THE ENEMY

By-Pearl S. Buck

The Enemy Summary


Introduction


"The Enemy", written by Pearl S. Buck is a heart-rending portrayal of the conflict between a man's heart and mind it tells us about how people can help enemies on human grounds. To hate our enemy is natural and justifiable, especially during wartime. This story beautifully depicts how a human being rises above his prejudices to help a wounded enemy.


Theme


In the chapter "The Enemy', 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.


Main Characters

Dr Sadao

A Japanese doctor trained by Americans. Dedicated surgeon and doctor, kind; prejudiced against the white man.


Hana

She is the wife of Dr Sadao. They met in America, became friends and got married in Japan. Balanced woman; stands with her husband; responsible; dignified and graceful


Tom

He is an American prisoner of war. Strong will-power.


General Takima

He is a famed Japanese war hero. He is selfish, careless and ruthless.


Yumi

The servant who looked after Dr Sadao and Hana's children. Loves children, loyal to the country, prejudiced against white men.

Domestic servants

A cook, a gardener and a caretaker. Loyal to the country and prejudiced against white men.


Summary


Dr Sadao and his wife, Hana stood outside their house. A man suddenly appears out of the ocean. They ran towards him. To their shock, he was an American prisoner of war, who was badly wounded and had become unconscious. Sadao is torn between his duty as a doctor and his loyalty towards Japan. As citizens having a sense of national loyalty, they felt it their duty to put the man back into the sea. However, soon they rose above narrow prejudices and brought the man into their house. Even though they faced open defiance from their domestic staff, they looked after the man. They realised the risk inherent in harbouring an enemy. But Dr Sadao knew that he would not be arrested and condemned by the ruthless General as he himself might need his services any time for an operation. Sadao informed the ailing general about the enemy in his house. The latter plans to get rid of the American, and promises to send assassins to do the needful. However, the General forgot to do so. After a while, as the American got better, Sadao made arrangements for him to go to an island nearby from where he could try to get off enemy boundaries by boarding a Korean fishing boat.


Answers to NCERT Questions


1. Who was Dr Sadao? Where was his house?


Ans. Dr Sadao was a famous Japanese surgeon and a scientist. He was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds entirely clean. His house was located next to a narrow beach which was outlined with bent pines. A mile or two on either side of the house was a fishing village, but near his house, there existed only the bare and lonely coast, dangerous with rocks.


2. Will Dr Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy?


Ans. Dr Sadao knew that if they sheltered a white man in their house, they would be arrested. The wounded white man was a prisoner of war. He had escaped with a bullet on his back. Since Japan and America were at war, he would become a traitor to Japan for harbouring an American. If anyone complained against Dr Sadao and accused him of harbouring an enemy, he could be arrested.


3. Will Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself?


Ans. Hana will help the wounded man and wash him herself. The wounded American was in a very bad state and needed to be washed before being operated on. Hana did not want Dr Sadao to clean the dirty and unconscious prisoner, and so asked their servant, Yumi, to do so. However, Yumi who was prejudiced against the white man, defied her master's order and did not help. As a result, Hana had no other option but to wash him herself.


4. What did Dr Sadao and his wife do with the man?


Ans. Dr Sadao operated the wounded man. The operation was successful. Dr Sadao knew that the wounded man would now be out of danger. So he and his wife decided to give him to the police as a prisoner of war. However, the man was very weak. Thus, they decided to keep him till he recovered, so that they could decide later, what to do with him.