Achebe, Chinua. “Civil peace.” Achebe, Girls at War (1971): 82-88.

Achebe, Chinua. “Civil peace.” Achebe, Girls at War (1971): 82-88.

This source discloses Chinua Achebe’s reason for writing the short story and the structure that the story takes. The source is quite relevant to the topic of civil peace as illustrated by the author Chinua Achebe. The technique used on examination of the vital intersection of narrations addressing political insights to war distinguishes Chinua Achebe’s fiction.  According to the source, politics are drawn as catalysts to war such as that which took place in Nigeria leading to multiple deaths and destruction. Apart from discussing the primary causes of war, Chinua uses the example of characters such as Jonathan Igwebu to teach about the importance of optimism during times of difficulty. The author describes using various characters on the effects of war and the importance of peace. He proves that war is a destructor of peace through the separation of Jonathan with his wife Maria and the entire family. For my research paper, this source would be very helpful as it would help me analyze the short story easily understanding the main topic and subsidiary ones.

Achebe, Chinua, and Simon Gikandi. The Chinua Achebe Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003.

The book by M Keith Booker provides a critical argument relating multiple works of art/linguistics by Chinua Achebe. In his work, M Keith Booker feels that Chinua Achebe’s short story, civil peace, depicts him as not only a novelist but a critic, activist, and spokesman of the African culture. This source scrutinizes the topic of civil war as put across by Achebe and provides a substantive discussion regarding the themes brought about in the book. According to the source, the themes of political insight, optimism, hard work, and power are discussed at length while referring to characters in the literal work of Chinua Achebe. Other major topics put across in this source include major fictional characters such as Jonathan Igwebu and Maria, the setting which happens to be an environment portraying a clear picture of war and the aftermath, where new dawn is being created. The source will be used to describe the behavior of different people in war-stricken settings. It will help develop the characters and show their contribution to either bringing about peace or war.

Achebe, Chinua. The trouble with Nigeria. Heinemann, 1984.

This source describes the revolutionary spirit depicted by Nigerians against thepolitical rule. It focuses on two characters, Maria and the husband, Jonathan Igwebu. Eastern Nigeria is chosen as the main setting where war had just stopped. According to the source, the life of Jonathan Igwebu is drawn clearly enabling the source to be used while describing the main characters in the short story. The topic of destruction is provided describing Jonathan’ house which required renovation for his family to return and stay. The source also provides an insight into the level of optimism and hard work portrayed by Jonathan to reconstruct a peaceful environment to live in. According to the author, the spirit of hard work and optimism lead to a great and peaceful setting. This is shown in the example where Jonathan and his wife are in terror but still manage to stand strong, and on-demand Jonathan gives the thieves whatever they want. The source is suitable for use in describing the different type of people in society and the actions that should be taken to ensure peace rather than war.

Innes, Catherine Lynette. Chinua Achebe. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, 1992. 

Catherine Lynette Innes describes Chinua Achebe’s writing through analyzing the Nigerian culture, politics and the interaction with the western culture and powers. This source explains the cons that arise with politics and the effect that it may cause to people. The culture of the Nigerians is described mainly through the use of various characters. Some of the characters are patriots and advocates of peace while some such as the thieves who terrorized and asked Jonathan for $100 are described to be enemies of peace. This source can be used in the research to explain how a culture can affect the order and the demerits of political instability on a country’s unity. The source also describes the civil war as a bridge to glory and peace describing it using the works “watershed for Nigerians.”

Carroll, David. Chinua Achebe: novelist, poet, critic. Springer, 1990.

This source focuses on two main aspects. First, Chinua Achebe’s biography regarding him at the time of writing the short story, and second the Nigerian Civil war. The author, Carroll D mainly examines the content in Chinua Achebe’s short novel, civil peace.  The author describes the short story as enlightenment for the instances that took place after the civil war in Nigeria. This source would be crucial for use in my research as it provides a plot summary of the short story, a character overview describing most characters in the story, and the historical context describing what inspired the author to write the story. The source provides essential information that would enable the developing of an informed research paper. For example, regarding the historical context, the reference describes Chinua Achebe as a novelist who had most of his inspirations from events such as the Biafran War. The struggle for survival during such times by people also acted as a great inspiration and so did he think of a character such as Jonathan.

Works cited

Achebe, Chinua. “Civil peace.” Achebe, Girls at War (1971): 82-88.

Achebe, Chinua. The trouble with Nigeria. Heinemann, 1984.

Achebe, Chinua, and Simon Gikandi. The Chinua Achebe Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003.

Carroll, David. Chinua Achebe: novelist, poet, critic. Springer, 1990.

Innes, Catherine Lynette. Chinua Achebe. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press, 1992.