Class 11 New course

Civil Peace

by Chinua Achebe

 

·     The central character Jonathan Iwegbu considers himself fortunate as he survives along with his family members.

·     He works hard in aftermath of the war as he starts a taxi service and opens the bar for soldiers.

·     He gets reward of 20 pounds 

 

 Summary

 Jonathan has survived the Nigerian Civil War along with his wife and three of his four children, and thus considers himself “extraordinarily lucky”. He also treasures his still-working bicycle, which he buried during the war to ensure it would not be stolen. Another apparent miracle is his still-standing home, which he repairs and reoccupies after returning home to the capital city of Enugu. To explain both his good and bad fortune to himself and others, he often repeats a phrase: “Nothing puzzles God.”

Jonathan works hard in the aftermath of the war, using his bicycle to start a taxi service and opening a bar for soldiers. His family mirrors his example, cooking food and picking fruit for sale. Since the coal mine where Jonathan worked before the war has not reopened, this resilience is crucial towards securing even their minor comfort.

One day, after turning over rebel currency, Jonathan is given an award of 20 pounds. He takes care not to be robbed, remembering a theft he observed several days earlier, in which a man broke down in public over the indignity.

That night, a group of thieves knocks on his door demanding money. Frightened, the family calls for the neighbors and police, but the heavy silence when they finish reminds them that nobody looks out for anyone but himself. The thieves then mock them, crying out even louder to indicate how helpless the family is.

The thief demands 100 pounds, promising not to hurt Jonathan or his family if he cooperates. Eventually, Jonathan realizes their lack of options, and gives the thieves the 20 pounds of reward money so they will leave the family unharmed. Some thieves insist they should search the house for more, but the thief leader believes this is all Jonathan has, and accepts it.

The next morning, Jonathan and the family are back at work as the neighbors arrive. Sensing their confusion over his ability to toss off the situation of the night before, Jonathan explains to his neighbors that the reward money cannot compare to what he lost in the war. He chooses to focus on his work in the present rather than regret what has happened, since “Nothing puzzles God.”

Theme:

The story presents post war trauma. It presents how people suffer in civil war time. It also presents the difficulties to maintain peace when there is civil war. The stake of the governance are corrupt. They give trouble to public. "Jonathan, suspecting he might be amenable to influence, rummaged in his raffia bag and produced the two pounds with which he had been going to buy firewood which his wife, Maria, retailed to camp officials for extra stock-fish and corn meal, and got his bicycle." It shows the authorities are corrupted. Jonathan has to bribe the soldiers to get his own bicycle. It presents tragic situation of governance in post war time. Similarly, the words 'extra-ordinarily lucky' 'Happy survival!' present people willingness to be alive in war. The common people very delighted if they are found to be alive in war. Jonathan considers extraordinarily lucky as he survives though he is asylum seeker. He has to leave his own land. He has to go somewhere else. However, he is happy to be alive.

The narrator presents the hardship of economic life in post war time. He narrates: 

            His children picked mangoes near the military                           cemetery and sold them to soldiers' wives for a few                pennies - real pennies this time - and his wife started                making breakfast akara balls for neighbors in a hurry                to start life again".

The Economic hardship of post war period can be seen in the story. The collection of mangoes for few pennies presents very ugly picture of the economic society during the war time. The real pennies of the time presents the harsh economic condition of people. 

The story also presents the fear of having no security in the society in post war time. It is expressed in the line:

        As soon as the pound notes were placed in his palm                Jonathan simply closed it tight over them and buried fist         and money inside his trouser pocket. He had to be extra            careful because he had seen a man a couple of days                earlier collapse into near-madness in an instant before            that oceanic crowd because no sooner had he got his                twenty pounds than some heartless ruffian picked it off            him.

Jonathan has closed his hand tightly. He is afraid that his money would be taken away by some one else. There are no peace and security anybody can be robbed at any time. He has to he very careful. The word extra careful for only twenty pounds presents the harsh reality of collapse of securit system in post war time. Similarly, the line 'Na tief-man and him people,' also presents the lack of security. The gang of thief dared to say who they are. The direct utterance as a thief clarifies there is no peace and security in the society. 

• The story has irony. The title of the story is Civil Peace. However, it presents the picture of traumatic situation of post war. Therefore, the story  questions on maintainance of peace in post war time and people suffering.

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