What is Jonathan`s attitude toward life? "Civil Peace" by Chinua Achebe
Answers
Chinua Achebe (1913 – 2013) was a Nigerian author, famous for his short stories and novels, which dealt with the harsh realities of living in Nigeria. He was awarded a Man Booker International Prize in 2007 for his work.
His short story ‘Civil Peace’ centres on Jonathan Iwegbu, a Nigerian who has just survived the Biafran Civil War. Despite the tremendous odds he faces, he works hard enough and is extremely optimistic. He uses his bicycle as a taxi in his locality when the family is in dire need of money. Moreover, while all the other families lamented over how their houses would have been destroyed, Jonathan and his wife Maria remained optimistic and sought to rebuild the slightly damaged house.
Throughout the story, Jonathan shows a remarkable sense of fortitude and optimism, even when faced with robbery and death. He displays a ‘happy’ attitude to life, right from the start of the story.
He is always very cheerful and optimistic.
He is spiritual, grateful and trustworthy.
He is also a courageous person and keeps looking for work opportunities even in the midst of war.
He tries to ensure the best survival of his family and keeps his head high even though he lost his youngest son to war.