Optimism and Faith Theme Analysis

Jonathan, the main character of “Civil Peace,” repeats the same phrase numerous times throughout the story: “Nothing puzzles God.” As the phrase implies, God acts as a guiding force for Jonathan. Jonathan’s mantra and his faith provide him with the emotional strength to accept both the good and the bad in his life without being weighed down by the violence and devastation which surrounds him in post civil-war Nigeria. Indeed, Jonathan’s most remarkable trait may be his optimism in the face of general destruction and bad experiences. The story suggests that his optimism is founded in his faith, and that his optimism and faith are what give him the ability to rebuild after each setback.

Jonathan’s optimism throughout the story is striking, and the story consistently makes clear that his optimism arises from his faith. In the story, Jonathan faces the devastation of the war not with despair but astonishment about his luck. Though one of his children died, he can’t believe the rest of his immediate family survived. Though his house was damaged, he’s amazed it’s still standing at all. He’s even delighted that his bike still works after he had to bury it to make sure it wouldn’t get stolen. This optimism drives his work ethic. It gives him hope that he can provide for his family, rebuild his home, and build a better life, and so he works to do just those things. For instance, when Jonathan is unable to find a job working as a miner as he had before the civil war, he simply shifts gears to a different entrepreneurial effort to make a living. In nearly every instance in which Jonathan displays optimism rather than despair, he utters his favorite proverb: “Nothing puzzles God.” In this way, the story makes clear that Jonathan’s optimism is founded in his faith in a supportive God whose help and blessings will help him find a way through every difficulty.

Jonathan’s faith and optimism combine to make him morally upright, in contrast to many around him. His faith keeps him humble. For instance, when he finds that the bicycle that he had buried during the war is still working, he praises God for it. Although keeping the bicycle safe and then repairing it after the war was clearly a smart thing to do, his faith causes him not to praise himself but to praise God. Meanwhile, his optimism makes him a productive member of society. Jonathan’s efforts to make money are all entrepreneurial. His optimism makes him believe he can rebuild through effort, and so he does: he works as a taxi driver with his bike; he starts a bar; his wife cooks and sells food. In contrast, others respond to their poverty with either violence, like the thieves, or despair, like the man who collapses after his egg-rasher gets stolen.

As a whole, “Civil Peace” presents a vision of faith as a powerful force for stability, morality, and guidance in difficult times. It’s also interesting to note that religious difference was at the core of the conflict between Biafra and Nigeria, as Biafrans were mostly Christian in contrast to the majority-Muslim northern Nigerians. Yet the story is notable in never explicitly stating what Jonathan’s religion is. In this way, the story suggests that a positive, optimistic relationship with faith, regardless of religious affiliation, could foster a more successful, peaceful society.