How does the author cultural background influence the story

Which three parts of these excerpts reflect the idea that war affects not only the minds of the combatants but also their physical reactions?

Messalla frowns at the wide circular cover, for a moment returning to his own fussy world.

In chapter 5, ekwefi is called "a woman who had suffered a great deal and in chapter 6, when discussing ezinma with chielo, she states, '"i pray she stays." speculate what may have been an event that caused suffering in ekwefi's past.