Civil Peace

“Civil Peace” portrays the uneasy peace that followed the Nigerian Civil War. Achebe narrates the story from the perspective of ordinary people and victims of the war, allowing them to speak and tell their stories. Jonathan Iwegbu considers his condition “happy survival” because he still has his spouse and three of his four children.

Jonathan can still make a living through hard work and persistence. The Iwegbu family is not defeated. His wife Maria makes and sells Akara balls, and his children pick and sell mangoes and sell them to soldiers’ wives. Through the industrious nature of the Iwegbu family, Achebe captures optimism about moving forward after the war, even amidst the rubble, suffering, and fragile social order.

Achebe points out that there are other histories to be told such as that of the bicycle, which has a material “history of its own” (82). When an officer claimed he needed the bicycle for an “urgent military action” (82), Achebe shows how poverty and social instability can cause people to lie and cheat to survive.

Jonathan buries his bicycle near where his youngest son is buried to avoid another confrontation with those who steal and cheat to survive. After digging it up a year later and finding it in good shape, he says, “Nothing puzzles God” (83), suggesting Jonathan’s readiness to accept what life offers. “Nothing Puzzles God” suggests there is a deeper meaning to life’s events and circumstances, a mystery that must be accepted rather than fought against.

Jonathan views life’s unexpected positives, like his bike and house, as miracles. He renovates his house with scavenged materials—demonstrating how the old and new can come together to form a hybrid, much like Achebe’s Nigeria is a hybrid of ethnicities, religions, and cultural traditions.

Amidst the rebuilding, desperation still exists. Independence, followed by civil war, dismantled the economy and left many unemployed and struggling to survive. Achebe depicts the hardships of former miners after the war. Many people became homeless and desperate. On the other hand, Jonathan receives an award of 20 pounds for the rebel money he turned in. Money plays an essential role; the story shows the precarity of having it and holding onto it amidst civil unrest. Achebe juxtaposes the good news of the bicycle, house, and reward with scenes of corruption and desperation. Jonathan is aware of the failing law and order. He tries to safeguard his award by rising above the social unrest, avoiding eye contact and unnecessary interactions.

The robbery is the story’s climax and shows how economic hardship and instability can produce a breakdown in social order. The enemies are now not soldiers but common people who turn to crime. Colonialism followed by civil war wreaked havoc on communities and families. People turned on each other, as seen when the thieves come to Jonathan’s house and demanded 100 pounds. This climactic scene shows the complete breakdown of order as gunfire rings through the air and the Iwegbu family cries in vain for the police.

The following day, Jonathan tells his neighbors that what happened was nothing compared to what happened in the civil war. Jonathan and his family accept their loss and return to work the next day, focusing on the future. Achebe suggests that the hard-working, honest Iwegbu family and others like them are Nigeria’s future.