Civil Peace [Short Story] Summary & Exercise

Civil Peace [Short Story]: Summary & Exercise

Introduction & About the Author

The short story "Civil Peace" (1971) by Chinua Achebe is set in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). The war began when the Igbo people attempted to secede and form the independent Republic of Biafra, resulting in three years of bloody conflict and severe famine that claimed nearly a million lives.

Chinua Achebe (1930–2013) was a highly influential Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic. Best known for his masterpiece Things Fall Apart (1958), Achebe's works heavily focus on the traditions of Igbo society, the cultural and political turmoil of Nigeria from colonialism to post-colonialism, and the devastating impacts of the civil war. "Civil Peace" is a touching and realistic commentary on the resilience of ordinary Nigerians recovering from these profound hardships.

Analytical Summary of "Civil Peace"

The story follows Jonathan Iwegbu, an extraordinarily optimistic man who considers himself remarkably lucky to have survived the Nigerian Civil War. While most people are left deeply damaged, Jonathan emerges with "five inestimable blessings": his own life, his wife Maria's life, and the lives of three of their four children.

Jonathan’s resourceful nature is immediately apparent. He recovers his buried bicycle—which he saved from being seized by a corrupt military officer with a two-pound bribe—and uses it to start a taxi service. Within two weeks, he earns 150 pounds. Returning to the capital city of Enugu, he experiences another "miracle": his small house is still standing, despite missing doors, windows, and a roof. He quickly gathers materials, hires a carpenter, and his family immediately resumes work to achieve prosperity—his children sell mangoes, his wife sells akara balls, and he sells palm wine.

The climax of the story occurs after Jonathan receives a windfall ex-gratia payment of twenty pounds (the "egg-rasher") for turning in rebel currency. That night, heavily armed thieves knock on his door. The leader mockingly announces they are "No tief man and his people." When Jonathan's family screams for help, the neighbors and police, paralyzed by the post-war terror and anarchy, do not respond. The thieves even mockingly join in calling for the police, highlighting the irony of the so-called "civil peace" where lawlessness still reigns.

Prioritizing his family's safety, Jonathan negotiates with the thieves and hands over his twenty pounds. The next morning, neighbors arrive to offer sympathy, but they find Jonathan and his family already hard at work. Jonathan has completely written off the loss, stating that his life did not depend on that money a week ago. Guided by his steadfast mantra, "Nothing puzzles God," Jonathan demonstrates an optimistic fatalism that enables him to rise above adversity, proving that true survival relies on resilience, hard work, and unwavering faith.

Exercise: Question & Answer

Before You Read

a. Do you think there would be complete peace after the war?

It is almost impossible to have complete peace right after a civil war. The psychological, infrastructural, and social effects of the war remain for a long time. It takes a significant amount of time for society to rebuild, establish law and order, and heal from the trauma.

b. If a disaster occurred, what would you save to ensure your “happy survival”?

If a disaster occurred, I would prioritize saving my family members and loved ones to ensure my "happy survival." Material possessions can be replaced, but human life and familial bonds are irreplaceable.

c. If someone stole something from you out of very few possessions, how would you feel? Would you accept the loss or get angry?

I would naturally feel very angry and violated if someone stole something from me, especially out of very few possessions. I would likely try to regain my loss through legal means. This makes Jonathan's swift acceptance of his loss in the story truly remarkable.

Understanding the Text

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

Jonathan thought of himself as 'extraordinarily lucky' because he experienced various miracles in his life. Surviving a devastating civil war is a matter of luck. The main miracle in his life was the 'happy survival' of his family members, along with retaining his old bicycle.

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

The 'five blessings' for which Jonathan is grateful are: his own head (life), his wife Maria's head, and the heads of three out of their four children. He is immensely delighted to find his family members safe even after the war.

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 because the man easily accepted a two-pound bribe in exchange for leaving the bicycle. He knew the man's corrupt character through his acts of gripping the bicycle. This tells us that the situation in post-war Nigeria was highly corrupt, where government and military officials expected personal profit from citizens in the name of the law.

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

The knock at the door is heard late at night. The visitors are heavily armed thieves who have come to rob them of the money Jonathan received that day. Yes, Jonathan and his wife are completely surprised and fearful, because they haven't been violently awakened so late at night in such a threatening manner 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?

No one in the neighborhood responds because they are paralyzed by the same post-war terror; they fear for their own lives and do not want to intervene against armed men. Hearing Jonathan's family yell for help, the thieves mockingly call out for the police themselves because they know very well that the authorities are either corrupt, absent, or too afraid to come to the family's aid.

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 "Civil Peace," Jonathan uses the expression "Nothing puzzles God" whenever something miraculous or significant happens to him. By this, he means that the Almighty is omniscient and all-powerful; anything can happen, but God is never surprised or puzzled because everything is part of His divine knowledge.

He uses this phrase when he gets his bicycle back out of the ground, and when he finds his house still standing in Enugu. Most profoundly, he uses it at the end of the story after his family is robbed of the twenty pounds. This expression reveals Jonathan as a deeply religious, highly optimistic person. It shows he is a good man who enjoys what he has and accepts his losses without falling into despair, trusting God's wisdom above all.

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

Rather than changing his core identity, Jonathan adapts his hardworking and optimistic nature to survive. He experiences many profound conflicts—losing a child in the war, rebuilding his life from scratch, and being robbed. Yet, he maintains his focus on the happy survival of his remaining family. He keeps on doing his best to uplift his family's life, pivoting from running a taxi service to a bar, always remaining faithful to God and away from violence.

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?
  Jonathan Iwegbu is the speaker.
• ii. Who is the speaker talking to?
  He is talking to the leader of the heavily armed thieves standing outside his door.
• iii. Who does “they” refer to?
  "They" refers to the government treasury officials who distributed the ex-gratia payments ("egg-rasher") earlier that day.

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?

The author’s use of the Nigerian English dialect adds a profound sense of realism and authentic local flavor to the narrative. It vividly grounds the story in its specific cultural and geographic context of Southeastern Nigeria. Furthermore, it differentiates characters socio-economically, making the reader feel immersed in the post-war chaos and the genuine voices of the Nigerian people.

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

The thieves speak with a heavier accent (pidgin or slang) compared to Jonathan to indicate a difference in education, social background, and class. Jonathan's relatively standard English suggests a level of formal education and civility, whereas the thieves' rougher dialect signifies their relative ignorance and lower socio-economic status, effectively distinguishing the law-abiding protagonist from the lawless antagonists.

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.

The title "Civil Peace" is highly appropriate precisely because of its heavy irony. While the official Civil War has ended, the reality on the ground is one of anarchy, corruption, and violent theft—meaning true peace has not arrived. By calling it "Civil Peace," Achebe forces the reader to confront the terrifying reality that the post-war period is just as dangerous as the war itself. Additionally, the title reflects Jonathan’s personal internal state; despite the external chaos, he manages to maintain his own internal "civil peace" through his optimism and faith.

Reference Beyond the Text

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

In my opinion, the "civil peace" that arrived after the end of the civil war in Nigeria was merely so-called. The environment during that time was chaotic and fearful. Infrastructure was ruined, citizens faced extreme poverty, and law enforcement was either corrupt or paralyzed. People had to live fearful lives facing many hardships, terrorized by armed thieves who operated with impunity.

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

If my situation was similar to that of Jonathan's, I would hope to have a similar optimism about my life and my family. Faced with the trauma of war, I would focus on the survival of my relatives rather than mourning lost material wealth. I would try to do hard labor, keep faith for the welfare of my family, and try to stay away from violence.

c. Draw the character sketch of Jonathan Iwegbu.

Jonathan Iwegbu is a beacon of resilience, optimism, and unyielding faith. As a survivor of the brutal Nigerian Civil War, he views life through a lens of profound gratitude, considering the survival of his family as an "inestimable blessing." He is highly resourceful and hardworking, immediately putting his old bicycle to use as a taxi and repairing his war-torn home.

He is a loving family man who works tirelessly to secure their future. Furthermore, Jonathan is a deeply religious man, anchored by his mantra, "Nothing puzzles God." He is not attached to material wealth; when robbed of his hard-earned money, he willingly surrenders it to protect his family and immediately returns to work the next day without lamenting his loss. Jonathan embodies the triumph of the human spirit over devastation.