CHAPTER :4
The Enemy Pearl S. Buck
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SUMMARY
The story is about the time of
the World War. An American prisoner of war is washed ashore in a dying state
and is found at the doorstep of a Japanese doctor and he is faced with a
dilemma whether he should save him as a doctor or hand him over to the army
as a patriot.
Dr. Sadao Hoki’s house was
built on a Japanese coast outlined with bent pines. His father was quite
concerned about his education so he sent Sadao to America at the age of 22 to
learn everything that was there to be learnt in surgery and medicine. Sadao
returned at the age of 28 and his father saw him becoming famous not only as
a surgeon but also as a scientist. Sadao was not sent abroad along with the
troops because he was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds
entirely clean and also because the general was in a critical condition and
he could need an operation any time.
Sadao met Hana at Prof. Harley’s
house and fell in love with her after knowing that she was Japanese. Their
marriage was solemnized in a completely traditional Japanese manner with his
father’s blessings.
The other day they were
standing in the verandah when they saw something black come out of the sea.
It was an American prisoner of war. They identified him with the help of his
cap which had a faint lettering “U. S. Navy”. They were confused because he
was their enemy and so if they sheltered him in their house, they would be arrested
and if they turned him over as a prisoner, he would certainly die. Finally on
human consideration, they decided to take him over to their home. The
servants protested this move but going against their opinion, Sadao operated
the man. The prisoner got well soon and his stitches were pulled out. On the
seventh day after that unable to bear all this, the servant left and in the
afternoon there came a messenger in the official uniform. Hana was afraid
thinking that he might be there to arrest Sadao but he had come to tell Sadao
that the General needed him. Seeing Hana’s fear, Sadao decided to tell
everything to the General who assured him that he would send two of his
assassins to kill the American. Sadao waited for three nights but the
assassins didn’t come. Finally, Sadao gave him a boat with food and extra
clothing and asked him to go the nearby island from where he could get a
Korean fishing boat and could escape. The plan succeeded because Sadao found
no flash of light in the twilight as he had instructed the prisoner to do if
he was there. The General apologized for his inability to fulfill the
promise.
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Theme
It
has the enmity between Japan and America in its background. All the Americans
are enemies for Japanese. But when an American prisoner of war washes up before
Sadao’s house, driven by the spirit of humanity, saves his life.
Setting
The
story is set in Japan. Most of the action takes place at Dr. Sadao’s house
which was near the Japanese sea coast.
Characters
1. Dr. Sadao Hoki -
He is a Japanese doctor who learnt everything about medicine and surgery from
America. He works for Japanese army.
2. Hana
Hoki - She
is Dr. Sadao’s wife. She has also been to America.
3. General Takima – He
is the General of Japanese army who has won a great battle in Manchuria. He
beats his wife very cruelly at home.
4. Yumi – She
is the nurse at Dr. Sadao’s house and she looks after the children.
5. Gardener – He
has been at Dr. Sadao’s house since his childhood. He has been a specialist in
moss. He has made one of the finest moss gardens in Japan for Sadao’s father.
6. Cook
- She
has also been at Dr. Sadao’s house since his childhood.
7. Tom
- He is an American prisoner of war
who has washed up ashore in front of Dr. Sadao’s house. He is wounded an
unconscious when Dr. Sadao reaches him.
Main Points
1. Dr.
Sadao’s house was built on Japanese coast.
2. His
father never played or joked with him but spent infinite pains upon him.
3. At
the age of twenty two, Sadao was sent to America to learn all that could be
learnt of surgery and medicine.
4. His
father saw him becoming famous not only as a surgeon but also as scientist.
5. Sadao
was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely clean. Moreover,
the General might need an operation any time that’s why Sadao was kept in
Japan.
6. Sadao
met Hana at an American professor’s house where he didn’t wish to go because
the rooms were very small, the food very bad and professor’s wife very voluble.
7. While
Sadao and Hana were standing in the veranda, they saw a figure coming out of
the sea.
8. They
rushed to the man and found that he was badly injured.
9. When
Sadao touched the wound, blood started flowing.
10. He
packed the wound with the moss strewn on the beach.
11. They
were confused about helping the man because if they sheltered a white man in
their house, they would be arrested and if they turned him over as a prisoner,
he would certainly die.
12. Through
his cap Sadao came to now that he was an American prisoner of war as there was
a faint lettering on the cap, “U.S. Navy.”
14. Finally
they decided to take the man home in spite of the fear of servants.
15. They
carried the man to Sadao’s father’s room and laid him on the floor.
16. Hana
and Sadao informed the servants.
17. The
gardener was furious. He told Hana that Sadao ought not to heal the man because
first he was shot then the sea caught him and wounded him with rocks so if Sada
tried to save him, the gun and sea would take revenge on them.
18. Yumi
brought water but refused to wash the American.
19. Hana
herself had to do that.
20. Sadao
decided to operate. He brought his surgeon’s emergency bag and asked Hana to
fetch towels.
21. Hana
couldn’t bear to see the operation going on before her eyes. She rushed out and
vomited.
22. This
made Sadao angry at the prisoner as it was due to the prisoner that he couldn’t
go out and help her.
23. When
she returned, Sadao asked her to give the anaesthetic.
24. While
operating upon the prisoner when Sadao finally found the bullet, he remembered
the words of his Anatomy professor who used to say that the ignorance of human
body is the surgeons cardinal sin and to operate without as complete knowledge
of human body is not less than a murder.
25. Sadao
took out the bullet and injected a medicine into him. After some time the prisoner
was in his senses.
26. He
was afraid to find himself in the strange surrounding.
27. Hana
trid to comfort him.
28. When
Sadao went to see him the third day after the operation, the man was sitting
up.
29. Sadao
scolded the prisoner, checked him up and told him that he was to be given over
to the police.
30. The
servants were totally against it and they did not try to hide their feelings.
31. Sadao
examined his wound every day. His stitches were pulled out.
32. On
the seventh day after that two things happened. First, the servants left all
together. Second, messenger came to their house in official uniform.
33. The
messenger was to inform Sadao of the General’s condition and wanted him to
visit the palace.
34. Sadao
narrated the whole matter to the General who was all in favour of Sadao.
35. The
General trusted no doctor except Sadao as the others were trained by the
Germans.
36. The
General wished Sadao to combine the German ruthlessness and American
sentimentality within him.
37. Finally,
the General suggested an idea to get rid of the prisoner.
38. The
General asked Sadao to keep the outer partition of the prisoner’s room open and
he would send two of his assassins some day who would silently kill him and
even remove the body.
39. Sadao
waited for three days but no assassin came.
40. Finally
Sadao himself thought of an idea.
41. He
told the prisoner that he would provide him with a boat and extra food and
clothing. He had to row that boat to the nearby island.
42. In
the night, Sadao gave the prisoner a flash light with the instructions that his
food runs before he could catch a boat, he was to signal two flashes when the
sun dropped over the horizon and if he was all right but still there, he was to
signal once.
43. Later,
Sadao was called to the General whom he reported everything.
44. The
servants returned after the man was gone.
45. The
prisoner was safe and so in turn Sadao himself was safe.
GLOSSARY
Yonder - Distant, Over there
Wreathe - Encircle, Surround
Voluble - Talkative, Loquacious
Breaker - Strong wave
Crawl - Creep, Move
Stanch - Stop, Check
Strewed - Spread, Scattered
Stupor - Unconsciousness, Insensibility
Moan - Weep, Lament
Battered - Damaged, Wrecked
Repulsion - Hatred, Distaste
Fowl - A bird such as duck, goose etc.
Quilt - Comforter, Bedspread
Vitality - Energy, Vivacity
Menace - Threat, Danger
Bluntly - Curtly, Rudely
Fierce - Furious, Angry
Blond - Flaxen or golden colour
Ebbing - Declining, Waning
Concise - Brief, Short
Retching - Vomiting
Ruthless - Cruel, Relentless
Intricate - Complex, Complicated
Crouch - Bend, Stoop
Flickers - Flashes, Flicks
Scars - Scratch, Mark
Cardinal - Main, Chief
Incision - Cut, Slit
Guts - Courage, Fortitude
Hypodermic - Syringe, Needle
Vial - Ampule, Bottle
Mar - Spoil, Damage
Traitor - One whobetraysone’s
country, Quisling
Assuage - Appease, Alleviate
Brusquely - Bluntly, Curtly
Unaccustomed - Unhabitual, Unfamiliar
Assassin - Murderer, Slayer
Timid - Shy, Nervous
Gaily - Happily, Cheerfully
Gaunt - Bony, Thin
Shaggy - Tousled, Hairy
Eaves - The projection hanging at the lower
edge of a roof
Fathom - Unit of measuring depth
Fortify - Protect, Defend
Supper - Evening meal
Stout - Heavy, Bulky
Dereliction - Negligence, Delinquency
Zeal - Enthusiasm, Zest
Slatternly - Slovenly, Untidy
Prejudice - Bias, Preconception
SHORT
ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Why was Dr. Sadao
not sent abroad with the troops?
Ans: He was not sent abroad
for two reasons. Firstly he had perfected a discovery which would render wounds
entirely clean. Moreover, the General was in some sort of danger and might have
needed an operation and Dr. Sadao was the most skilled doctor available.
2. Why had Sadao not
gone to Professor Harley’s house?
Ans: Sadao had not gone to Professor Harley’s
house because the rooms there were very small; the food was very bad and
professor’s wife was very voluble.
3. What was the
dilemma about the POW?
Ans: The dilemma they
faced was that if they sheltered the white man, they would be arrested and if
they turned him over as a prisoner he would certainly die.
4. How did Dr. Sadao come to know the identity of the American?
Ans: Dr. Sadao examined
his battered cap closely and realised that he was a sailor from an American
warship. The words ‘U.S Navy’ were written on the cap in almost faint lettering
which made it clear that he was an escaped prisoner of war.
5. Why did they not
put him back into the sea?
Ans: They were not able to
bring themselves to drop him back into the sea because of their compassionate
and humane nature. Moreover, Sadao, being a doctor himself knew how to save
lives and thought it unethical to let the soldier die if he could prevent it.
6. What reasons did
the gardener extend for not saving the POW?
Ans: The gardener said that
Sadao should not heal the wound of the white man. First he was shot then the
sea caught him and wounded him with his rocks so if Sadao tried to heal the man
what the gun did and what the sea did would take revenge on them.
7. Which two things happened on the seventh day after Tom’s
stitches were pulled out?
Ans: On the seventh day,
in the morning the servants left altogether with their belongings tied in a
large cotton handkerchief. In theafternoon, the second thing happened. When
Hana was working hard, a messenger reached there in official uniform.
8. What did Sadao’s
professor use to say in his classes?
Ans: Sadao’s professor of anatomy used to say that
the ignorance of the human body is the surgeon’s cardinal sin. He had thundered
in his classes that to operate without complete knowledge of the human body is
not less than murder.
9. Which two foreign elements did the General want Sadao to
combine within him? Why?
Ans: The General wanted Sadao to combine American
sentimentality and German ruthlessness within him because by doing so he could
turn the prisoner over for execution and yet the General could be sure that
Sadao would definitely save him.
10. What did the
general suggest to get rid of the American?
Ans: The general suggested
that the prisoner could be quietly killed by his own private assassins. He
would send two of them to Sadao’s house and all he had to do was to leave the
outer partition of the white man’s room open while he was sleeping. He even
offered to have the body removed quietly.
11. What
did Sadao do to get rid of the POW?
Ans: Sadao
told him that he would put a boat on the shore with food and extra clothing. He
would have to row the boat to the nearby island and wait for the Korean fishing
boat in which he could escape.
12. What instructions did Sadao give with the
flash light to the American?
Ans: Sadao
told him that if his food ran out before he caught a boat, he should signal
Sadao two flashes when the sun dropped over the horizon and if he was all right
but still there, he should signal Sadao once. Sadao also told him not to signal
in darkness.
13. “But
Sadao … had his reward.” What reward did Sadao have?
Ans: When
Sadao looked out in the sea in the night, there was no prick of light in the
dusk. The American had gone from the island; he was safe and in turn Sadao
himself was safe. This was Sadao’s reward.
LONG
ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. There are moments in life when we have
to make hard choices between our roles as private individuals and as citizens
with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to ‘The Enemy.’
Ans: Every
human being plays different roles throughout his/her life which offers several
situations before us where we find us at crossroads. In such situations it
becomes really very difficult for us to make a choice but we are left with no
other choice but to choose one out of the two. In The Enemy Dr. Sadao finds
himself in the same situation. An American prisoner of war washed up ashore in
front of his house. He was unconscious and half-dead. As a nationalist and patriot, he wanted to
hand over the man to the police but as a doctor and a human being, he wanted to
save the life of the prisoner. He heard the voice of his conscience. He carried
the man to his home and operated upon him.He prioritized humanity to national
loyalty in that critical situation. But his sense of loyalty compelled him to
inform the General about it.
2. Dr. Sadao was compelled by his duty as
a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his wife, sympathetic to
him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Ans: Though
Sadao was a true nationalist yet he considered himself a doctor and a human being first so he couldn’t ignore the
dying American before him and made all efforts to save his life. Like Sadao,
Hana was also an educated individual and had also spent a long time in America.
But it was not because she was familiar and friendly with Americans rather she
was rooted in Japanese tradition. She was a dutiful wife and would follow her
husband in all conditions. She could not desert Sadao in a situation when he
needed her most. She had complete faith in Sadao’s ability and goodness and she
stayed firm in that. If she had not been sympathetic, Sadao could be wrecked
under pressure.
3. How would you explain the reluctance of
the soldier to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home even when he knew he
couldn’t stay there without risk to the doctor and himself?
Ans: Sadao
commanded a good reputation and respect in Japan and it was, perhaps, because
of this that the American was safe in his house otherwise he could not have
lived that long. He was having all comforts there- food, clothing and complete
rest. But he knew very well that his life was in danger. If he tried to escape,
he could be caught and killed and on the other hand Sadao himself was going to
hand him over to the police. Either way, he was to die so he might have thought
to have a better life until he lived. Or he might have some vague hope that
Sadao would save him somehow because his presence was a danger to Sadao himself
and all his family.
4. While hatred against the member of the
enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being
rise above narrow prejudices?
Ans: During
wartime, hatred against the member of the enemy race is justifiable because
that is the rule of war. A war cannot be won if we have good feeling towards
the enemy. Either there should not be any war or if we wage war it should be as
per the rules of a war. But a war is always destructive, it kills the humanly
feelings and makes the devil of a man.Humanity makes one rise above all the
narrow prejudices. Dr. Sadao prioritized his duty as a doctor and a human being
to all and that was the reason, he could help the prisoner even in totally
adverse situation. He could have easily let him die but his humanity and
compassion couldn’t let him do so. He did whatever he could do for the prisoner
even at the risk of his own life.
PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS
(2017) Good human values are far above any
other value system. How did Dr. Sadao succeed as a doctor as well as a patriot?
[6
Marks]
(2015) In what condition did
Dr. Sadao find the American soldier at the seashore? [3 Marks]
Sadao faced a dilemma. Should he use his surgical skills to save the life of a
wounded person or hand an escaped American P.O.W. over to the Japanese police?
How did he resolve this clash of values? [6
Marks]
(2014) - What was the General's
plan to get rid of the American prisoner? Was it executed? What traits of the
General's character are highlighted in the lesson 'The Enemy' ? [5
Marks]
-
Explain the reactions of the servants in Dr. Sadao's house when he decided to
give shelter to an enemy in the house.
[5
Marks]
(2013) What forced Dr. Sadao to
be impatient and irritable with his patient? [2
Marks]
What made a cool surgeon like Sadao speak
sharply to his wife and what was her reaction?
[2
Marks]
(2012) Why had Hana to wash the
wounded man herself? [2
Marks]
(2011) Dr. Sadao was compelled
by h is duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his
sympathise with him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff? [7
Marks]
(2010) Why did the messenger
come to Dr. Sadao?What did 'Hana think about it ?
[2 Marks]
(2009) Why did the General spare
the American soldier? [2 Marks]
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