The Enemy

By- Pearl S. Buck

The Theme of the story:

Sadao being patriotic Japanese hates Americans as his enemies. One day a prisoner of
war appears at the shore near Dr. Sadao's house wounded and Dr. Sadao and his wife
Hana move over their feelings of hatred towards him and they treat him until he is capable
of taking care of himself.

MESSAGE-
'The Enemy' gives the message that humanism transcends all man made prejudices
and barriers. Dr. Sadao upholds the ethics of medical profession in treating an enemy.
The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow feeling and humanism.

Main Characters of the Story

Characters
Dr Sadao: Dr Sadao is a Japanese surgeon and Scientist. He was brought up by his
father who was a staunch Japanese, devoted to his culture. Dr Sadao became a skilful
doctor and scientist to fulfil his father’s wishes. His father sent him to America to study
medicine. He wanted him to study for the benefit of his country. Dr Sadao didn’t even
marry Hana without his father’s approval. He was so skilled that the General was totally
dependent on him. The General has blind faith in him which exemplifies him as a skilful
and expert surgeon.

Dr Sadao was a loving husband and a good father. He consults and respects his wife. He
is worried ant the future of his kids in case he is arrested. He is meticulous and finally finds
out a middle path. He feels happy to save the life of an American and to secure his and his
family’s future too.

Hana: Hana is an ideal wife, mother and a true Japanese, She is patriotic and
humanitarian with a compassionate heart. She supports her husband in his each and
every decision. Though she does not like the idea of saving the enemy, i.e. the American
prisoner of war, she cannot neglect that before being an enemy, he was a human being
first. She is a dignified lady who carries herself in a very controlled way without sacrificing
her dignity when the servants refused to continue their services and defy her orders. Like
any caring mother, she is worried about the future of her children in case Dr Sadao is
arrested for keeping the American in his house. Despite being worried, tensed and scared,
she never loses her cool amid critical situations.

Tom—The American POW: Tom was the American prisoner of war, who was shot and
had escaped. Dr Sadao found him on the shore outside his house in a wretched condition.
He had bled a lot and had a deep wound. He might have to face tortures and pain and
suffering. Dr Sadao saved his life by operating upon him and taking out the bullet. Tom
displayed a fighting spirit which was evident from his speedy recovery. He is surprised and
overwhelmed by the generosity of Dr Sadao and Hana. He didn’t want to leave their house
as he felt secure there. Finally, with the help of Dr Sadao, he is able to escape.

The General: The General is Japan’s Army General. He is Dr Sadao’s patient. He was old
and ailing and had faith only in Dr Sadao for treatment. That is one of the reasons that Dr
Sadao was not sent abroad with the Japanese army. The General himself was educated at
Princeton and had more faith in the doctor trained in America than in Germany as
according to him Americans had sentiments but Germans were cruel. He assured Dr
Sadao of help in getting rid of the American soldier but due to his self-absorption in his
ailment, he forgot. When Dr Sadao told him about the escape of the white man, he took
the blame on himself and saved Dr Sadao. The General knew the worth of Dr Sadao as a
surgeon and as a scientist didn’t want to lose him so protected him till the end.

Dream of Sadao’s Father

Took him to the islands and said they were ‘stepping stones’ to the future of Japan. Sadao
realized education is important. At 22 went to America to study surgery and medicine.
Returned at 30, as a famous surgeon and scientist.

The Enemy Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What was his father’s chief eoncern about Dr Sadao?
Answer:
Sadao’s father was very serious about his son’s future. He would never joke or play with
him. His father’s chief concern was his son’s education. Therefore Sadao was sent to
America at the age of twenty-two to learn all that could be learned of surgery and
medicine.

Question 2.
In what condition did Dr Sadao nd the American soldier at the seashore?
Answer:
The American soldier was badly wounded and the t sand on one side of him had already a
stain of red soaking through. On the right side of his lower back Sadao saw that a gun
wound had been reopened. If immediate treatment was not given to the man he would
certainly die.

Question 3.
What role did the American professor play in bringing Sadao and Hana together?
Answer:
Both Hana and Sadao met at the professor’s house. Sadao started liking Hana. Though
the professor’s wife was very voluble yet they were kind people and Sadao also started
living there as a paying guest. Thus we can say that the American professor and his wife
proved instrumental in bringing Sadao and Hana together.

Question 4.
What was Dr Sadao’s father dream for his son ? How did Sadao realise it?
Answer:
Dr Sadao’ father wanted his son to be an educated and successful man. He never played
or joked with him. Sadao was sent to America to learn everything about surgery and
medicine. Eventually, Sadao became one of the most famous surgeons and scientists of
Japan. In this way Sadao realised his father’s dream.
fi
Question 5.
Why did Dr Sadao treat the American soldier even though it was an unpatriotic act on his
part?
Answer:
As a doctor Dr Sadao’s was trained he should never let a person die if he could help. Thus
it was nothing unpatriotic on part of Dr Sadao. He even told the old General about the
soldier. Dr Sadao only performed his duty and saved the life of a human being not an
American.

Question 6.
The General did not take any action against Dr Sadao even when he came to know about
his sheltering of the American soldier?
Answer:
The General needed Dr Sadao’s services as a doctor and surgeon for his treatment. He
himself told Dr Sadao that no one in the entire Japan is so capable to save his life. Any
action against Dr Sadao would also lead to his own death.

Question 7.
How did Hana help Dr Sadao?
Answer:
Hana helped her husband in the operation. She her-self washed the man. While Sadao
performed the operation, Hana helped him in giving the anaesthetic. She acted as a nurse
while her husband was performing the operation.

Question 8.
Why had Hana to wash the wounded man her-self?
Answer:
Hana asked the governess, Yumi, of her baby to help to wash the man. But Yumi bluntly
refused saying she had never washed a white man and would never wash one. Moreover
that man was their enemy. Therefore Hana had to wash the man herself.

Question 9.
How could you say that the American was tortured? Who could have tortured him?
Answer:
There were red scars on the back side of the neck of the American. It clearly showed that
the man was badly tortured. The Japanese General Takima was a very cruel man. He
must have tortured the man.

Question 10.
Why did the servants leave Dr Sadao’s house?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had given shelter to an enemy soldier. According to the servants, it was an act of
treason. They looked upon the Americans as their enemies since Japan and America were
at war. When they found that instead of handing over the enemy soldier to the police, Dr
Sadao had decided to treat him, they decided to leave his house.
 Question 11.
Why was Dr Sadao not sent to the battle eld?
Answer:
Dr Sadao was a famous surgeon and scientist of Japan. He was perfecting a discovery to
make the wounds completely clean. Besides, he was treating the old General. The
General might need an opertation any time. Therefore, Dr Sadao was not sent to the
battle eld.

Question 12.
How did Dr Sadao get rid of the enemy soldier?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had saved the man with great efforts. He didn’t want him to hand over to the
police and get him killed. Therefore he decided to help the man get away in his boat’ He
loaded his boat with suf cient provisions. He asked the man to row the boat to a nearby
island.

Question 13.
How did Dr Sadao take bullet out of the body of the American soldier?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had to perfom an opertation to take bullet out of the body of the American
soldier. The soldier was given anaesthetic. Dr Sadao felt the tip of his instrument with
some hard object. It was a bullet. Then Dr Sadao probed with his ngers and took out the
bullet with cleanest possible manner.

Question 14.
What was the second thing that happened in the afternoon? Why did this frighten the
doctor’s wife, Hana too much?
Answer:
In the afternoon, the second thing happened. A mes-senger came to their house in
of cial’uniform. Hana became quite frightened. She thought that perhaps he had come to
arrest her husband. But the man wanted Dr. Sadao to come with him as the old General
was in pain.

Question 15.
How did the General react on Dr Sadao’s story . about harbouring the enemy soldier?
Answer:
Dr Sadao went to the old General and narrated him the whole story. He also told him since
he had done great effort to save that man and he didn’t want him to hand over the police.
Now, the General offered him to send his private assassins. He said that they were very
competent and expert in internal bleeding.

Question 16.
Why do you think that the General spare the American soldier?
Answer:
The old General was very sel sh. He knew if the matter about the enemy soldier had come
to light,Dr Sadao would come to a great trouble. He might be arrested for treason. The
General did not want it happen. He needed Dr Sadao’s services for his treatment.
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
Question 17.
Did Hana think that the Japanese torture their prisoners of war? Why?
Answer:
Yes, Hana did think that the Japanese torture their prisoners of war. She found red scars
on the back-side of the neck of the American soldier. It was a clear fact that he was
tortured badly by the Japanese.

Question 18.
Why did Sadao wait to fall in love with Hana?
Answer:
Sadao had met Hana in America, but he had waited to fall in love with her until he was
sure she was Japanese. He knew his father would only accept any girl who had been pure
in her race.

Question 19.
Who was Dr Sadao? Where was his house?
Ana.
Dr Sadao was a famous Japanese surgeon and scientist. He was perfecting a discovery to
make wounds completely clean. His house was set upon rocks well above a narrow beach
that was outlined with bent pines.

Question 20.
Was Dr Sadao arrested on the charge of harbouring, an enemy?
Answer:
No, Dr Sadao not arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy. He has already told the
old General about the enemy. Also the old General needs his medical help, therefore, he
never wanted that any harm may come to Dr Sadao.

Question 21.
Did Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself ?
Answer:
Hana was a very understanding wife. She knew that her husband treated the man though
he was the enemy of their country. He would never desist from doing his duty. So she
helped her husband and washed the man herself since their maid had refused to do that.

Question 22.
What did Dr Sadao and his wife do with the man?
Answer:
After Dr Sadao’s treatment the man was now out of danger. But still he was very weak. If
they handed him over to the police, he was sure to be killed. Therefore, they decided to
keep the man with them in their house.

Question 23.
What did Dr Sadao do to get rid of the man?
Answer:
Dr Sadao had saved the man with great efforts. He didn’t want him to hand over to the
police and get him killed. Therefore he decided to help the man get away in his boat and
he loaded his boat with suf cient provisions. He asked the man to row the boat to a nearby
island.

The Enemy Important Questions Short Answer Type Questions (3-4 Marks)

Question 1.
Why did the General spare the American soldier? (All India 2009)
Answer:
The General had his own sel sh interest in sparing the American soldier. He knew Dr.
Sadao was indispensable to him and did not want him to be arrested. He did not trust
other surgeons. In his capacity as a General he should have had the American soldier
arrested but he refrained from it in his personal self-interest.

Question 2.
Why was Dr. Sadao not sent to the battle eld? (All India 2009)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao was a skilled and reputed surgeon who was in the process of perfecting an
invention of rendering wounds totally clean. Moreover, he was treating the old General
who could need an operation. So he was not sent to the battle eld as his valuable services
could be needed at any time in his hometown.

Question 3.
Why did the messenger come to Dr. Sadao? What did Hana think about it? (All India 2010)
Answer:
The uniformed messenger comes to Dr. Sadao to inform him that the old General was in
pain again. Hana felt relieved to hear that the messenger had come only to inform Dr.
Sadao about the General’s ill-health. She had earlier feared that the servants had informed
the police who had sent the man in the uniform to their house.

Question 4.
What forced Dr. Sadao to be impatient and irritated with his patient? (All India 2010)
Answer:
His patient was badly wounded and this was a cause of worry, concern and vexation for
Dr. Sadao. Saving him was a challenge for his skills as a doctor and harbouring him in his
house could lead to Dr. Sadao’s arrest and his treatment was the ultimate test of the
doctor’s patience.

Question 5.
In what context does Hana remember General Takima? What does she infer? (All India
2010)
Answer:
Hana remembers General Takima who at home used to beat his wife cruelly though no
one now mentioned it ever since he had fought a victorious battle in Manchuria. She
inferred that if a man like him could be so cruel to a woman in his power, he would be
extremely cruel to the wounded American soldier.
fi
fi
fi
fi
Question 6.
How did Hana help Dr. Sadao while he operated upon the enemy soldier? (Comptt. Delhi
2010)
Answer:
First Hana washes the wounded man’s face and body with warm water till it was quite
clean. She then assists Dr. Sadao during the operation even though she has never even
witnessed an operation before. She brings in the towels and though she is not comfortable
at the sight of the bleeding wound she gives anaesthesia to the patient.

Question 7.
What was the old gardener’s reaction when Dr. Sadao gave shelter to the enemy soldier?
(Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
Like all the servants the gardener did not like Sadao’s efforts to save a wounded American
soldier. He felt it was unpatriotic to give shelter to a prisoner of war. He felt if his master
healed what rst the gun and then the sea did, they would be avenged.

Question 8.
How did Dr. Sadao ensure that the American sailor left his house but he himself remained
safe and secure? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao offered his personal boat with food and extra clothing to the American soldier
when he left his house. He then advised the soldier to go to a nearby island where no one
lived and escape from there by boarding a Korean shing boat. Dr. Sadao then informed
the General that the soldier had escaped.

Question 9.
Why did Hana wash the wounded soldier herself? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Hana had to wash the wounded soldier herself because Yumi, the maid, refused to wash a
‘dirty white man’. Moreover Hana felt necessary to help her husband. Her qualities of head
and heart enable her to take a balanced view about the wounded soldier, even though he
was an American.

Question 10.
How does the writer indicate that Dr. Sadao’s father was a very traditional and
conventional man? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Though Dr. Sadao and Hana had fallen in love in America, he got married to her only after
his father approved of her. His father always wanted Sadao to get married to a girl who
was pure in her race. Dr. Sadao’s marriage to Hana was arranged by his father in the old
Japanese way indicating that he was a traditional and conventional man.

Question 11.
How did Dr. Sadao plan the American prisoner’s escape? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer: Dr. Sadao made elaborate arrangements for the prisoner’s safe escape. The
prisoner was made to row to a nearby island where no one lived. All the necessary things
fi
fi
were given to him. He was told to signal two ashes if he ran out of food. When Dr. Sadao
received no signal, he was convinced the prisoner had escaped safely.

Question 12.
Did Hana think the Japanese tortured their prisoners of war? Why? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
When Hana noticed the deep red scars on the American soldier’s neck, she worriedly
hoped that he had not been tortured by the Japanese. She knew it was a common practice
for the Japanese to torture their prisoners of war in the most brutal manner.

Question 13.
Why had Hana to wash the wounded man herself? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Hana had to wash the wounded soldier herself because Yumi, the maid, refused to wash a
‘dirty white man’. Moreover Hana felt necessary to help her husband. Her qualities of head
and heart enable her to take a balanced view about the wounded soldier, even though he
was an American.

Question 14.
What help did Dr. Sadao seek from Hana while operating on the wounded white man?
(Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao sought Hana’s help while operating on the wounded white man. She assisted
Dr. Sadao during the operation even though she had never even witnessed an operation
before. She brought in the towels and though she was not comfortable at the sight of the
bleeding wound she gave anaesthesia to the patient.

Question 15.
Who sent a messenger to Dr. Sadao? What for? (Comptt. All India 2012)
Answer:
The old General sent a messenger to Dr. Sadao to inform him the General was in pain
again and needed Dr. Sadao’s immediate attention. The General preferred to be treated by
Dr. Sadao who had the reputation of being thoroughly professional in his job

Question 16.
What forced Dr. Sadao to be impatient and irritable with his patient? (All India 2013)
Answer:
Hana had never seen an operation and the sight of Dr. Sadao operating on the soldier
made her sick and she rushed out to the garden to retch. Dr. Sadao knew how distressed
Hana was and his inability to go to her made him impatient and irritable with his patient
because of whom he could not be with his wife.

Question 17.
In what context does Hana remember the cruel nature of General Takima? (All India 2013)
Answer:
Hana remembers General Takima who at home used to beat his wife cruelly though no
fl
 one now mentioned it ever since he had fought a victorious battle in Manchuria. She
inferred that if a man like him could be so cruel to a woman in his power, he would be
extremely cruel to the wounded American soldier.

Question 18.
What made a cool surgeon like Sadao speak sharply to his wife and what was her
reaction? (All India 2013)
Answer:
While Sadao was operating on the American soldier, Hana, his wife choked on seeing so
much blood. Dr. Sadao looked up and saw her sulphur coloured face. At that moment he
retorted sharply to his wife telling her not to faint. Hana clapped her hands to her mouth
and ran out of the garden to retch.

Question 19.
How nearly had Dr. Sadao missed marrying Hana? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao had met Hana literally by chance at an American professor’s house. He actually
did not want to go there as the rooms of the house were small, the food was bad and the
professor’s wife was rather voluble. But nevertheless he had gone and there he had found
Hana.

Question 20.
In what condition was the American sailor when Dr. Sadao found him?(Comptt. All India
2013)
Answer:
When Dr. Sadao found the American sailor the latter was badly wounded and
unconscious. Blood was owing freshly when Dr. Sadao touched his wound. On the right
side of the sailor’s lower back Dr. Sadao saw that the gun wound had reopened and the
esh was blackened with powder.

Question 21.
Do you think Dr. Sadao’s nal decision was the best possible one in the circumstances?
Why/Why not? Explain with reference to the story, ‘The Enemy’. (Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao rose above narrow prejudices of race and country and not only saved the young
American soldier from dying, but also helped him to escape. Basic human goodness
overpowered Dr. Sadao and the nal decision that he took was indeed the best possible
one in the circumstances. He could not hand over a dying man, even if he was an enemy,
to the police. The ethics of his profession had taught him to save a dying man. His
essential love for humanity and his sincerity towards his duty as a doctor transcend all
other narrow considerations. As a doctor, it was his duty to save a dying man and so he
put aside all other options and respected the ideals and principles of his profession.

Question 22.
Why did Dr. Sadao treat the American soldier even though it was an unpatriotic act on his
part? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
fl
fl
fi
fi
 Dr. Sadao rose above narrow prejudices of race and country and treated the wounded
American soldier. Basic human goodness overpowers him and he treats the American
soldier. Being a doctor, it was his duty to save a dying man even though he belonged to
the enemy’s camp.

Question 23.
Why did the General not order immediate arrest of Dr. Sadao who had sheltered a white
man? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
After knowing that Dr. Sadao had operated on the white man with such success, the
General realized how indispensable Dr. Sadao was to him. He was the only one who could
save him. So he could not let Dr. Sadao be arrested lest he required Dr. Sadao’s medical
expertise to save his own life.

Question 24.
How did Hana help Dr. Sadao? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
First Hana washes the wounded man’s face and body with warm water till it was quite
clean. She then assists Dr. Sadao during the operation even though she has never even
witnessed an operation before. She brings in the towels and though she is not comfortable
at the sight of the bleeding wound she gives anaesthesia to the patient.

Question 25.
In what condition did Dr. Sadao nd the American soldier at the seashore? (All India 2015)
Answer:
When Dr. Sadao rst saw the American soldier at the sea shore, he was crawling on his
hands and knees and then he fell on his face. He was badly wounded and lay motionless.
Blood owed freshly when Dr. Sadao touched his wound and the man moaned in pain.

Question 26.
What role did the American professor play in bringing Hana and Sadao together? (All India
2015)
Answer:
The American professor and his wife had been kind people who were anxious to do
something for their few foreign students and the students, though bored, accepted this
kindness. It was at the professor’s house that Dr. Sadao had met Hana, a new student,
and had felt that he would love her if it were at all possible.

Question 27.
What was Sadao’s father’s dream for him? How did Sadao realise it? (All India 2015)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao’s father had spent in nite pains on his only son and his education had been his
father’s chief concern. He had sent Dr. Sadao at the age of 22 to America to learn all that
could be learned of surgery and medicine. Before his father’s death, Dr. Sadao ensured
that he saw him not only as a surgeon but also as a scientist.
fl
fi
fi
fi
Question 28.
Dr. Sadao was a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. How could he honour
both the values? (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao was indeed a patriotic Japanese as well as a dedicated surgeon. An American
run away prisoner in a badly wounded condition is washed ashore on Japanese doctor
Sadao’s doorstep. The doctor is initially a little hesitant to save the prisoner’s life when he
discovers the latter’s real identity. But being a dedicated surgeon he decides to treat the
enemy soldier. He is able to save the prisoner’s life but being a patriotic Japanese he
informs a superior Japanese Army General about the prisoner’s presence in his house and
even agrees to have him killed by the General’s assassins. He waits for the assassins to
carry out their job but when they do not arrive, he gives the prisoner his boat and helps
him to escape safely thus honouring both the values that he was a pa-triotic Japanese as
well as a dedicated surgeon.

Question 29.
Dr. 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 re-
solve this clash of values? (All India 2015)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao gives priority to his professional ethics over his patriotism and uses his surgical
skills to save the life of a wounded man even though he belonged to the enemy’s camp.
He rises above narrow prejudices and realizes his duty as a doctor. The surgeon in him
instinctively inspires him to operate upon the dying soldier and save his life. But he is also
a responsible and patriotic citizen of his country so he decides to inform a senior Japanese
Army General about the prisoner’s presence in his house and even agrees to have him
killed by the General’s assassins. He even spends three restless nights waiting for the
assassins to carry out their job. But the assassins did not arrive. In this way, Dr. Sadao is
able to resolve the clash of his values and appease his conscience of having done his duty
as a responsible citizen of his country.

Question 30.
How did the arrival of the prisoner destroy the peace of Sadao’s home? (Comptt. Delhi
2015)
Answer:
The arrival of the prisoner does destroy the peace of Sadao’s home. At the onset Dr.
Sadao and his wife are anxious and confused whether they should save the wounded
soldier who they know is an American. The servants in Dr. Sadao’s house are against his
decision of harbouring a soldier from the enemy’s camp. Yumi refuses to wash the
American soldier as he was a white man. The cook and gardener criticise Dr. Sadao and
threaten to leave the house. Finally all the servants leave Dr. Sadao’s home and Hana, Dr.
Sadao’s wife stands by him but is in constant terror. The messenger from the General
frightens Hana. She fears her husband will be condemned as a traitor. Dr. Sadao himself is
in a dilemma. Being a patriotic Japanese citizen he doubts the rightness of his act. It is
only after the prisoner leaves that things start getting normal in Dr. Sadao’s house.

Question 31.
What was his father’s chief concern about Dr. Sadao? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Sadao’s education was his father’s chief concern. For this reason he had sent Sadao to
America to learn all that could be learned about surgery and medicine. Before his death he
had seen Sadao become famous not only as a surgeon but as a scientist.

Question 32.
Why was Dr. Sadao not sent abroad along with the troops? (Delhi 2016)
Answer: Dr. Sadao was rstly perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely
clean, so he had not been sent abroad with the troops. Moreover, there was a possibility
that the old General might need an operation, and for this Dr. Sadao was being kept in
Japan.

Question 33.
Where, when and how did Dr. Sadao meet Hana? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao met Hana in America. He met her in the most casual way, literally by chance, at
an American professor’s house. The hospitable Professor Harley and his wife were
anxious to do something for the foreign students and thus had invited them over. Dr.
Sadao had actually nearly decided not to go to Professor Harley’s house that night
because of the bad food and the professor’s voluble wife, but nally he had gone and
there he had met Hana.

Question 34.
Where and how did Sadao meet Hana in America? (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao met Hana in America. He met her in the most casual way, literally by chance, at
an American professor’s house. The hospitable Professor Harley and his wife were
anxious to do something for the foreign students and thus had invited them over. Dr.
Sadao had actually nearly decided not to go to Professor Harley’s house that night
because of the bad food and the professor’s voluble wife, but nally he had gone and
there he had met Hana.

Question 35.
What did Dr. Sadao understand more about the wound on peering into it? (Comptt. All
India 2016)
Answer:
After peering into the American soldier’s wound Dr. Sadao understood that he had been
shot some days ago and had not been tended to. The bullets were still there in his body,
though they had not reached the kidney.

Question 36.
What dilemma did Dr. Sadao face? (Comptt. Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Dr. Sadao nds an unconscious wounded white soldier on a lonely coast near his house.
Since Japan was at war with America Dr. Sadao faces a dilemma between national loyalty
and his duty as a doctor. He is confused as to whether he should hand over the enemy to
the Japanese authorities, or being a doctor do his foremost duty and attend to a wounded
man and save his life.
fi
fi
fi
fi
Question 37.
Why did Dr. Sadao’s servants leave his service? (Comptt. Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Japan was at war with America. Dr. Sadao was nursing a wounded American soldier. The
servants did not approve of Dr. Sadao’s generosity who was trying to give an American a
new lease of life. They thought Dr. Sadao was doing a treacherous act by helping the
enemy, so their patriotic feelings made them leave Dr. Sadao’s house.

The Enemy Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
To choose between professional loyalty and patriotism was a dilemma for Dr Sadao. How
did he succeed in betraying neither?
Answer:
As a doctor, Sadao was taught that he should never let a person die if he could help. One
evening, he found a badly injured enemy soldier on the sea beach near his house. The
man could die if not given proper medical aid. Now, Dr Sadao decided to perform an
opertation on the man though he was an enemy soldier. He tended him well and took great
care of him.

In this way Dr Sadao was able to maintain his professional loyalty. But Dr Sadao was a
patriotic from the core of his heart. He knew it was an act of treason to harbour an enemy
soldier. Therefore, he wrote a letter to the authorities about it and put it in his drawer. He
even told the old General everything about the enemy soldier. It is other thing that the
General did not take any action against the enemy soldier. But Dr Sadao was able to
maintain a perfect balance between his professional loyalty and patriotism.

Question 2.
Good values are far above any other value system. How did Dr Sadao succeed as a
doctor as well as a patriot?
Answer:
Dr Sadao is full of ner values of humanity kindness, love for human beings and also love
for one’s passion. As a doctor, he is taught not to let a person die if he could help. One
evening he found a badly injured enemy soldier on the sea beach near his house. The
man could die if not given proper medical aid.

Now Dr Sadao decided to perform an opertation on the man though he was an enemy
soldier. He tended him well and took great care of him. In this way Dr Sadao was able to
maintain his professional loyalty.

But Dr Sadao was a patriotic from the core of his heart. He knew it was an act of treason
to harbour an enemy soldier. Therefore he wrote a letter to the authorities about it and put
it in his drawer.He even told the old General everything about the enemy soldier. It is other
thing that the General did not take any action against the enemy soldier. Thus, Dr Sadao
succeeded as a doctor as well as a patriot.
fi
Question 3.
How can you say that Sadao’s father was very serious about his son’s study?
Answer:
Dr Sadao’s father was very serious about his son’s studies. Dr Sadao’s lived with his father
in a house that was situated on the high rocks near the sea beach. He used to play there
as a school boy. There were some islands near the Japanese beach. His father would
often take him there and told him that those islands there were the stepping stones to the
future for Japan. Sadao’s father was very serious about his future. He would never joke or
play with him. Sadao knew that his education was his father’s chief concern.

Sadao was sent to America at the age of twenty-two to learn all that could be learned of
surgery and medicine. He came back at thirty and eventually became a famous scientist
and surgeon. As he was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely clean,
he had not been sent abroad with the troop. We can say that because of his father’s
efforts, Dr Sadao was able to become a famous surgeon and a scientist.

Question 4.
Explain the reaction of the servants in Dr Sadao’s house when he decided to give shelter
to an enemy in the house.
Answer: The servants in Dr Sadao’s house did not like the idea of giving shelter to an
enemy soldier. Yumi, the nurse of the doctor’s child bluntly refused to wash the white man.
She said that she had never and would never wash a white man. The old gardener was a
superstitious man. He said that there was no business in saving the man.

He told Hana bluntly that the white man ought not to be saved. First he had been shot.
Then the sea had caught him. But when they found that Dr Sadao was not going to hand
over the man to the authorities they thought that he had turned traitor. They decided to
leave his house.

Question 5.
Write in brief the character-sketch of General Takima.
Answer:
General Takima was an old Japanese General. He was a very cruel person. He used to
beat his wife mercilessly. He also tortured the prisoners of war very ruthlessly. He even
had private assassins to have anyone killed. He offered Dr Sadao to send two of them to
kill the American soldier. He said that they were quite capable and could also remove the
dead body of the soldier.

But later he did not do that. In fact there was a sel sh motive behind it. He needed Dr
Sadao’s services as a doctor. He didn’t want any problem should come to him. Therefore,
he left the entire matter on Dr Sadao to solve. He pretended to be a patriot, but in fact he
was a very sel sh person. He didn’t want him involve himself in the matter. Perhaps, he
wanted Dr Sadao to kill the man himself. The General was indeed a very self-absorbed
person.
fi
fi
 Question 6.
Dr Sadao faced a dilemma. Should he use his ‘ surgical skills to save the life of a wounded
American POW or should he hand him over to the Japanese police? How did he resolve
the clash of values? (2015 AI)
Answer:
As a doctor, Sadao is taught that he should never let a person die if he could help. One
evening he nds a badly injured enemy soldier on the sea beach near his house. The man
could die if not given proper medical aid. Now, Dr Sadao uses his surgical skills and
perform him an opertation on the man though he is an enemy soldier. He tends him well
and took great care of him. In this way, Dr Sadao maintains his professional loyalty and he
is able to save the life of the POW with his surgical skills.

But Dr Sadao is a patriotic person also. Therefore he informs everything to the old
General. The Gen-eral ensures him to send his private assassins to kill the man. However
Dr Sadao has saved that man with great effort. Naturally he does not want any harm
should come to that man. Therefore he helps escape the man in a boat in the end of the
story.

Question 7.
How did Dr Sadao help then American POW to escape? What humanitarian values do you
nd in his act?
Answer:
Dr Sadao saved the life of American POW with great effort. Naturally he did not want that
any harm should come to him and thus all his efforts be wasted. Therefore he decided to
arrange for the escape of that man. Dr Sadao decided to leave his boat on the seashore.
He also decided to load the boat with suf cient provisions. The American was dressed in
Japanese clothes which Sadao had given him, and at the last moment Sadao wrapped a
black cloth about his blond head.

He was told to row the boat to a nearby island, where nobody lived because it remained
submerged in the sea most of the year. The doctor displays ner human values in this
story. Though his country is in a state of war with America, he does not forget his duty and
obligations . as a doctor. He saves the life of the enemy even-at the sake of his life and
reputation.

Question 6.
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:
Every individuals has his or her views. But he/she is expected to follow the rules of society
and be loyal to his country. However, sometimes the situation comes when we have to
make hard choices between our roles as private individuals and as citizens with a sense of
national loyalty. In this situation we must keep national interest at top priority. But some
exceptions are always there.
fi
fi
fi
fi
In this story, Dr Sadao meets a badly wounded soldier who is on the verge of death. Now
he is taught that he must not let the individual die if he can help. A doctor is not supposed
to kill a person even if he happens to be his enemy. But he is a loyal citizen of his country.
Though he treats the enemy soldier yet he remains in the state of dilemma. He himself
doesn’t know what he is doing.

Question 7.
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 de ance from the domestic staff?
Answer:
Dr Sadao has been trained not to let a person die if he could help. The enemy soldier is
badly wounded. He is sure to die if he is not given proper medical care. On the other hand,
Dr Sadao feels that it is his national duty to hand the enemy over to the authorities. Dr
Sadao’s wife, Hana, understands her husband well. She has spent great deal of time with
him.

The house staff of Dr Sadao do not like the idea of harbouring the enemy soldier. They
bluntly refuse to help their master in tending the enemy soldier. At this juncture, Hana
herself washes the enemy soldier and also helps Dr Sadao in giving anaesthetic to the
soldier. She feeds the soldier with her own hands. However, she likes her husband wants
to get rid of the soldier but she doesn’t know how.

Question 8.
How would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the shelter of doctor’s home
even when he knew he couldn’t stay there wit out risk to the doctor and himself?
Answer:
The soldier belonged to the American navy. He was prisoner of the war and somehow he
had escaped from the prison. He had a gunshot in his back. It was Dr Sadao who operated
on him and saved his life with great effort. He gave the American soldier shelter in his
house. It was a big crime and Dr Sadao could be arrested for it. But for Dr Sadao his
profession was the rst. He was taught that he should not let the person die if he could
help it. Dr Sadao did his job with complete honesty.

He saved the prisoner’s life. The American kept on living there. He knew that he would be
killed if he left Dr Sadao’s house. He had full con dence in Dr Sadao. He knew that after
saving his life Dr Sadao would not let him die. He left it to the doctor to escape from the
problem anyway he liked. And indeed, Dr Sadao found a way to save the life of the
prisoner.

Question 9.
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 simple self absorption?
Answer:
Japanese General Takima was a ruthless person. He even had private assassins to kill
anybody. He used to torture the prisoners of war very badly. Dr Sadao told him about the
American soldier. He assured the doctor that he would send his private assassins to get
the soldier killed. But he does not do any such thing. He perhaps leaves it on Dr Sadao to
fi
fi
fi
handle the situation any way he likes. The General is worried of himself and he needs Dr
Sadao’s services. Therefore he does not want that any harm should come to him.

He does not want anyone know that Dr Sadao has given shelter to an enemy soldier.
Therefore he does not send any of his assassins to kill the enemy soldier. It was not in fact
human consideration. It was lack of national loyalty and dereliction of duty. The General
knowingly does not send any of the assassins. He wants Dr Sadao to deal with the
prisoner as he wants.

Question Question10.
While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justi able, especially during wartime,
what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
Answer:
Every human being has love and hatred in their heart. When we think what harm has been
caused by the enemy, our heart gets full of hatred for the enemy. But when we nd the
same enemy badly battered, our hatred diminishes. Then we tend to look at him like a
human being who needs our care and sympathy. In this story the same thing happens.

The American soldier belonged to the enemy country. Dr Sadao found him when he was
badly wounded. Dr Sadao told himself that he would have handed over that man to the
police if he had been t. But that man had a gunshot on his back. He was badly injured. He
could die if he was not given proper medical aid. Dr Sadao had been taught that he would
not let the person die if he could help. Therefore. Dr Sadao saved the enemy soldier with
great effort.

Question 11.
Do you think the doctor’s nal solution to the problem was the best possible one in the
circumstances?
Answer:
The doctor had harboured an enemy soldier in his house. All the servants of the house had
left their job. It was a grave crime to shelter an enemy soldier. Dr Sadao could be arrested
for that. Therefore, Dr Sadao wanted to get rid of that man as soon as possible. He did not
want him to handle him over to the police. He knew that they would certainly kill the man.
He was in a x what to do.

Now the man had gained suf cient strength. Dr Sadao adopted the method that could be
the best in the given circumstances. He provided the soldier his boat. He also loaded the
boat with suf cient provisions. In this way Dr Sadao rose above the narrow considerations
and acted in a true humanitarian form. His solution to the problem was the best possible
one in the circumstances.

Question 12.
Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by A.J. Cronin that you read in Snapshots last year?
What are the similarities?
Answer:
Both the stories have one common theme. They both deal with the doctors who have great
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
 passion for their profession. In the story ‘Birth’, Dr Andrew Manson brought back life into
the still born child with great effort. He knew that for the Morgans that child had great
value. It was their rst child after twenty years of their marital life.

In this story, Dr Sadao saved the enemy American soldier though it was a great crime to
shelter an enemy soldier. He operated on him and gave him proper care and treatment. In
the end he helped him to escape by providing his own boat.Thus in both stories it has
been shown that for a doctor his true job is to save the life of his patient. He is above the
considerations of caste, creed or nationality

Long Answer Type Questions (6 Marks, 120-150 Words)

Question.16.What was the General’s plan to get rid of the American prisoner? Was it
executed?
What traits of General’s character are highlighted in the lesson? (All India 2014)
Answer. Dr Sadao informed the General about the presence of the American
prisoner at his house. The General decided that his private assassins would take
care of him and even take his body away Sadao agreed to the General’s proposal.
However, the General’s assassins did not arrive for the next three days.
Consequently the General’s plan was not executed. Sadao spent three restless
nights in waiting for the assassins; ultimately he helped the prisoner escape.
When Sadao informed the General about the escape of the prisoner, the General
replied that he was sick and thus forgot about the whole affair. He further wanted
that Sadao must not inform anybody about this.
This shows tharfhe General was highly sel sh. He had regard only for his own
safety and pride. Also, he did not send Sadao to the battle eld as he needed his
services himself. He considered himself more important than the lives of thousands
of soldiers.

Question.17.What con icting ideas arise in Dr Sadao’s mind after he has brought
the wounded
American soldier home? How is the con ict resolved? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. From the day Dr Sadao found the wounded soldier outside his house, he
had been caught up in a web of con icts and dif culties.
The rst dif culty arose when Sadao decided to operate upon the soldier. He was
caught between his duty as a doctor and loyalty towards his nation. Nonetheless,
Sadao emerged a champion in this regard. As an ethical and sincere doctor, he
saved the life of the soldier and as a responsible citizen, he also informed the
General about the presence of the soldier. Next, when the General’s men did not
arrive to kill the enemy, Sadao was again caught in a con ict as to how to*get rid of
the white man. His innate virtues of compassion and benevolence forbade him from
killing the man. Thus, he decided to let the prisoner escape by sending him off to an
unguarded island.
This is how Dr Sadao successfully resolved the con ict.

Question.18.Do you think Dr Sadao’s nal decision was the best possible one in the
circumstances? Why/Why not? Explain with reference to the story, ‘The Enemy’.
fi
fi
fi
fl
fl
fi
fl
fi
fi
fl
fl
fi
 (Delhi 2013)
Answer. Dr Sadao’s nal decision was the best possible one in the given
circumstances. He has the instincts of a doctor. When Tom, the prisoner of war, was
found wounded, the rst thing he did was to save his life. As a doctor, he was duty
bound to save lives.
Next, he completed the duty towards his nation by informing the General about the
presence of the prisoner.
But nally, he helped the enemy escape. His compassionate heart rose above the
narrow . con nes of hatred and war. As a doctor, Sadao could not have left the
wounded prisoner of war unattended and so he decided to operate upon him and
save his life. However, at the same time, he discharged his duty towards his nation
by informing the General about the enemy. And nally, the surgeon helped the
enemy escape because his compassionate heart forbade him to kill the same
person whom he had saved.

Question.19.What impression do you form about Dr Sadao as a man and as a

surgeon on your reading the chapter The Enemy’? (All India2012)
Answer. After going through the chapter, ‘The Enemy’, we come to the conclusion
that Dr Sadao was an excellent surgeon and a human being per excellence. He
appeared to be a man full of; compassion and a surgeon in the truest sense of the
word.
Although he had a bitter experience of Americans being prejudiced when he was a
student in America, he did not let that bitterness overwhelm him and the doctor and
ne human being in him prevailed.,He knew that, if being found that he had
harboured an American POW in his own house, tie would be labelled a traitor.
His conscience did not permit to let a human being die before his eyes and he took
the risk of being called a traitor. It was not that he was a traitor. He promptly
informed the General about the whole incident. It showed that he was not a coward.
He was ready to face the consequences

Question.20.Why did Sadao help the American soldier to escape? How did he do it?
Answer. Sadao’s expertise in his profession and compassion as a human being
were his most dominant personality traits. As a dutiful doctor, he could not have let
the prisoner die of his injuries and so he saved his life. At the same time, he acted
like a responsible citizen and informed the General of the presence of the enemy.
However, when the General’s men did not come to kill the American Sadao decided
to save his life.
Dr Sadao gave his boat to the young soldier, arranged food for him and provided
him valuable information which helped him escape successfully. This is how Sadao
helped the American soldier ee and thereby saved his life.

Question.21.Why did Sadao Hoki go to America? Narrate his experiences there. (All
India 2012)
Answer. Sadao Hoki went to America to study surgery and medicine as it was the
wish of his father. His experience of living in America was not very good but he was
grateful to have some good professors who taught him so well. Also, he was
grateful to the professor at whose home he had met Hana and immediately liked her.
But he did not like the smell of their food, their small room and the wife of his
professor, who was vbry talkative, although she tried hard to be kind.
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi
fl
fi
Initially, he had faced great dif culty in nding a place to live in America because he
was a Japanese. He perceived that Americans were full of prejudice and for him it
was a bitter experience to live with them.

Question.22.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 de ance from the
domestic staff? (All India 2011)
Answer. As a doctor, it was Dr Sadao’s moral responsibility to save Tom, the
American prisoner of war, but Hana was under no such compulsion. In spite of this,
she abided by her husband’s ; decisions because she was a dutiful wife who
pledged to support her husband even through the most dif cult times.
Secondly, Hana being a woman, was soft-hearted. She could not see a wounded
person being left in the lurch. As a woman, she adorned the role of a life-giver and a
preserver. She could not have been a destroyer. That is why she cleaned the
prisoner when her maid was unwilling to do so. She also assisted her husband in
the operation on the American, despite the fact that she could not stand the blood,
and started vomiting when she saw it. She was thus a dutiful wife and life-giver.

The significance of the Title – The Enemy (Value Based)

Justify the title of The Enemy Appropriateness of the Title

The Enemy’ is an apt title that has the Second World War as the background. Dr Sadao,
being a skilled surgeon saved the life of an escaped American prisoner of war, his enemy,
who was wounded seriously and had been washed ashore. Torn between his duty and his
integrity as a doctor, he chooses to save the enemy’s life first and then hand him over to
the police. His inner conflict and professional ethics makes him choose the first option. His
servants too, desert him for fear of getting into trouble. He is fully aware of the fact that
harbouring a prisoner of war would endanger his own life as well.

The doctor’s professional ethics urge him to treat the ‘enemy’as a patient. Neither Dr
Sadao nor Hana, at any stage consider him their friend. Yet they treat him as a fellow
human being should be treated. The title is therefore appropriate.
fi
fi
fi
fi