Jonathan Iwegbu , the protagonist of “Civil Peace”, is the optimistic nucleus of the entire narrative. Despite the recent devastation of the Biafran War, Jonathan exhibits a happy tone in the face of death. Jonathan’s optimism is first demonstrated in the first paragraph when he exclaims how happy he is for his life.
Who is the main characters in Civil Peace?
Jonathan Iwegbu , the protagonist of “Civil Peace”, is the optimistic nucleus of the entire narrative. Despite the recent devastation of the Biafran War, Jonathan exhibits a happy tone in the face of death. Jonathan’s optimism is first demonstrated in the first paragraph when he exclaims how happy he is for his life.
What is the main theme of Civil Peace?
The theme of “Civil Peace” is the struggle with authority that shifts after the European powers divested their colonies in Africa .
Why is Jonathan optimistic in Civil Peace?
We see his optimism in the fact that he still considers himself and his family to be lucky , even in the aftermath of a civil war and the loss of one of their children. Rather than accepting defeat or wallowing in their losses, Jonathan and his family members go straight to work and set about rebuilding their lives.
What is the story setting in Civil Peace?
Setting. The setting of “Civil Peace” is Enugu, the former capital of Biafra (eastern Nigeria) and the surrounding countryside . The most important aspects that define both settings are not the physical geography but the human geography. Both settings are populated with official functionaries and neighbors.
What does nothing puzzles God mean in Civil Peace?
In the story “Civil Peace,” Jonathan says “Nothing puzzles God” every time something miraculous happens. It means that anything can happen, but God, being omniscient, is not surprised even when mortals are surprised . ... The last time he uses it is at the end of the story after his family is robbed of the ex gratia.
What are the five inestimable blessings?
In the short story “Civil Peace” by Chinua Achebe, his “five inestimable blessings” are his life, his wife’s life, and the lives of three of his children.
What is the summary of Civil Peace?
Achebe’s story “Civil Peace” is about Jonathan Iwegbu , who with most of his family has survived the Nigerian Civil War. Iwegbu is a hard-working entrepreneur who lands on his feet after the war, making the most of what he has and even negotiating his way out of a potentially deadly encounter with robbers.
What kind of irony is used in Civil Peace?
The title of the story is ironic because even though the war has come to an end, the area is still chaotic and filled with strife . Indeed, a gang of robbers use the term “civil peace” when they rob Iwegbu and his family in the dead of night: “Awrighto.
What is an example of juxtaposition in Civil Peace?
For example, in “Civil Peace,” Jonathan’s children pick mangoes from a cemetery . That juxtaposition shows how death is simply part of life for survivors of the civil war. Authors may use juxtaposition to call attention to important ideas.
What is the moral of the story Civil Peace?
One of the themes of ”Civil Peace” is the work ethic and its positive results . Jonathan makes use of everything at his disposal to achieve economic gain in the lean post-war year. He transforms his bicycle into a taxi, and in the course of two weeks, he pedals approximately eighty miles to earn money.
Who is the antagonist in Civil Peace?
The leader of the thieves is the antagonist in the novel, Civil Peace.
Why is Jonathan so happy that his family has five heads on their shoulders?
Jonathan so happy that his family has “five heads” on their shoulders because millions of people died during the Nigerian civil war . The implication that we can take from the sentence is that it is very common for People during the civil war to constantly lose their members of family in the war.
What is the conflict in Civil Peace?
In a broad sense, the main situational conflict in “Civil Peace” is the condition of destruction and lawlessness that exists in Nigeria as a result of colonialism and the Nigerian Civil War . Jonathan Iwegbu faces hardship with hard work and a positive outlook, however.
Why is the setting important in Civil Peace?
The importance of the setting in “Civil Peace” lies in how it highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the positive attitude towards inherent Igbo values .
What does happy survival mean in Civil Peace?
What does the phrase “Happy survival” mean? “Happy survival!” is a way that the people would congratulate others on surviving the war . ... The story takes place just after a civil war so it’s about the peace after it.
