THE ENEMY

- PEARL S BUCK
PRESENTATION BY
SHAHRUKH MEHTA
(VICE-PRINCIPAL)
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
PEARL S BUCK
PEARL S BUCK
Earned a Pulitzer in 1932 for her novel “The Good
Earth”.

Won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938.

Later wrote prolifically choosing China as the setting
(1892-1973)
for the majority of her work.

Concurrently, was active in humanitarian efforts to

protect Asian Americans against racial intolerance by
increasing awareness.
WORLD WAR
TWO
WAR BETWEEN AMERICA AND
JAPAN
WW II
• When the Japanese attack the American fleet in
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, the
United States enters World War II and goes to war
with Japan; the war ends when the U.S. drops
atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6) and
Nagasaki (August 9) in Japan in 1945 and Japan
surrenders unconditionally to the Allied ...
CHARACTER
& THEME
CHARACTERS
• 1.DR.SADAO HOKI – Japanese Doctor
• 2.HANA – Sadao’s Wife
• 3.TOM – American POW
• 4.GENERAL TAKIMA – Japanese General during WWII
• 5.YUMI – Sadao’s Servant (responsible for taking care of
the children
• 6.DOMESTIC SERVANTS
SADAO’S CHILDHOOD
Dr. Sadao Hoki
He lived in a house on the Japanese coast in a Stone house
located upon rocks, well above the narrow beach. As a child
he often visited the South-sea islands with his father.
Climbed pines, watched islands, played along the coast.

At 22yrs. Went to America & returned after 8yrs., became a

surgeon & scientist
SADAO’S FATHER

His father, a traditional man, never joked or played

with him but took infinite pains for his son. Sadao’s
education was his chief concern. His father inculcated
in him values of patriotism and national loyalty. He
even sent Sadao to America to complete his studies in
Medicine and Surgery.
MEETING HANA
He met Hana in America.

She is a pure Japanese girl.

They married in a old, traditional Japanese way.

Now they had two children.

TOM PRISONER OF WAR

Both Sadao and Hana saw a man crawling man on the sea
coast.
The man was wounded, he was a white man with a rough
yellow beard.
Dr.Sadao found that the gun wound had been reopened.
Dr.Sadao packed the wound with the sea moss. The man
cried but remained unconscious
INTRODUCTION
The story is a portrayal of the conflict between a man’s
heart and mind. It tells us about how people can help
enemies on human grounds.

The story beautifully depicts how a human being rises

above his prejudices to help a wounded enemy.
THEME
In this chapter the author stresses on the fact that
humanity requires one to overcome prejudices and
hatred especially against one’s enemies.

Through this chapter, the author conveys the message

that ‘humanism transcends all man-made prejudices
and barriers’.
THE STORY
THE CHALLENGE
Misty night, staggering body appeared, wounded, collapsed.
A white man ( American ), an enemy
Sadao & Hana carried him to Sadao’s father’s bedroom
Washed by Hana because Yumi refused
Operated by Sadao & Hana held the anesthetic
Bullet removed from near the kidney
Life saved- prisoner- feeble & weak
Prisoner fed & rested to recovery, but was anxious for his
future
DILEMMA
They were in a fix. If they sheltered a white man, they could
be arrested, if he was turned away, he would certainly die.
Servants threatened to leave in protest.
Conflict between duty as a doctor and duty as a true patriot.
Afraid of being called a traitor.
He was an American sailor and a prisoner of war.
He was their enemy as all Americans were their enemies.
TREATMENT
Tom, the war prisoner was carried into the house.

Tom would die, he was not operated on.

Servants did not co-operate.

They didn’t want an enemy soldier saved.

OPERATION
Hana cleaned his breast and face with hot steaming water.
She helped her husband to turn the man.

With the cleanest and most precise of incisions, the bullet

was taken out from the body.

The young man woke, he was very weak and terrified.

HUMAN
CONSIDERATIONS
They didn’t want to save an enemy but human considerations
made them save his life.
Looking barely seventeen, asked what they were going to do
with him.
Being a doctor, Sadao was trained not to let a man die, but
saving an enemy was nothing less than an act of treachery.
CONTINUOUS
TREATMENT
Sadao examined the wound carefully every morning.
At last, the last stitches had been pulled out.
INFORMING THE GENERAL
Sadao informed the whole episode to the General.

The General thought it best to have the American

quietly killed.

He could send two of his men to kill him that night;

Sadao also thought it was the best thing to do so.
SAVING THE POW - TOM
Sadao arranged a boat on the shore that night with food and
extra clothing. He asked Tom to row to a little uninhabited
island and wait for a Korean fishing boat. Told him to flash
the torch twice if he ran out of food and flash it once if he
was alright. There was no signal from the island.

The prisoner had gone of safe. Sadao informed the General

that the American had escaped.
REFLECTIONS
THE GENERAL
That he had failed in doing his duty towards his country
Justified his action - that it was due to ill-health and not due
to lack of patriotism.
SADAO
Wondered as to why he had saved the American.
Had hatred for Americans – their enemy – but humanity
overpowered his feelings
THANK YOU
PRESENTATION BY
SHAHRUKH MEHTA
(VICE-PRINCIPAL)