CIVIL PEACE Chinua Achebe though some nearby structures were reduced to a They warned Jonathan to enter inside
rned Jonathan to enter inside his house.
• Civil Peace by Chinua Achebe Summary
(Theme of the story) -This realistic short story “Civil
Peace” has been written by a Nigerian writer
Chinua Achebe. This story has presented the effects
of the Nigerian Civil War on the people and also the
‘Civil Peace’ that followed. This story has presented
the setting of Civil Peace in Eastern Nigeria after
the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). The Nigerian
Civil War lasted for three years. Within those years,
nearly millions died due to starvation. This short
story is about a Nigerian family who lived in Enugu,
a place in Eastern Nigeria. This family had
experienced the devastated Nigerian Civil War. The
main character of this story is Jonathan Lwegbu,
who is an optimistic person.
• Main Summary: -The main character
Jonathan Lwegbu considered himself
extraordinarily lucky. The miracle in his life was
that he had come out of the war with five
inestimable blessings. He, his wife, Maria, and
three of their four children were alive. All of the
five heads were safe in his family. The next miracle
in his life as a bonus was his old bicycle which he
got in fine condition after the war. When miracles
took place in his life, he used to utter a phrase in
wonder “Nothing puzzles God”. He almost lost his
bicycle during the war, when an army officer
attempted to commandeer it. Sensing a “certain
lack of grip and firmness in his manner,” Jonathan
guessed that the officer might a bribe in exchange
for the bicycle. He saved his bicycle providing 2
pounds to the officer. After that, he buried his
bicycle. After taking his bicycle out of the ground,
started using his bicycle as a taxi. Within two
weeks, he earned £115 through his taxi service. •
Jonathan then travelled to Enugu, the capital city,
in search of his house. He became quite surprised
and delighted to find his house still standing, even
pile of rubble 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
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 for help. 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. The leader of the thieves demanded £100.
Jonathan related his real condition to them. The
voice trailed off, and a volley 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 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.
Civil peace exercises
• Understanding the text
• • Answer the following questions.
• a. Why did Jonathan think of himself as
‘extraordinarily lucky’? • ➜ In the story, Jonathan
thought himself is extraordinary lucky because he
and his family with his house were saved in the
Nigerian war. Moreover, he got his bicycle back and
could repair his house cheaply.
• b. What are the ‘five blessings’ for which Jonathan
is grateful? • ➜ The “five inestimable blessings”
were his head, his wife Maroa’s head and the heads
of 3 out of their four children for which Jonathan is
very grateful.
• c. Why did Jonathan mistrust the officer who
wanted to take his bicycle? What does this tell
you about the situation in Nigeria? • ➜ Jonathan
mistrusted the officer who wanted to take his
bicycle because the officer easily accepted bribe
exchange of his bicycle. He knew about the
character of the officer through his acts of
gripping the bicycle. This tells us that the
situation in Nigeria was so worse where
government officers were are also corrupted who
expected their profit from the citizens in the
name of the law. • Hence, Jonathan mistrust the
officer because he was not confident in saying. It
tells about the lack of trust because of War and
poverty and lack of peace in Nigeria.
• d. What visitors might be at the door? Are
Jonathan and his wife completely surprised?
Explain. • ➜ The Knock at the door is hard late at
night. When Jonathan calls out to access about
the visitors, he gets the reply from the visitors. So
the visitors might be that keeps who have come
so late at night to rob money. • Jonathan and his
wife were completely surprised. They even
become fearful because they haven’t been awake
and so late at night in such a way before. • 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? • ➜ Yes,
No one in the neighbourhood responds when the
thieves pound on Jonathan’s door because the
neighbours were also feeling the same terror or
fear as Jonathan’s family members. • The thieves
called for the police because they knew very well
that no one will come to support Jonathan’s
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. • ➜ In the story “Civil Peace”,
Jonathan uses this expression “Nothing puzzles
God” whenever something miraculous happens
with him. He uses this line when he gets his
bicycle back in a fine condition out of the ground.
Next, He uses it when he finds his house still
standing after the war. By “Nothing puzzles God”,
he means that anything can happen but almighty
God, being omniscient, is not surprised and even
possible by anything. He means to say that God
knows each and everything. The last time he uses
it at the end of the story after his family is robbed
of the exgratia. This expression reveals, shows,
depicts, represents that he is quite an optimistic
person who has been a belief of Almighty God.
He feels too delighted to get miracles in his life.
This expression also reveals that he is a good
person who enjoys everything he has but never
laments on his losses.
• b. How does Jonathan change as he experiences
the conflicts in his life? Explain. • ➜ Jonathan is a
hardworking person who believes in his hard
labour as well as god the most. He is quite an
optimistic person who never loses his hope. He
has experienced many conflicts in his life. He has
lost his child during the war but he believes
himself lucky to get 5 inestimable blessings.
Jonathan keeps on doing his hard labour for the
sake and welfare of his family keeping faith or
believes in God. He changes according to the
demands of the time and his own family needs.
• 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? • ➜ The
speaker was Jonathon. • ii. Who is the speaker
talking to? • ➜ The speaker is talking to the
thieves or robbers. • iii. Who does “they” refer
to? • ➜ “They” refers to the government.
• 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? •
➜ Nigerian English has words like Soja “soldier”
and katakata “confusion”,
“trouble” delivered apparently from English words
but transformed by Native language phonologies. •
The author added dialects here in the story because
of the following points:
i. To focus on the native language
ii. To promote the dialects;
iii. To know the status of living people in Nigeria &
iv. To promote the nationality.
• e. Why do you think the thieves who come to rob
Jonathan speak English with a heavier African
accent than Jonathan does? • ➜ I think the
thieves who came to rob Jonathan speak English
with a heavier African accent then Jonathan
because of the following points:
i. To show that they were (white) American.
ii. To show that they were powerful.
iii. To be believed by the Africans people that they
know the English language.
iv. To show that they were superior and strong
enough.
• 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” miracles in his life. He never lives in disparity. He
have been a better title? Explain. • ➜ Yes, the is a hardworking person who thinks positively for
story is ironical. This title of this story is everyone. He loves his family members much. At
inappropriate because of the following reasons: the time of hardship, he tries to save his family
• i. The people living in Nigeria could not trust the first. During the time of civil peace, he works so
government public servant, a police officer as he hard to restore his life and his family. His wife
was corrupt a lot. and his kids also work so hard to support him. He
really enjoys his present, giving value to his
• ii. Life of the people did not change.
relative as well as his belongings. He never
There was difficult to join hands in mouth. Most of
regrets his loss. He starts the taxi service, repairs
the people were living under the poverty line. • iii.
his house, opens a bar for soldiers to support his
After the ending of the War in Nigeria, Robbery did
family. • As an optimistic person, he doesn’t
not stop or controlled by the government. • So, the
regret losing his 20 Pounds which he had got as a
title of this story “Civil War” would be better.
favour from the government. • Hence, Jonathan
• Reference beyond the text
Iwegbu was the protagonist Central character of
• a. How would you describe the civil peace in
the story. He was an ex-miner who was very
Nigeria? • ➜ The condition of the Civil please in
labourers, and resourceful. He was also the
Nigeria wasn’t good. After the war, the time of the
responsible head of the family to inspire his
Civil peace was the time of the resettlement. There
family with optimism.
was nothing new for the people. People had to face
various problems during that time. The
government’s law during that time was good. There
were many risks in people’s life. Thieves Used To
Loot and Beat people without having any fear of
law. Though the Civil piece prevailed there, there
was Anarchy everywhere.
• b. What kind of attitude towards life do you think
you would have if your situation was similar to
that of Jonathan’s? • ➜ I would be Optimist,
hopeful and ready to face all the challenges. I
would be helpful to every people. I would follow
the right path, take the right decision, believe in
God and many more…
• • c. Draw the character sketch of Jonathan
Iwegbu.
• ➜ Jonathan is quite an optimistic person who
has been faith in God. He always utters a line in
the name of god saying that ” Nothing puzzles
God”. He becomes quite delighted to find