Who Is Danathan Iwegbu A Dynamic Character
In the year of 1960, the nation of West Africa in Nigeria won independence from Britain and a defeated Biafra rejoined Nigeria in 1970. “Civil Peace”, written by Chinua Achebe, discloses the aftermath of the war. The author shows Johnathan Iwegbu’s success and positive thinking through dynamic characters, characterization, and characters’ motivation. Life still goes on with the obstacles of negativity and optimism.
Achebe uses Johnathan’s work ethics to express dynamic characters. With the aftermath of work, work was not easy to find, but he managed to seek it and contribute to his family. Johnathan Iwegbu finds his bike after war , “he put it to immediate use as a taxi and accumulate a small pile of Biafran money ferrying camp officials and their families across the four-mile stretch to the nearest tarred road” (Achebe 359). He and his family made a difference in his neighborhood with the blessing of the discovery of his bike, “ his children picked mangoes near the military cemetery and sold them to soldiers’ wives for a few pennies—real pennies this time—and his wife started making breakfast akara balls for neighbors in a hurry to start a life again” (360). Even after the robbery by the armed men, Johnathan and his family woke up the next morning ready to continue with work. …show more content…
Characterization plays another important part “Civil Peace”.
The story starts with Iwegbu positive thinking, “he had come out of the war with five inestimable blessings—his head, his wife Maria’s head and the heads of three out of their four children” (358-9). “That night he buried it in the clearing in the bush where the dead of the camp, including his own youngest son, were buried,” some would say a man who lost his son in the civil war as a tragedy, but he continues to appreciate his blessings he receives. Although he has suffered from the aftermath of the war, Johnathan is still able to set aside the negative and focus on his
future.
Johnathan’s motivation of God and positive thinking is represented throughout the story. His belief in God and having hope is invoked throughout the story with the saying, “Nothing puzzles God.” After the robbery he emotionally says, “I say, let egg- rasher perish in the flames! Let it go where everything else has gone. Nothing puzzles God” (364). Johnathan’s understanding of God relives him from heartbreak about the seemingly random experiences of the Civil War and its aftermath. Even through miracles and blessings he still acknowledges God’s doings, “The newest miracle was his little house in Ogui Overside. Indeed nothing puzzles God,” (359).
“Civil Peace” indirectly praises the power of positive thinking of Johnathan’s success. Johnathan Iwegbu’s positive thinking, work ethic, and belief in God, brings him blessings and miracles. Life after war could have been horrific and seem like another day at war and chaos if one is fearful, but with the continuation of positive thinking and faith, one is able to see every day alive as a blessing.
Achebe uses Johnathan’s work ethics to express dynamic characters. With the aftermath of work, work was not easy to find, but he managed to seek it and contribute to his family. Johnathan Iwegbu finds his bike after war , “he put it to immediate use as a taxi and accumulate a small pile of Biafran money ferrying camp officials and their families across the four-mile stretch to the nearest tarred road” (Achebe 359). He and his family made a difference in his neighborhood with the blessing of the discovery of his bike, “ his children picked mangoes near the military cemetery and sold them to soldiers’ wives for a few pennies—real pennies this time—and his wife started making breakfast akara balls for neighbors in a hurry to start a life again” (360). Even after the robbery by the armed men, Johnathan and his family woke up the next morning ready to continue with work. …show more content…
Characterization plays another important part “Civil Peace”.
The story starts with Iwegbu positive thinking, “he had come out of the war with five inestimable blessings—his head, his wife Maria’s head and the heads of three out of their four children” (358-9). “That night he buried it in the clearing in the bush where the dead of the camp, including his own youngest son, were buried,” some would say a man who lost his son in the civil war as a tragedy, but he continues to appreciate his blessings he receives. Although he has suffered from the aftermath of the war, Johnathan is still able to set aside the negative and focus on his
future.
Johnathan’s motivation of God and positive thinking is represented throughout the story. His belief in God and having hope is invoked throughout the story with the saying, “Nothing puzzles God.” After the robbery he emotionally says, “I say, let egg- rasher perish in the flames! Let it go where everything else has gone. Nothing puzzles God” (364). Johnathan’s understanding of God relives him from heartbreak about the seemingly random experiences of the Civil War and its aftermath. Even through miracles and blessings he still acknowledges God’s doings, “The newest miracle was his little house in Ogui Overside. Indeed nothing puzzles God,” (359).
“Civil Peace” indirectly praises the power of positive thinking of Johnathan’s success. Johnathan Iwegbu’s positive thinking, work ethic, and belief in God, brings him blessings and miracles. Life after war could have been horrific and seem like another day at war and chaos if one is fearful, but with the continuation of positive thinking and faith, one is able to see every day alive as a blessing.