Peace Shall Destroy Many

Thom Wiens and Pete Block

Rudy Wiebe's novel, Peace Shall Destroy Many, tells of a story that takes place in

the heart of Saskatchewan and describes the problems of a Mennonite community. There

are many contrasting beliefs in this Mennonite community. Beliefs about traditions, the

Mйtis, and war going on around them. These beliefs come up within two characters in

this novel, Thom Wiens, and Pete Block. These two friends have many things in

common, yet throughout the novel, their differences start to shine through. Their beliefs

start to change and their friendship starts to dwindle, although in the end they both

discover flaws within the community. Thom and Pete share a few similarities, some key

differences, and they both change their ways as the story progresses.

Thom and Pete show a few similarities, but they don't agree on everything. Thom

and Pete, both brought up in a Mennonite community, have been taught the traditions of

the fathers. Knowing eachother all their lives, they are good friends. They first both

accept the traditions without question because the traditions are the only answer, they are

simply "right"(5). Also, Pete and Thom both agree that war is evil, but for different

reasons. Neither of them want to be in the army, because they believe in non-resistance (6

& 213). Both Thom and Pete also look up to Pete's father, Deacon Block. Although this

also changes for both of them, especially Thom, as the story continues.

We are shown many differences between Thom and Pete in how they live their

lives, and in what they believe and fallow. The two boys agree that war is evil, but they

have two different reasons for this. Pete believes he should not join the army because he

is a Mennonite, and Mennonites taught their children not to resist their enemies(213). He

also has a lot of work to do on the farm and he can freely say that it would be against his

conscience to go in the army (7). Thom's reason for not going to war was that he is a

Christian so he cannot go out and kill his fellow man. He is aware of the misery of the

soldiers who are fighting a "Battle of Freedom" for them, but perhaps a Christian is on

earth for a different purpose (210, 212). Thom had thought about it for a great deal, and

his reasons went beyond the mere teaching of the fathers (213). Thom and Pete also

differ in what they think should be done with their lives. Thom thinks there's more to

living than just work, like friendships (164 - 165). Pete Block never questions the ways

their colony does things, he just plodded in his father's ways (165). Thom, on the other

hand, questions the traditions of the fathers, and he see flaws in the Deacon's methods

(165). He doesn't just believe that whatever the Deacon says is right (262, 263). This is a

problem that leads to more disagreements between Thom and Pete in church areas. Thom

wants to teach the Mйtis so they can eventually join the church. Pete doesn't see the point

in that because they will not be accepted in the Mennonite church, the Mйtis are not like

them and they only speak Cree and English (234). Thom thinks that there's room in the

church and the language isn't the problem, language can be learned, but they need to learn

to love (238). These two boys may be in the same colony, but their different views on

life and ways of thinking make it harder for the two close friends to communicate with

eachother (227), and it's starts to hurt their friendship.

Through the course of this novel, Pete and Thom's views on things and their

beliefs begin to change. Thom has always been a thoughtful character; this characteristic

is introduced in the first chapter of this book, while Thom was plowing the field (4,5).

His views about traditions were, you must simply accept them (5). Later on, Thom starts

to questions the traditions of the fathers. The thoughts had been in his mind for some time

when, he asked Pastor Lepp, "Pastor, what are the traditions of the fathers?" This leads

into a deep discussion about how you should put the teachings of Christ into practice

(96). Thom decided he must teach the Mйtis children about God, since they are their

neighbors and he's concerned about their salvation. Thom, who once believed Block to be

a brilliant man and whom he strongly looked up to, began to doubt and see many flaws in

his ways (165). In the last chapter of the book, Thom's crises was what was the truth that

must be followed? He thought his only choices were to choose the old Block way or the

young Unger way (279). The Christmas play about the Wisemen following the star to the

savior in Bethlehem, leads Thom to find his way. He realized that two wars did not

confront him, only one's two faces (287.) Thom understands that the war in Wapiti is to