Civil Peace || Chinua Achebe || Compulsory English Grade 11

 

5. Civil Peace

-Chinua Achebe

 

Chinua Achebe

v Born in 1930 and died in 2013 (Igbo Village, Ogidi, South Eastern Nigeria

v A Nigerian (a west African country) novelist, poet, professor, and critic,

v Attended the University of Ibadan where he studied English, history, theology

v Written short stories, children's books and essays,

v Novels focus on Igbo society (people living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria who speak Igbo)

v Writings are about the cultural and political turmoil of Nigeria from colony to Post colony, civil war and beyond

v His works:

o   Things Fall Apart (1958)

o   No Longer at Ease (1960)

o   Arrow of God ( 1964)

o   A man of the People (1966)

o   Anthills of the Savannah (1987)

o   There Was a Country (2012)

 

Historical Background:

v Nigerian Civil War or Biafra War (6 July 1967-15 Jan 1970), broke out after 10 years Nigeria became independent nation from British Colony in 1960.

v Cause of War: Political, religious, economic, and ethnic tension between the Igbos (Easter Part) and Hausas (Northern Part) when Igbos region proclaimed themselves as the Republic of Biafra.

v Loses: 1 million civilians died from famine and fighting,

v Coloned Odumegwu Ojukwa, the Military governor of Eastern Part proclaimed the separation of that part of the country as independent nation called The Republic of Biafra on 30 May 1967.

v Effects of the War: 3 Million people lost their lives (disease and hunger), continuation of religious and ethnic tensions in the politics of Nigeria, Military government was in power,

v Ibo were forced to surrender in 1970 ending the war,

v Biafrans suffered a severe famine due to the effect of war

 

The Story: Civil Peace

Published Year: 1971

Setting: aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War of Biafra War (1976-1970)

Subject: About the effect of the war on the people and "civil peace" that followed,

 

Characters:

1.      Jonathan Iwegbu

2.     Maria Iwegbu

3.     Thief leader

4.    Thief chorus

5.     Robbery victim

6.     The army officer

 

Themes

Untrustworthy authority, Power of positive thinking, Work ethic, Hidden violence, War, God, Legacy of colonialism

 

Civil Peace Glossary

akara balls               - fried bean cakes popular as a breakfast food in Nigeria

amenable                -responsive; open to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled

anini                          -a small Nigerian coin worth very little

biro                            -a brand of ball point pen, often used to refer to pens in general

Bournvita tins        - a brand of malted drink mixes that used to be packaged in small metal tins

Coal Corporation  -a government-owned corporation with a monopoly in coal mining, production and sales; also known as the Nigerian Coal Corporation

commandeer        - to officially take possession or control of something, especially for military or government purposes

demijohn                - a large container, encased in wicker, often used for brewing

destitute                  - extremely poor

edifice                                   - a large, imposing, seemingly important building

Enugu                       - the capital of the short-lived state of Biafra, established by rebelling Southeastern Nigerian provinces

ex gratia                   - a legal term used to describe awards or compensation given as a favor and not as a right; this designation allows payments to be made without the giver assuming liability or obligation

fortnight                  - two weeks

imperious                - arrogant and overbearing

inestimable            -too great or precious to calculate

katakata                  - Glencoe's literature guide suggests that this may be an onomatopoeia for machine gun fire

palm wine               - an alcoholic beverage popular throughout Africa and Asia, created from the fermented sap of the palm tree

queue                                   - a line of people

raffia bag                 - a bag woven from fibers of the raffia palm

retailed                                 - sold directly to the public, as in goods or products

stock-fish                - dried, un-salted fish

wey de for inside  - a phrase that means "that went with it" in Nigerian slang

 

 

Exercises:

Understanding the Text

Answer the following questions.

 

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

Ans: Jonathan, the main character of the story thought himself as extraordinarily lucky because he with his five family members survived in the deadly Civil War in Nigeria and he also got out his old bicycle and old zinc house back.

 

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

Ans:- The five blessings for which Jonathan is grateful are he himself, his wife and his three children who survived along with him in the civil war in Nigeria.

 

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 studied the way the officer was behaving while demanding Jonathan’s bicycle in the name of law, and he suspected the officer that he could be amenable to influence. Jonathan got his bicycle back from the officer in only two pounds. This incident of an officer being bribed by Jonathan shows that there was the prevalence of corruption among government job holders who would get bribes from those poor Nigerian citizens during civil peace. Because of lack of peace and harmony, famine, unemployment people suffered a lot and those who were in government jobs became corrupted.

 

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

Ans:- At midnight Jonathan heard some knocking at the door. The second knocking was so loud and imperious. Jonathan heard a reply, “I am a thief and my people.” from outside when he asked who they were. So the visitors, at midnight, could be no one than the thieves who had gone at Jonathan’s house to rob him. Jonathan and his wife are completely surprised and they beg help from Neighbor and police. They had never met such visitors at midnight before.

 

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

Ans:- A gang of thieves have come with weapons and they have fired in the sky to threaten Jonathan family. Because of the fear of being robbed and killed, they neighborhood do not respond when they pound on Jonathan’s door. The thieves call for the police to mock Jonathan family because they know that nobody comes there to save the 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:- God is called upon regularly throughout the story, mostly in the way others might refer to fate. Both in terms of positive and negative situations, Jonathan's religious sensibility are reflected by his refrain: “Nothing puzzles God”. Jonathan repeatedly refers to positive outcomes - like the survival of his home and family - as “blessings” or “miracles”. Likewise, he believes that "Nothing puzzles God" in bad situations, like with the Coal Corporation's closing or with the climactic robbery. By imbuing God with the power to understand, Jonathan frees himself from agonizing about the seemingly random experiences of the Civil War and its aftermath. He may not understand, but God does. This allows him to use his energy constructively in the present instead of self-pitying in the seemingly hard to make out past.

 

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

Ans:- Jonathan Iwegbu is the protagonist of "Civil Peace." He is defined by optimism and hardiness, even in the face of great tragedy. Despite the devastation of the Civil War, Jonathan celebrates what he still has rather than regretting what he has lost. For instance, he gives thanks for the lives of his wife and three living children, instead of mourning the son he buried. Jonathan is not only optimistic, but also industrious. Instead of waiting for the situation to change, he starts several businesses. Through the end of the story, he remains focused on the future. Even when his ex gratia money is stolen by thieves, he tells sympathetic neighbors that he "count[s] it as nothing" and continues to work.

 

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 protagonist of the story, Jonathan Igewbu is the speaker.

 

ii. Who is the speaker talking to?

Ans:- The speaker is talking to the head of a gang of thieves who have come to rob him.

 

iii. Who does ‘they’ refer to?

Ans:- “They” refers to the person who gave him ex-gratia or egg-rasher.

 

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:- There is an extended dialogue between Jonathan and the thief leader at the last section of the story. The language Jonathan speaks is quite different to the gang of thieve speak. Jonathan speaks clearly, with a strong sense of grammar, the thieves are clearly uneducated. This show the split in the community. The English spoken there is transformation by Native languages’ phonology and it has a musical, theatrical quality that echoes back to tribal ritual recalling an Igbo past In contrast Jonathan has long traded for the more 'civilized' town life. They are of the same people, yet fundamentally unconnected.

 

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

Ans:- The thieves who come to rob Jonathan speak English with Native languages’ phonology i.e. with a heavier African accent than Jonathan does, because they may be uneducated and can’t speak English as fine as Jonathan.

 

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 the story is appropriate, or would ‘Civil War’ have been a better title? Explain.

Ans:- The title of the story "Civil Peace" is ironical because the period is neither social, nor peaceful and there is even no law and order. The presence of governmental officials’ corruption and robbery and theft are the evidences of this. People are not actually enjoying the rule of law and peace during the time of civil peace. Actually there is no peace; still people are suffered of hidden violence. The only difference between “Civil Peace” and “Civil War” is that the violence is hidden in Civil Peace where as the violence is direct in Civil War. I think, though ironic, the title “Civil Peace” is appropriate because the story is about the period of Civil Peace after the declaration of the end of Civil War. The title “Civil War” would not have been better than the title “Civil War” because the story wants to tell us the post war situation or consequences of the war during the period of “Civil Peace”. Or in other words, Chinua Achebe wants to define the readers what “Civil Peace” means.

 

Reference beyond the Text

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

Ans: The Biafra War of Civil War is Nigeria between 1967 and 1970 caused lots of deaths and damages in Nigeria. Biafrans suffered a severe famine and nearly a million people died of starvation. People suffered a lot in Nigeria in post war period. The time of civil peace was a time for resettlement for Nigerian people. People have lost jobs as many Government companies have been closed. They have to be happy on whatever remained unspoiled in the war. They have to start their life again from zero level doing hard works. People have to face different problems such as not getting enough food stuffs, government officials are corrupted, and still theft and robbery prevail. Surviving is the main thing doing any kind of work that available or possible. There is no law and order as there is a high risks from armed criminals.    

 

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

Ans:- Nobody knows when people have to suffer natural and human induced disasters anytime anywhere. Floods, earthquake, famine, wars; pandemic can take away millions of life and property. We also faced a 10 years civil war and great earthquake and now we are facing the challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic. In such situation, I also like to survive as Jonathan survives in the story being hard-working and optimistic forgetting bitter past. Instead of regretting for the loss in such period, I try to start a new life managing the available things.

 

c. Draw the character sketch of Jonathan Iwegbu.

Jonathan Iwegbu is the protagonist of "Civil Peace." He is defined by optimism and resilience, even in the face of great tragedy. Despite the devastation of the Civil War, Jonathan celebrates what he still has rather than regretting what he has lost. For instance, he gives thanks for the lives of his wife and three living children, instead of mourning the son he buried. Jonathan is not only optimistic, but also industrious. Instead of waiting for the situation to change, he starts several businesses. Through the end of the story, he remains focused on the future. Even when his ex gratia money is stolen by thieves, he tells sympathetic neighbors that he "count[s] it as nothing" and continues to work.

 

 

Summary

The narrator introduces us to Jonathan Iwegbu, a man who considers himself very lucky after having survived the Nigerian Civil War, which has just ended. Not only has most of his family - his wife (Maria Iwegbu), and three of the four children - survived with him, but he has even managed to hold on to his old bicycle. Because of his luck, he embraces the way his neighbors now greet one another: "Happy Survival!" Though he knows his bike is nowhere as valuable as his family is, keeping it was also a "miracle" of its own. He almost lost the bike during the war, when an army officer dressed in rags attempted to seize it. Sensing a “certain lack of grip and firmness in his manner,” Jonathan guessed that the officer might accept a bribe in exchange for the bike. After the army officer acted in accordance with, Jonathan buried the bicycle for safe-keeping, in the same clearing where his son and other casualties from the camp were interred. After the war, he recovers it, still in good condition. Feeling blessed with this good luck, he muses, “Nothing puzzles God.” He returns to this sentiment time and again when contemplating his good fortune. Using the bike to start a taxi service, he soon builds up a “small fortune", which funds his return to his hometown, Enugu. There, he encounters another minor miracle: his house is still standing. Though it is small and hand-constructed from zinc, wood, and cardboard, it has survived relatively safe and sound whereas most of the surrounding bigger buildings have been destroyed. Having returned so early, most of the remains is untouched. He collects what he needs to repair the house, and then hires a poor carpenter for the labor. Soon enough, he moves his family back home, and they return to work. His children pick mangoes to sell to soldiers’ wives, while Maria makes breakfast cakes to sell to the neighbors. Jonathan himself opens a palm-wine bar for soldiers and other people with money. He occasionally visits the Coal Corporation, where he had worked before the war, but it shows no signs of reopening.

 

After days standing in line to turn in his rebel currency, Jonathan receives 20 pounds from the government Treasury. This payment - which is "like Christmas for him and many others" - is known as an ex-gratia award, or an award given not out of legal obligation, but as a gift. Because few can pronounce the term, it is known as egg-rasher. Jonathan is very nervous about losing the money, after having seen a robbery victim collapse in desperation when he discovered his award had been pick-pocketed. To protect his own gift, Jonathan balls the bills in his fist and stuffs his hand in his pocket, keeping his eyes down to avoid running into anyone on his way home. He remains anxious during the rest of the day, and has trouble falling asleep that night. Soon after he finally drifted off, he wakes to the sound of someone knocking at his door. It is extremely late. He asks who knocks, and the man identifies himself as thief with "him [sic] people." Maria immediately screams for help, and Jonathan and the children soon join her, calling to both the neighbors and the police. They stop after a few moments, to hear only silence. The thief leader then mockingly offers to help, leading his thief chorus into even louder cries for help. Jonathan realizes there are least five other men with the leader. Having proven his point - nobody will come to help the family - the thief leader mockingly asks if he should now call for soldiers. Jonathan tells them not to bother. The thief leader then asks for 100 pounds, and insists they will not hurt the family. He wants "no Civil War again," only a "Civil Peace." Swearing he only has 20 pounds to his name; Jonathan offers it to them. Some of the group insists he must be lying, and insist they search the house. The leader silences them and accepts the 20 pounds.  The next morning, neighbors visit to express their sympathy. They find the family already hard at work preparing for the day - Jonathan strapping a wine jug to his bike, Maria cooking breakfast cakes, and his son cleaning old wine bottles. It is as if nothing had happened.

 

Jonathan tells his neighbors that the loss of the egg-rasher money was nothing to him, as he had lost much more than that in the war. He ends by saying, “Nothing puzzles God.”