In the short story “Civil Peace” by Chinua Achebe, Jonathan’s emphasis of his family’s survival exemplifies the theme that the value of family is greater than monetary or materialistic objects. After surviving the Nigerian Civil War, Jonathan reflects on the good fortune bestowed upon his family. Jonathan his survival of this gruesome war seriously because he had come out of it “with five inestimable blessings” (para. 1). The blessings were the heads of himself and his family. Because Jonathan describes his family as inestimable, he is describing them as people too great to value. This means that there is nothing that is more valuable to Jonathan than the heads of his family. Since his family is more important than anything else worth any monetary value, the theme that family possesses greater value than materialistic objects is emphasized. Jonathan further proves this when he says that even the miracle of his bike’s survival can “not be compared to the safety of five human heads” (para. 1). This is significant because Jonathan’s bike provides an opportunity for Jonathan to earn income in destitute times. No matter how
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He adamantly proclaims that the money the thieves took from him “counts as nothing” (para. 42). Instead brining the focus on his family, Jonathan makes it clear that money and material objects are not the main priority in his life. Because this is so, Jonathan’s family must have the highest priority, for nothing is more valuable than they in any circumstance. No matter what challenge his family was faced with, the war, their home, the stolen money, Jonathan never valued anything monetary or materialistic over his family—their safety and well-being was the ultimate priority. “Civil Peace” captures the essence of what is most important in this chaotic life. Nothing is more valuable than the people that we
He adamantly proclaims that the money the thieves took from him “counts as nothing” (para. 42). Instead brining the focus on his family, Jonathan makes it clear that money and material objects are not the main priority in his life. Because this is so, Jonathan’s family must have the highest priority, for nothing is more valuable than they in any circumstance. No matter what challenge his family was faced with, the war, their home, the stolen money, Jonathan never valued anything monetary or materialistic over his family—their safety and well-being was the ultimate priority. “Civil Peace” captures the essence of what is most important in this chaotic life. Nothing is more valuable than the people that we