Unit 1 Lesson 5 Civil Peace

 Summary:

The main character Jonathan lwegbu considered himself extraordinarily lucky. The miracle in his life was that he had come out of the war with five inestimable blessings. He, his wife, Maria, and three of their four children were alive. All of the five heads were safe in his family. Next miracle in his life as a bonus was his old bicycle which he got in fine condition after the war. When miracles took place in his life, he used to utter a phrase in wonder "Nothing puzzles God". He almost lost his bicycle during the war, when an army officer attempted to commandeer it. Sensing a "certain lack of grip and firmness in his manner," Jonathan guessed that the officer might a bribe in exchange for the bicycle. He saved his bicycle providing 2 pounds to the officer. After that, he buried his bicycle. After taking his bicycle out of the ground, started using his bicycle as a taxi. Within two weeks, he earned £115 through his taxi service.

Jonathan then travelled to Enugu, the capital city, in search of his house. He became quite surprised and delighted to find his house still standing, even though some nearby structures were reduced to a pile of rubble from the war. He examined his house and concluded that his house needed some repairs. So Jonathan immediately collected available materials: zinc, wood, and cardboard. He hired a carpenter to complete the housework.

After the completion of the repair, he moved his family members back home.

After their settlement, the entire family members worked hard to earn money and restore their lives. The children picked mangoes and Maria made Akara balls to sell in the neighbourhood. Jonathan used to work in the mines before the war. But when he realized that he couldn't regain his job as a coal miner, Jonathan opened up a bar for the soldiers, which he ran out of his home. Jonathan was thankful to God that he had family members, a home and a job.

Facing a lot of hardships, Jonathan's family did well, and then they even got a bonus from the government. The government started handing out egg-rashers—payments of twenty pounds in exchange for the Biafran money Nigerians turned over to the government's treasury. Jonathan left office with his money in his pocket. He was quite worried about the thieves on his way home. At home that evening, Jonathan became restless and couldn't get to sleep late at night. Finally, when he slept, he was awakened by a violent knock on the front door. He called out to ask who is knocking, and the reply came from the thieves. 

Jonathan's family called out for help from the police and the neighbours but no one came there to help them. Eventually, they stopped calling. The thieves called out then, repeating the families pleas for help. Jonathan and his family were in terror. The children and Maria were crying, Jonathan was groaning. The leader of the thieves spoke again, mockingly asking if he should call soldiers for help, but Jonathan said not to do so. The leader of thieves demanded £100. They warned Jonathan to enter inside his house. Jonathan related his real condition to them. The voice trailed off, and a volley of automatic rifle fire burst through the air. Maria and the children started crying again. The leader told them not to cry. They just wanted some money and then they would go away.

Jonathan informed them about the money which he had got from egg-rasher. He even informed them that he didn't have £100. He swore about having a total amount of 20 pounds in his house. The thieves agreed to accept that money. Some of the thieves mumbled that he had more money and they should move inside and look, the leader told them to shut up. Jonathan went to get the twenty pounds out of his locked box to give to the thieves. The thieves moved away from there after receiving the amount from Jonathan through the window. The next morning, the neighbours came over to commiserate with Jonathan, but his family wasn't at home. They were at their day's work. Jonathan told his sympathizers that the loss of 20 pounds is nothing; the week before he did not have the egg-rasher money, and he didn't want to depend on it. The money went on easily from his hands, as did many other things in the war.

 Understanding the text 

Answer the following questions.

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

➜ In the story, Jonathan thought himself is extraordinary lucky because he and his family with his house were saved in the Nigerian war. Moreover, he got his bicycle back and could repair his house cheaply.

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

➜ The "five inestimable blessings" were his head, his wife Maroa's head and the heads of 3 out of their four children for which Jonathan is very grateful.

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 who wanted to take his bicycle because the officer easily accepted bribe exchange of his bicycle. He knew about the character of the officer through his acts of gripping the bicycle. This tells us that the situation in Nigeria was so worse where government officers were are also corrupted who expected their profit from the citizens in the name of the law. 

Hence, Jonathan mistrust the officer because he was not confident in saying. It tells about the lack of trust because of War and poverty and lack of peace in Nigeria.

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

➜ The Knock at the door is hard late at night.  When Jonathan calls out to access about the visitors, he gets the reply from the visitors.  So the visitors might be that keeps who have come so late at night to rob money.

Jonathan and his wife were completely surprised. They even become fearful because they haven't been awake and so late at night in such a way 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?

➜ Yes, No one in the neighbourhood responds when the thieves pound on  Jonathan's door because the neighbours were also feeling the same terror or fear as Jonathan's family members.

 The thieves called for the police because they knew very well that no one will come to support Jonathan's 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.

➜ In the story "Civil Peace",  Jonathan uses this expression "Nothing puzzles God" whenever something miraculous happens with him. He uses this line when he gets his bicycle back in a fine condition out of the ground. Next, He uses it when he finds his house still standing after the war. By "Nothing puzzles God",  he means that anything can happen but almighty God, being omniscient, is not surprised and even possible by anything.  He means to say that God knows each and everything. The last time he uses it at the end of the story after his family is robbed of the exgratia.  This expression reveals, shows, depicts, represents that he is quite an optimistic person who has been a belief of Almighty God.  He feels too delighted to get miracles in his life. This expression also reveals that he is a good person who enjoys everything he has but never laments on his losses.

Therefore, His character was optimistic hopeful nature to believe in God and thinks that there will be good for tomorrow.

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

➜ Jonathan is a hardworking person who believes in his hard labour as well as god the most. He is quite an optimistic person who never loses his hope.  He has experienced many conflicts in his life.  He has lost his child during the war but he believes himself lucky to get 5 inestimable blessings.  Jonathan keeps on doing his hard labour for the sake and welfare of his family keeping faith or believes in God.  He changes according to the demands of the time and his own family needs.

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?

➜ The speaker was Jonathon.

ii. Who is the speaker talking to?

➜ The speaker is talking to the thieves or robbers.

iii. Who does “they” refer to?

➜ "They" refers to the government. 

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?

➜ Nigerian English has words like Soja "soldier" and katakata "confusion", "trouble" delivered apparently from English words but transformed by Native language phonologies.

 The author added dialects here in the story because of the following points:

i.  To focus on the native language;

ii.  To promote the dialects;

iii.  To know the status of living people in Nigeria and,

iv.  To promote the nationality.

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

➜ I think the thieves who came to rob Jonathan speak English with a heavier African accent then Jonathan because of the following points:

i.  To show that they were (white) American.

ii.  To show that they were powerful.

iii.  To be believed by the Africans people that they know the English language.

iv.  To show that they were superior and strong enough.

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.

➜ Yes, the story is ironical. This title of this story is inappropriate because of the following reasons:

i.  The people living in Nigeria could not trust the government public servant, a police officer as he was corrupt a lot.

ii.  Life of the people did not change. There was difficult to join hands in mouth. Most of the people were living under the poverty line.

iii.  After the ending of the War in Nigeria,  Robbery did not stop or controlled by the government.

 So, the title of this story "Civil War" would be better.

Reference beyond the text 

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

➜ The condition of the Civil please in Nigeria wasn't good. After the war, the time of the Civil peace was the time of the resettlement.  There was nothing new for the people.  People had to face various problems during that time.  The government's law during that time was good.  There were many risks in people's life.  Thieves Used To Loot and Beat people without having any fear of law.  Though the Civil piece prevailed there, there was Anarchy everywhere.

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

➜ I would be Optimist, hopeful and ready to face all the challenges.  I would be helpful to every people.  I would follow the right path, take the right decision, believe in God and many more...

c. Draw the character sketch of Jonathan Iwegbu.

➜ Jonathan is quite an optimistic person who has been faith in God. He always utters a line in the name of god saying that " Nothing puzzles God".  He becomes quite delighted to find miracles in his life. He never lives in disparity. He is a hardworking person who thinks positively for everyone. He loves his family members much.  At the time of hardship, he tries to save his family first.  During the time of civil peace, he works so hard to restore his life and his family.  His wife and his kids also work so hard to support him.  He really enjoys his present, giving value to his relative as well as his belongings.   He never regrets his loss. He starts the taxi service, repairs his house, opens a bar for soldiers to support his family.

 As an optimistic person,  he doesn't regret losing his 20 Pounds which he had got as a favour from the government.

 Hence,  Jonathan Iwegbu was the protagonist Central character of the story.  He was an ex-miner who was very labourers, and resourceful. He was also the responsible head of the family to inspire his family with optimism.