Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Civil Peace
Civil Peace
Civil Peace
Chinua Achebe
Author: Chinua Achebe was born in 1930 AD and died in 2013 AD. He was born in Igbo Village of Ogidi
in South Eastern Nigeria. He was a novelist, poet, professor and critic. He attended the University of
Ibadan where he studied English, history and theology (the study of the nature of God and religious
belief.). He wrote about cultural and political turmoil (turbulence, disorder) of Nigeria, from colony to
post colony and through civil war and beyond.
Setting: The setting of the story is Enugu, the former capital city of Biafra ( Eastern Nigeria ) in the
aftermath(the consequences or after-effects of a significant unpleasant event.) of Nigerian Civil War.
Narration: Third person
Characters: Jonathan Iwegbo, Maria Iwegbo, Thief Leader, Thief Chorus, Robbery victim, The army
officer
i.Protagonist: Jonathan Iwegbo
ii.Thieves: antagonist
Themes:
1. Untrustworthy authority: The government authority is irresponsible. The military officer
who threatened to commandeer(seize) his bicycle and accepted the bribe. The government
owned Coal Corporation remains closed even after the peace in Nigeria.
2. The Power of positive thinking: Jonathan Iwegbo is optimistic about future despite the
immeasurable losses. He has managed post war landscape(aspect).
3. The value of hard work: There is strong work ethic(moral principle). The Iwegbo family
works consistently to improve livelihood. Jonathan runs a bar for soldiers, starts taxi service,
his wife and Children sell breakfast and mangoes.
4. Inherent violence in unstable societies: There is robbery as the violence of the war.
5. War: war is everywhere which has devastated the country’s infrastructures and
economy.
6. The power of God: God is invoked(pray to) regularly throughout the story. Jonathan’s
religious belief is reflected in the refrain(repeated line) ‘ Nothing Puzzles God”.
7. Damaging effects of colonialism : It deals with European legalism(practice of following
law) in Africa. Its reference is made to British products like biro pens. It also shows a
society struggling with long lasting effects of British colonialism and imperialism.
What is the story about?
“Civil Peace” is a short story by Chinua Achebe. It is set in Nigeria just after the Civil
quite surprised and delighted to find his house still standing, even though some nearby structures were
reduced to a pile of rubble(remains, ruins) from the war. He examined his house and concluded that his
house needed some repairs. So Jonathan immediately collected available materials: zinc, wood, and
cardboard. He hired a carpenter to complete the housework.
After the completion of the repair, he moved his family members back home. After their
settlement, the entire family members worked hard to earn money and restore their lives. The children
picked mangoes and Maria made Akara balls to sell in the neighbourhood. Jonathan used to
work in the mines before the war. But when he realized that he couldn't regain his job as a coal miner,
Jonathan opened up a bar for the soldiers, which he ran out of his home. Jonathan was thankful to God
that he had family members, a home and a job.
Facing a lot of hardships, Jonathan's family did well, and then they even got a bonus from the
government. The government started handing out egg rashers (as a favour) payments of
twenty pounds in exchange for the Biafran money Nigerians turned over to the government's treasury.
Jonathan left office with his money in his pocket. He was quite worried about the thieves on his way
home. 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 is
knocking, and the reply came from the thieves.
Jonathan's family called out for help from the police and the neighbours but no one came
there to help them. Eventually, they stopped calling. The thieves called out then, repeating the families
pleas(appeal) for help. Jonathan and his family were in terror. The children and Maria were crying,
Jonathan was groaning(whimpering). The leader of the thieves spoke again, mockingly asking if he
should call soldiers for help, but Jonathan said not to do so. The leader of the thieves demanded £100.
They warned Jonathan to enter inside his house. Jonathan related his real condition to them. The voice
trailed off(become quiter ), and a volley(a number of bullet) of automatic rifle fire burst through the air.
Maria and the children started crying again. The leader told them not to cry. They just wanted some
money and then they would go away. Jonathan 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. The thieves agreed to accept that money. Some of the thieves
mumbled that he had more money and they should move inside and look, the leader told them to shut
up. Jonathan went to get the twenty pounds out of his locked box to give to the thieves. The thieves
moved away from there after receiving the amount from Jonathan through the window. The next
morning, the neighbours came over to commiserate(offer sympathy) 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 is 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.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did Jonathan think of himself as 'extraordinarily lucky'?
Answer: Jonathan thought of himself as 'extraordinarily lucky' because he survived the Civil War with
his wife and three children.