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Class 12th | English | Vistas
The Enemy | Lesson 4 | English 12th | Vistas | Summary | Questions | Answers
Short Summary
The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck is a story set in
Japan during World War II. It follows Dr. Sadao Hoki, a Japanese surgeon, who
finds an injured American prisoner of war washed ashore near his home. Despite
his patriotism and fear of repercussions, Sadao's duty as a doctor compels him
to save the man's life. The story explores themes of humanity, moral conflict,
and the power of compassion, as Sadao balances his professional ethics against
societal expectations and personal risk.
Read and Find Out
Q.
Who was Dr Sadao? Where was his house? (Page No. 24)
Answer: Dr. Sadao was a skilled Japanese
surgeon and scientist who had studied in America. His house was located on the
Japanese coast, overlooking the sea, surrounded by pine trees and a serene
beach.
Q.
Will Dr Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy? (Page No. 27)
Answer: Dr. Sadao is not arrested for sheltering the enemy soldier. Although he informs the General about the situation, the General’s self-absorption and negligence ensure that no action is taken against him.
Q.
Will Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself? (Page No. 31)
Answer: Yes, Hana helps the wounded
soldier despite her hesitation and fear. She washes the man herself when the
domestic staff refuses to assist, demonstrating her compassion and moral
courage.
Q.
What will Dr Sadao and his wife do with the man? (Page No. 35)
Answer: Dr. Sadao and Hana nurse the
wounded soldier back to health in secret, despite the risks involved. Once he
recovers, they assist him in escaping to safety by providing a boat, supplies,
and instructions to navigate toward a nearby island.
Q.
What will Dr Sadao do to get rid of the man? (Page No. 43)
Answer: Dr. Sadao
arranges for the soldier’s escape. He gives him a boat, food, water, and
precise directions to reach a safe location. By doing so, he ensures both the
soldier’s safety and his own family’s security, resolving the situation
discreetly.
Reading with Insight
Question
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 story you have just read.
Answer: In life, moments arise when
individuals must choose between personal ethics and national loyalty. In The
Enemy, Dr. Sadao grapples with this dilemma as a loyal Japanese citizen and
as a doctor bound by the Hippocratic Oath. His decision to save the enemy
soldier’s life reflects his humanity and professional duty, despite the
potential risk to himself and his family. This highlights how moral values can
transcend national boundaries in moments of crisis.
Question
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?
Answer: Hana’s sympathy towards the enemy
soldier stems from her compassion and trust in her husband’s judgment. Despite
the defiance of their domestic staff, she supports Sadao’s decision to save the
soldier’s life, recognizing the sanctity of human life over societal prejudice.
Her actions reflect inner strength and moral courage in the face of adversity.
Question
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?
Answer: The soldier’s reluctance to leave
Dr. Sadao’s home reflects his fear and vulnerability. He understands the risks
but likely sees the doctor’s home as a rare haven of safety and kindness amidst
the hostility of war. His hesitation highlights the soldier’s dependence on the
doctor’s compassion and his uncertainty about survival outside the shelter.
Question
4. What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy
soldier? Was it human consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of
duty or simply self-absorption?
Answer: The General’s attitude towards the
enemy soldier is marked by self-absorption and pragmatism. Though aware of the
situation, he delays action because he prioritizes his health over his duty as
a national leader. His behaviour underscores a lack of true loyalty to either
his country or moral principles, driven instead by his own interests.
Question
5. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially
during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
Answer: A human being rises above narrow
prejudices through empathy, education, and exposure to shared human
experiences. In The Enemy, Dr. Sadao’s medical training and sense of
duty enable him to see the enemy soldier as a fellow human being in need,
rather than as an adversary. Such moments demonstrate how compassion can
triumph over hatred, even during wartime.
Question
6. Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best
possible one in the circumstances?
Answer: Dr. Sadao’s decision to secretly
help the soldier escape was the best possible solution under the circumstances.
It ensured the soldier’s safety while protecting his own family from potential
repercussions. This resolution reflects his pragmatism and moral courage,
balancing his duty as a doctor with the realities of war.
Question
7. Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by A. J. Cronin that you read in
Snapshots last year? What are the similarities?
Answer: Yes, The Enemy shares
similarities with Birth by A.J. Cronin. Both stories centre on a
doctor’s commitment to their profession and their efforts to save lives despite
challenging circumstances. In Birth, Dr. Andrew Mason works tirelessly
to save a newborn and his mother, while in The Enemy, Dr. Sadao saves an
enemy soldier, risking his safety. Both narratives highlight the nobility of
medical duty and the triumph of compassion over obstacles.
Question 8. Is there any film you have seen or novel
you have read with a similar theme?
Answer: A similar theme is explored in the
film Hacksaw Ridge, based on the true story of Desmond Doss, a
conscientious objector who saves lives during World War II without carrying a
weapon. Like Dr. Sadao, Doss demonstrates how personal ethics and compassion
can transcend the hatred and violence of war, emphasizing the power of humanity
in extreme circumstances.
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