The Enemy

By- Pearl S. Buck

‘The Enemy’ tells the story of a Japanese doctor who hates Americans
because of his patriotism as America and Japan were at war. One day an
American prisoner of war is washed ashore in front of a Japanese doctor’s
house. The soldier is wounded and has evidently escaped from prison.

Dr Sadao’s house was a solitary house on the sea-shore. Dr Sadao and

Hana ran to help. The American sailor was bleeding. They thought of
throwing him back into the sea. But they could not do so. Dr Sadao carried
him home. Hana washes the soldier as Yumi, the servant, refused to do so.

Sadao operates on the American. He returned with his surgeons’

emergency bag. He turned over the wounded soldier who lay unconscious.
He washed his back and asked Hana to help him. He wanted her to give
the patient the anaesthetic. Hana had never seen an operation and she felt
like vomiting. Sadao saw the bullet in the wound. Hana observed that there
were red scars on the soldier’s neck and realised that he had been
tortured. Sadao removed the bullet from the wound and declared that the
American would survive.

Sadao and Hana look after the American. But the servants were becoming
restless. The gardener felt the prisoner should have been allowed to bleed
to death.

On the seventh day, the servants leave Sadao’s house. They did not work
that morning. Hana paid them their wages.

They cried as they left. Hana held back her tears. The gardener was there
since he was a boy. Yumi was attached to the children. Hana had to do all
the household work on her own. Hana wanted Sadao to get rid of the
American quickly. Sadao promised to do something about it. In the evening
a messenger in uniform arrived. Hana was paralysed with fright. She felt
the servants must have complained and the messenger had come to arrest
Sadao. The fears were unfounded as the old general had been suffering
from an ailment. Sadao had been treating him and the general was in pain
and had sent for him.

The general trusted Sadao. He knew he might need to be operated upon.

That is why Sadao was not sent away with the troops. Sadao told the
general about the American. The general replied that Sadao was
indispensable and could not be arrested.

Then the General suggested a way out. He would send two of his private
assassins to his house to kill the American quietly and remove the body.

Sadao agreed to the plan. Sadao waited for three nights. No assassins
arrived.

The American was getting better. He thanked Sadao. Sadao found it

difficult to keep the American in his house any longer.

He was tired of waiting for the assassins to do away with the American
prisoner. Dr Sadao decided to help him to escape. Sadao provided him
with his boat. He put food water and a quilt in his boat. He also gave the
American his flashlight. There was an uninhabited island very close to the
shore.

He told the American to sail to the island. He could live there till he found a
Korean fishing boat pass by the island.

Then he could seek help and escape to freedom. He warned the American
not to make any fire. He could catch fish and eat it raw.

It was a moonless night when the American sailed away to the island.
Sadao was again called by the general. He operated on the general. Sadao
told the general that the prisoner had escaped. The general recalled that he
had failed to send the assassins as he had forgotten to keep his promise.

He added that it was not because of a lack of patriotism nor dereliction of

duty. He was simply absorbed in his own affairs.

Sadao realized that he was safe. But he assured the general that he would
ever remain loyal to him.
As the American had left, all the servants returned. Things came back to
normal. Sadao remembered the American and hated him. But did not know
why he had saved the prisoner’s life.

Summary (2) :

The story is set in the times of World War II. Dr Sadao is a Japanese
doctor who is an expert surgeon and scientist. He found an American
prisoner of war, at his threshold, who is bleeding and is in a dying state.
Initially, Dr Sadao and his wife Hana thought of throwing the unconscious
man back into the sea but could not do so. Finally, they brought him home.
Dr Sadao operated upon him with the help of his wife. They both had to
face the protest of the servants as they refused to clean the man and left in
protest.

The man starts recovering slowly. One day, Dr Sadao had to go to see the
General. Dr Sadao while treating the General, tells him about the American
in his house. The General promised to send his personal assassins to
quietly kill the American. Dr Sadao does not tell his wife about this plan and
keeps on waiting for the assassins for three nights. But they do not turn up.

By this time, the American has recovered. Now Dr Sadao decides to send
him to an unguarded island in the sea. He gives him a boat, a torch, lots of
food and water and a flashlight. He instructs him to stay on that island and
wait for a Korean boat. He also tells him to signal him two flashes if runs
out of food before he takes a boat.

Dr Sadao is again called by General and this time, he has to be operated.

Now Dr Sadao tells the General that the American has escaped. The
General keeps quiet about all this. Finally, Dr Sadao does not see any !ash
of light and realises that the prisoner has escaped safely.

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.

Trusted by general-so not sent with troops.

Meeting between Hana and Sadao

By chance. At professorHarley’s house in America. Professor and wife kind

helped foreign students. Sadao met Hana there. Married after completion
of studies. Marriage finalised in the traditional way after his father had seen
her. Happy together.

The appearance of the American Soldier

Hana and Sadao leaning on the railing, one foggy evening, saw a man
crawling on hands and knees. Fell on the face. Rushed thinking —
fisherman. Saw a white man with the reopenedgunshot wound, badly hurt.
US Navy insignia on the tattered uniform- realised he was a prisoner of
war.

Dilemma of Sadao

As a doctor, he should attend to a dying man and stop the bleeding.

As a patriotic person, he should put him back in the sea or hand him over
to the authorities.

Decided not to be callous and took him in.

Risks

Would be arrested for sheltering an enemy- a white man, would endanger

the lives of their children.
Reaction of Servants

Frightened. Felt they should not heal him — gardener felt he should die or
he’d take revenge. Cook felt pride in his skill made him save the American
soldier. Felt their years in America had made forget to think of their country
first. Left on the seventh day.

Hana’s Role

Washed him. Helped Sadao operate. Gave anaesthesia. Felt nauseated

but continued.

General Takima-Cruel Man

Known to beat his wife mercilessly. Hana feared how he would deal with an
enemy. Retained Sadao in Japan as he could need an operation.

Reaction to Information about the Fugitive

Felt reassured Sadao had the capability to save. Wanted to save doctor as
he would need his services. Suggested he would send two private
assassins at night-capable men, familiar with the trick of inward bleeding,
would take the soldier’s body away too. Sadao waited three nights, realised
General had forgotten.

General party to guilt

Sadao gets to hold on him. Convinces Sadao- not lack of patriotism or

dereliction of duty —was self-absorbed as he was suffering. Promised to
reward Sadao.

Sadao helps American Escape

Put his boat on the shore at night, with food, bottled water, extra quilts and
extra clothing. Told him to row to an island near the coast. He instructed
him to stay there till a Korean fishing boat was seen passing by. Gave him
a flashlight- Instructed him to signal with two flashes before sunset, if he
ran out of food. Warned him to eat fish raw, as cooking over the fire would
be noticed. Wrapped a black cloth about his blond head and dressed him in
Japanese clothes.
Sadao’s Recollection of Americans

Recalled other white faces:

(i)professor at whose house he met Hana.

(ii) his teacher of anatomy.

(iii) his fat landlady. Recalled how difficult it was to find a place to live in as
Americans were prejudiced-had been difficult to live amidst such feelings.
As a Japanese, he felt he was superior. Hated the ignorant, dirty woman
who rented him a room and looked after him when he was sick. He
despised her and could not feel grateful to her. He felt he found all white
faces, disgusting and wondered why he could not kill the prisoner.

Humanitarian considerations override man-made barriers of culture and

nationality.

The difference in the reaction of Sadao, Hana and the Servants

Servants — simple, superstitious, patriotic-consider harbouring an enemy

to be a crime. Fear for lives, insular. Do not understand the higher level of
reasoning, humanitarian considerations.

Sadao and Hana- Had been exposed to other nationalities, more tolerant.
Feel it is unethical for a doctor to let a person die if he can be saved. Even
an enemy is a human being first.

Q1. Why did the author say that Dr Sadao was also famous as a
scientist?

Ans. Dr Sadao was also famous as a scientist because he had perfected a

discovery which could render wounds entirely clean.

Q2. Why was Dr Sadao not sent abroad with the troops?

Ans.He was not sent abroad for two reasons. 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.
Q3. How did Hana come into the life of Sadao?

Ans. Sadao had met Hana at his professor’s house in America. She had
also gone there to study. He had liked her but they had both fallen in love
with each other after making sure that they belonged to the same
background and that they were ‘pure’ Japanese. Sadao married her with
the approval of his father.

Q4. Who was the person they saw while standing in the verandah?
What had happened to him?

Ans. Sadao and his wife were standing in the verandah when they saw a
man who had been flung up out of the ocean by a wave. At first, they
thought him to be a fisherman but on looking closely they realised that it
was a white man with. long yellow hair. His young face had a rough yellow
beard. He was an American prisoner of war who had escaped. He was
injured badly, was unconscious and was bleeding profusely.

Q5. What did the doctor do on seeing him in the dreadful state?

Ans. Sadao tried to staunch the fearful bleeding. He packed the wound
with the sea moss that was lying nearby on the beach. After seeing the
miserable condition of the injured man, he in consultation with his wife
decided to take him home.

Q6. What was the dilemma for them?

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. He had lost a lot of blood due to a bullet injury. He required
immediate surgery. The man belonged to the enemy’s army and they were
contemplating whether to save him.

Q7. How did they come to know him as an American?

Ans.They examined his battered cap closely and realized that he was a
sailor from an American warship. The words `U.S Navy’ was written on the
cap in almost faint lettering. They realized that he was an escaped prisoner
of war.

Q8. 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.

Value-based Questions

1. Write an article on the topic ‘Humanity is the essence of our

existence’.

Ans. We all are human beings—the most superior species on the earth.
What makes us superior is the emotions like empathy, humanity,
compassion, love and devotion. Every human heart breathes these
emotions. Humanity, i.e. the concern for the other fellow beings is the most
important trait in our personality. Humanity is beyond territories, caste,
creed and colour. Though we are divided into various countries, continents,
states, etc. we must remember that these territories are constituted on the
basis of ethnicity, formed by the people of some race and creed. All these
are governed by the law that we have made. But for nature, there is no
such discrimination. For the sea, the sun, the rain, the air we all are the
same. We all must remember the fact that it is humanity the oneness with
each other, which is the essence of our existence.

2. Which, according to you, is higher — humanity or patriotism? Write

a paragraph on the topic: Humanity vs Patriotism.

Ans. Humanity is beyond any boundary or prejudice, whereas patriotism is

the loyalty to one particular country or place where we live. Both values are
essential for human beings. We should be loyal and devoted to our country
and full of patriotic fervour. Humanity is boundless. It is above any caste,
creed or race. It includes love for others. Humanity makes one
compassionate, humble and loving. Humanity is a virtue which unites the
entire human race as one, whereas patriotism is segmented. It is a set of
strengths focused on tending others. Thus, it is humanity which acquires
the highest place among all the virtues.

Q1. Dr Sadao’s character is an amalgamation of right and wrong.

Discuss.

Ans. ‘The Enemy’, by Pearl S. Buck portrays the character of an American

trained Japanese surgeon, Dr Sadao Hold. Through his character, the
author has shown a conflict of ethics between duty towards the country and
compassion towards mankind.

Dr Sadao, being a skilled surgeon saved the life of an escaped American

prisoners duty war who was wounded seriously and had been washed
ashore. Torn between his integrity as a doctor, he chooses to save his 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.

Dr Sadao had been a victim of racial prejudice during his stay in America.
He was well-known for his skill as a surgeon, in his own country so much
so, that he had not been sent with the troops during the war. His character,
as the story unfolds, depicts an amalgamation of right and wrong. He
ignores the ‘wrong’ but assumes the role of a compassionate human being
and takes the ‘right’ decision of saving the soldier’s life. All through his
effort; he has the undaunted support of his wife Hana.

The General gave him the assurance to get rid of the prisoner but forgot his
promise. Eventually, Sadao helps him to escape. He goes to the extent of
calling him ‘my friend’. He rose above narrow prejudices and political
enmity, disregarded the lurking dangers and open defiance of his loyal
servants to help the ‘enemy’ escape. He has transcended racial/ political
hatred and had heard the voice of his conscience.

Q2. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable,

especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above
narrow prejudices?

Ans. ‘The Enemy’ by Pearl S. Buck raises a few important issues. Call of
duty towards nation versus call of duty towards one’s profession is the
major issue in the story. Dr Sadao rescued a wounded prisoner of war who
was washed ashore. The prisoner, in a dying state, according to his call of
duty, should have been handed over to the police yet his profession and his
humanitarianism prevented him from doing so. He resolved to treat him first
and then hand him over. However, the patient needed immediate surgery
and despite all odds against him, Dr Sadao went ahead and operated upon
him, thus saving his life yet being a traitor to his own country.
His domestic servants deserted him out of fear but he rose above narrow
prejudices to save the wounded American soldier. Not only that, but he also
helped the soldier to escape to freedom after having nurtured him to good
health. He proved, in the end, that emotions, prejudices and hatred are
man-made but love, compassion for human beings was instinctive. One
needs to do one’s duty towards fellow human beings before anything else.

Q3. What did Dr Sadao do to get rid of his enemy?

Ans. Sadao’s first reaction on seeing the young wounded prisoner of war
was to search for the wound and pack it with sea moss. He then told Hana
that the best thing that they could do was to put him back in the sea. But
since he was wounded, Sadao felt they could do was to put him back in the
sea. But since he was wounded, Sadao felt they should not throw him back
to the sea. He operated on the man successfully. During his meeting with
the General, Dr Sadao told him about the prisoner of war. The General
promised to send his private assassins to kill the man silently and would
even remove the body. Sadao had left the outer partition of the white man’s
room open. He waited for three nights and then Sadao grew restless.

He devised the plan of letting the man escape to the nearest uninhabited
island. He first made sure that the young man, Tom, was completely
healed. He offered to put his boat on the shore that night. It would have
food and extra clothing on it. Tom might be able to row to the island not far
from the coast. He could live there till he saw a Korean fishing boat pass
by. The island was not fortified. He gave the man his flashlight. He helped
the enemy escape from Japan and also got rid of him.

Q4. Good human values are far above any other value system. How
did Dr Sadao succeed as a doctor as well as a patriot? (Word limit
120-150) (NCERT) [Delhi 2017]

Ans. Fate put Sadao in a trying situation—to uphold his duty to his country
or prove his professional loyalty. With his intelligence and dedication, he
managed to prove that he could uphold both. Dr Sadao had given a new
lease of life to the American prisoner of war. He didn’t want to throw him
into the jaws of death again. He asked the young soldier to take his private
boat at night. He should row in the cover of darkness to a little-deserted
island nearby. The young American could live there until he saw a Korean
fishing boat pass by. Food, bottled water and two quilts were put inside the
boat. If the food ran out, he could signal two flashes.

He had apprised the General of his harbouring the enemy at his home.
The General chose to overlook it. But we shouldn’t forget that Sadao was a
doctor. And for a doctor saving a dying man is the foremost priority. It
doesn’t matter if the dying man is an enemy.

Q5. To choose between professional loyalty and patriotism was a

dilemma for Dr Sadao. How did he succeed in betraying neither?
(Word limit 120-150) [All India 2017]

Ans. Fate put Sadao in a trying situation- to uphold his duty to his country
or prove his professional loyalty. With his intelligence and dedication, he
managed to prove that he could upload both. Dr Sadao had given a new
lease of life to the American prisoner of war. He didn’t want to throw him
into the jaws of death again. He asked the young soldier to take his private
boat at night. He should row in the cover of darkness to a little-deserted
island nearby. The young American could live there until he saw a Korean
fishing boat pass by. Food, bottled water and two quilts were put inside the
boat. Moreover, if the food ran out, he could signal two flashes.

He had apprised the General of his harbouring the enemy at his home.
The general chose to overlook it but we shouldn’t forget that Sadao was a
doctor. And for a doctor saving a dying man is the foremost priority. It
doesn’t matter if the dying man is an enemy.