5 Civil Peace by Chinua Achebe

 5. Civil Peace

Chinua Achebe /tʃɪnwɑ: ətʃɛbeɪ/ (1930 -2013) 

The story "Civil Peace" was written by Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. His first novel Things Fall Apart (1958) is the most widely read book in modern African literature. His later novels include No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), Anthills of the Savannah (1987), and his last novel There Was a Country was published in 2012. He also published a large number of short stories, children's books, and essay collections. Since he was born in the Igbo village of Ogidi in south-eastern Nigeria, his novels focus on the traditions of Igbo society. He wrote about the cultural and political turmoil of Nigeria, from colony to post colony, and through civil war and beyond.

The story 'Civil Peace' (1971) is a realistic story having the setting of the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War. It is about the effects of the Nigerian Civil War on the lives of ordinary Nigerian people, and the “civil peace” that followed. Nigeria became an independent nation from the British colony in 1960. The Nigerian Civil War began in 1967 when the Igbo tried to separate from Nigeria to form the independent Republic of Biafra. After enduring three years of bloody battles, the Ibo were forced to surrender in 1970, ending the war. Biafrans suffered a severe famine due to the effect of war. Nearly a million people died of starvation.

 Main Character : 

Jonathan Iwegbu , a positive attitude person, has survived with five members family during war.

Summary

The protagonist of the story, Jonathan Iwegbu thought himself very lucky to have survived during the Nigerian Civil War although he had lost his youngest son. He considered himself “extraordinarily lucky”. He had come out of the war with five inestimable  blessings to him, his wife Maria and his three out of four children.

 The miracle in his life as a bonus was his old bicycle which he got in fine condition after the war. It had a little history as that bicycle was almost seized by the military officer during the war. Jonathan guessed that the officer might accept a bribe in exchange for the bicycle. He saved his bicycle providing 2 pounds to the officer and then he had buried his bicycle. After taking his bicycle out of the ground, it just needed a little palm-oil greasing. When miracles took place in his life, he used to say in wonder, "Nothing puzzles God". He was pleased to have his bicycle and started using it as a taxi. He charged six pounds per trip and within two weeks, he earned £115 through his taxi service. 

Then he made his journey to Enugu, where another miracle was waiting for him. He became quite surprised and delighted to find his little house still standing. He examined his house that needed some repairs of minor details like doors, windows and a roof. So, Jonathan collected available materials: zinc, wood, and cardboard. He hired a carpenter to complete the housework. After the completion of the repair, he moved in with his overjoyed family of five members.

The children started selling mangoes, his wife started making breakfast akara balls for neighbours to start life again. Jonathan began selling palm-wine to villages. He opened a bar for soldiers and others.

 The very optimistic Jonathan went to the offices of the Coal Corporation where he used to be a miner to find job again. But the only thing he did find out in the end was that his little house with his family was a greater blessing after the horrors of war. He continued his palm wine bar.

Despite hardships, Jonathan's family did better for a living.  The final windfall is the ex-gratia  payment (the egg rasher ) he receives. It confirms his belief in a generous god. 'Nothing puzzles God'. The government started handing out egg rashers payments of twenty pounds in exchange for the Biafran money Nigerians turned over to the government's treasury. It was like Christmas for him and for many others. As soon as the pound notes were given to Jonathan, he placed the money inside his trousers pocket. He left the office with his money. He had to be extra careful from the thieves on his way home. He was worried till he reached his house. At home that evening, Jonathan became restless and couldn't get to sleep late at night. Finally, when he slept, he was awakened by a violent knock on the front door. He called out to ask who was knocking, and the reply came from the thieves. Jonathan's family was frightened and called out for help from the police and the neighbours but no one came there to help them. Eventually, they stopped calling. The family was helpless.

Jonathan and his family were in terror. The children and Maria were crying, Jonathan was groaning. The leader of the thieves spoke again, mockingly asking if he should call soldiers for help, but Jonathan said not to do so. Then the leader of the thieves demanded £100. They warned Jonathan to enter inside his house. Jonathan related his real condition to them.  Maria and the children were crying. The leader told them not to cry. They just wanted some money and then they would go away. The thief leader promised not to hurt Jonathan or his family if he cooperated. Eventually, Jonathan realized their lack of options, he informed them about the money which he had got from the egg rasher. He even informed them that he didn't have £100. He swore about having a total amount of 20 pounds in his house.  Some thieves insisted they should search the house for more, but the thief leader believed that was all Jonathan had and accepted it. Jonathan went to get the twenty pounds out of his locked box to give to the thieves to save his family. The thieves moved away from there after receiving the amount from him through the window. 

The next morning, the neighbours came over to commiserate with Jonathan, but his family wasn't at home. They were at their day's work. Jonathan told his sympathizers that the loss of 20 pounds was nothing; the week before he did not have the egg-rasher money, and he didn't want to depend on it. The money went on easily from his hands, as did many other things in the war. Jonathan explained to his neighbours that the reward money couldn’t compare to what he lost in the war. He chose to focus on his work in the present rather than regret what has happened, since “Nothing puzzles God.”

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

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

Ans :  He thought of himself  as “extraordinarily lucky” because he had come out of the war with five inestimable blessings to him, his wife Maria and his three out of four children.  He got his house and his bicycle back. They just needed some repairs for use.

b. What are the ‘five blessings’ for which Jonathan is grateful?

Ans : The ‘five blessings’ for which Jonathan is grateful are his head, his wife Maria’s head and the heads of 3 out of their four children.

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

Ans : Jonathan mistrusted the officer who wanted to take his bicycle because the military officer was ready to take bribe in exchange for his bicycle. This tells us that the situation in Nigeria was very worse and the government officials were  corrupt. They wanted their own profit from the citizens by misusing the law. There was poverty and no peace after the war in Nigeria.

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

Ans : There was a hard knock at the door at night. Jonathan called out to ask about the visitors, he got the reply from the visitors. The visitors were the thieves who had come so late at night to rob money. Yes, Jonathan and his wife were completely surprised. They even became fearful because they hadn't been awakened so late at night in such a way before that.

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

Ans : No one in the neighbourhood responds when the thieves pound on  Jonathan's door because the neighbours were afraid of the bad situation of the presence of the thieves and there were no police nearby.  By hearing Jonathan's family´s crying for help, the thieves also mockingly called out for police as they knew very well that no one would come there to support his family. 

 Reference to the context

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.

Ans :   Jonathan uses the same expression "Nothing puzzles God" in the story whenever a miracle happens with in his life. He uses this line when he gets his bicycle back in a fine condition out of the ground. Next, he uses it when he has finds his house still standing after the war. By saying "Nothing puzzles God" he means to say that anything can happen here and nothing  can surprise and even puzzle almighty God who is omniscient. God knows everything. The last time he uses it is at the end of the story after his family is robbed of the ex- gratia.

This expression reveals that he is a quite optimistic person who has a keen belief in almighty God. He is delighted to get miracles in his life. He is a good person and enjoys everything he has. He never regrets on his losses. He keeps on doing hard work.

b. How does Jonathan change as he experiences the conflicts in his life? Explain.

Ans : Jonathan changes according to the situation. His optimistic feelings about his life and family play important role in his actions. Being an optimistic person, he never loses his hope. He experiences many conflicts in his life. There are miracles and his struggles in his life for happy survival. He has lost his child during the war but he believes himself lucky to get 5 inestimable blessings.  Jonathan labours for the welfare of his family having faith or belief in God.  He changes according to the demands of the time and his own family needs. He believes in his hard labour as well as god the most.

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 ...”

i. Who is the speaker?

Ans : The speaker is the main character of the story, Jonathan Iwegbu

ii. Who is the speaker talking to?

Ans : The speaker is talking to the thieves who demanded his money.

iii. Who does “they” refer to?

Ans : "They" refers to the government officers.

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?

Ans:- Nigerian English has words like Soja "soldier" and katakata "confusion", "trouble" derived apparently from English words but transformed by Native language phonologies.

 By using such dialects in the story the author tries to focus on the native language, to promote the dialects, to know the status of people in Nigeria with the realistic touch of Nigerian culture and literature.

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

And:- We think the thieves who came to rob Jonathan speak English with a heavier African accent than Jonathan because Jonathan had got education and the thieves' use of slang indicated their ignorance and lack of good education. The writer has used such dialect to create authentic Nigerian characters and setting of the story.

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 this story is appropriate, or would “Civil War” have been a better title? Explain.

Ans : The title of the story "Civil Peace" itself is ironical as there is little to differentiate ‘civil peace’ from ‘civil war’. The title is in ironic sense because even after the end of war the people living in Nigeria don’t have trust for each other. This title of the story is inappropriate because there is not peace and security. People are being robbed. They have fear everywhere. There was difficulty for a living. Most of the people were living under the poverty line.