find that a real peace has not been established in the ebo society after it has been destroyed by the war. 

Jonathan is busy in collecting the torn parts of his life to resettle it. The other miners are jobless, homeless and hopeless. There is complete unemployment. Anarchy still prevails there. 

There is no government protection to the citizen. Muggers rob people in the public places, and thieves visit and knock at doors asking for money without any fear of police. neither neighbours, nor the police come up to help in such situations. People were on their own for their survival.

Such a situation is only softened by the optimism of Jonathan with his life mantra "Nothing puzzles God".

Question b : What kind of attitude towards life do you think you would have if your situation was similar to that of Jonathan's?

Answer: It needs to be a man of high optimism with firm determination with deep faith in God to be Jonathan. I am not that. I am a normal person like other co-sufferers of Jonathan who lacked his characteristics. 

So, if my situation was similar to him, I would have been miserable, dejected and depressed. I would have been cursing my ill fate, visiting mines for them being re-opened.

Question c: Draw the character sketch of Jonathan Iwegbu.

Answer: Jonathan is the protagonist (the leading character) of this story. The writer has presented him as an optimistic, industrious (hard working) resilient (able to recover quickly from conditions) character.

 

Unlike other survivors, he is not disheartened or depressed in the war-aftermath .With a deep faith in God, he endeavors to resettle his life, in which his family too helps him. He never regrets the loss he had to bear in war period. He has even lost his son, which is an irreversible loss. But in spite of mourning, he accepts the situation. To him every thing he got back is a miracle. He thinks himself to be 'extraordinarily lucky'. His life mantra is "Nothing puzzles God".

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Interpretation and Analysis of the Story

1. Writer:  Chinua Achebe -- a Nigerian novelist, regarded as the most dominant figure in     

    modern literature

[Chinua Ahebe]

2. Genre: a realistic story, a story about Civil War (1967-1970) and the "civil peace" that  

     followed , on the lives of ordinary Nigerian people

3. Publication: It was first published in the Nigerian journal Okikein 1971 and one year  

     later, in 1972, it was collected in Girls at War and Other Stories.

4. The setting:  The setting of the story is Enugu, the former capital of Biafra (Nigeria) after       the civil war.

5. Point of View: The narration is presented in third person point of view . The narrator is  

     limited to Jonathan's point of view.

6. Tone: The story has an optimistic and hopeful tone.

7. Mood: The mood of the story is depressing where the writer is writing about the living  

    conditions of Jonathan's family and the other miners. But the dominant optimism in the  

    main character makes it optimistic and hopeful.

8. Conflict: (A): Thematic conflict between Jonathan's optimism and the war torn world,

    (B) External conflict is when the group of robbers knock at the door demanding for       

    money.

9. Irony of the title: The title of the story is ironic because even though the war has come to  

    an end, it is still chaotic and still filled with troubles and strife. Robbers knock and  

    demand for money without any fear of law and say that it is "civil peace".

10. Theme: The major themes of this story are:

• Gratitude
• Optimism
• Struggle
• Survival
• Positive thinking
• Deep faith in God

11. Message of the Story: The message of this story is remaining optimistic in even in the most unfavorable situations of life and endeavoring for future. 

Another important message is we should not value materialistic things more than family.

12. Major Literary Devices: The major literary devices used in the story are:

• Synecdoche: There is  synecdoche when the narrator says Jonathan had "come out of the war" with "five heads".by the use of such a language the writer indicates a widespread killings and violence in the civil war.
• Flashback: There is flashback when the narrator tells about the past experiences of Jonathan. For example "One day at the height of war it was commandeered for urgent military action."
• Foregrounding: A very clear example of 'foregrounding' when Jonathan is returning back home with his 'ex-gratia' amount. He is over conscious and careful about the amount. Further, foregrounding becomes clearer when, in spite of being  a heavy  sleeper, he could not sleep till late as if he had foreseen some impending danger.

13. The Refrain: The best aspect of the story is the phrase "Nothing puzzles God". It has come as a refrain (a word, line or phrase that is repeated in a literary work) in the story.  

      

It has been the life mantra of Jonathan, which provides energy to Jonathan to remain positive in life. Also, the refrain is directly related with the major theme of the story.

14. Prevalent Sense of Dehumanization in the Story: Through the use of his language the writer has brought a sense of 'dehumanization', which helps the audiences to fathom the depth of the war and post war effects on the people. 

 

Some instances of dehumanization : when heads are viewed as collection of pieces      

  (five heads). Next, the war has destroyed a sense of community (which is another characteristics of dehumanization). Jonathan celebrates the success of his plan. He is focused on himself and his family.

 He celebrates the success of his plan not even thinking about his fellow sufferers. Similarly, nobody came to help Jonathan-family,  when he called for help.

 

Yet another example of dehumanization is when we read his son's grave has become a repository (store place) to hide his cycle. 

15. Symbolism : The major symbols used in the story are the follows which make the story rich in its expression :

• Jonathan's Cycle: The cycle is the first symbol which audiences come across while reading the story. The cycle brought the back to the humanity after the war. It symbolizes hope and revival of life.
• Mines: It is the symbol of difficulties that people face in war and post war situation. The men at the mines are homeless and jobless and are depressed as to how to restart their lives.
• Ex-gratia (or, Egg-rasher): It symbolizes corruption, crime  and conflicts that was prevalent in the war aftermath. 
• The Wine: Another symbol is the fresh palm wine that Jonathan made in his house. This symbolizes the grief and sadness that occurred during the civil war is washed away. 

[Image Credit: Google  / Sketch Credit : Sumit Kawar]