The Enemy

-Pearl S.Buck
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

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.

3.The Enemy’ is a story of conflict between Man’s inherent humanness and the hatred
and prejudices created by psuedo-nationalism and war.
What is more important, loyalty to your country or saving a person’s life, no matter who
he is? Explain you answer with reference to ‘The Enemy’.

Ans.
War and narrow nationalism can stifle human feelings of love and compassion and turn friends
and fellow human beings into enemies.
However Dr Sadao was true to his profession as it was his primary duty as a doctor to cure his
patient without caring for his identity. He had to struggle between loyalty to his country and his
training as a doctor to save someone’s life. He instinctively chose the latter. Though rationality
told him to hand over the prisoner to the police, humanitarian feelings and professional ethics
told him to save his life. While operating on him, he had called him ‘my friend’ and had for the
moment forgotten that he was his enemy. Thus humanitarian considerations override man-
made barriers of rationality and culture. Love and compassion are the basis of our
consciousness; we thrive when we let them come to the forefront.
4.Do you think Dr. Sadao’s final decision was the best possible one in the
circumstances? Why/Why not? Explain with reference to the story, ‘The Enemy’

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 final 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.

5. To choose between professional loyalty and patriotism was a dilemma for Dr Sadao.
How did he succeed in betraying neither?

Ans Sadao was instructed in the medical study, not to allow anyone to perish if he or she can
be helped. On the seashore close to his home, he came across an enemy soldier who was
seriously hurt. If the man didn’t get the right medical care, he might die. Now, Dr. Sadao made
the decision to operate on the man despite the fact that he was an enemy soldier. He gave him
excellent care and attention.
Dr. Sadao was able to uphold his commitment to his career in this way. Yet, Dr. Sadao had a
deep sense of patriotism. He was aware that harbouring an enemy soldier constituted treason.
He therefore addressed a letter about it to the authorities and stored it in his drawer. Even the
old General received the full account of the enemy soldier from him. Another issue is that the
general did nothing to stop the enemy soldier. But Dr. Sadao managed to strike the ideal
balance between his dedication to his profession and his country.

6. Good values are far above any other value system. How did Dr Sadao succeed as a
doctor as well as a patriot?
OR
Sadao and Hana have a moral compass which urges them to save the prisoner’s life. Do
we all need this moral compass? Why? (CBSE QUESTION BANK)

Ans Dr. Sadao embodies the higher ideals of kindness, compassion, and love for people as well
as love for one’s interest. He was trained not to let someone die if he could heal them because
he is a doctor. On the seashore close to his home, he discovered an enemy soldier one evening
who was seriously hurt. If the man didn’t get the right medical care, he might die.
Now, despite the fact that the man was an enemy soldier, Dr. Sadao chose to operate on him.
As a result of his excellent care and attention, Dr. Sadao was able to uphold his commitment to
his career. Yet, Dr. Sadao had a deep sense of patriotism. He was aware that harbouring an
enemy soldier constituted treason. As a result, he wrote a letter about it to the authorities and
stored it in his drawer. Even the old General received the full account of the enemy soldier from
him. Another issue is that the general did nothing to stop the enemy soldier. As a result, Dr.
Sadao was successful both as a physician and a patriot.
7.Pearl Buck depicts the servants in a way to convey a message about Japanese people
and culture. Support your answer with textual evidence. (CBSE QUESTION BANK)

Ans The concept of housing an enemy soldier did not go well with Dr. Sadao’s household staff.
Yumi, the doctor’s child’s nurse, flatly declined to bathe the white man. She declared that she
had never washed a white man and would never do so. The elderly gardener believed in
superstitions. He declared that saving the man was pointless.
He frankly stated to Hana that the white man should not be saved. He had been shot first. He
was then captured by the waves. But, they believed that Dr. Sadao had betrayed them when
they learned that he would not turn the man over to the police. They chose to go from his home.

8. 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? (CBSE 2015)

Ans Sadao is instructed as a doctor not to allow anyone to perish if he or she can be helped.
On a nearby sea beach one evening, he discovers a seriously hurt enemy soldier. If the man
didn’t get the right medical care, he might die. Now that the man is an enemy soldier, Dr. Sadao
performs an operation on him using his surgical expertise. In this way, Dr. Sadao upholds his
commitment to his profession and is able to use his surgical expertise to save the life of the
POW. He treated him well and took excellent care of him.
Dr. Sadao is a nationalist as well, though. He therefore tells the senior General of everything.
The general promises to send his personal killers to assassinate the target. But Dr. Sadao made
a valiant effort to save that man. He obviously does not want that individual to suffer any
damage. As a result, towards the conclusion of the tale, he aids the man on the boat in fleeing.

9.Sadao and Hana look upon their time in America with disdain due to the prejudice that
they were subjected to. How does racial prejudice taint a person’s soul forever? (CBSE
QUESTION BANK)

Ans Doctor Sadao was a highly obedient and humanitarian person. He felt strongly compelled
by his obligation to aid the enemy soldier. He put the needs of the American soldier ahead of
the prejudices of race and nation. Without caring if the patient was a friend or foe, his wife also
offered a helping hand. He was juggling his doctoral responsibilities on the one hand and the
adversary on the other, but humanity and compassion won out.
While Japan and America were at war at the time, no one could provide shelter to an enemy. He
had been aware of the negative effects of racial discrimination among whites even throughout
his training. His emotions of patriotism prevented him from ignoring his medical obligations
because it is a doctor’s responsibility to save humanity. Here, Dr. Sadao’s sense of national
allegiance and professional commitment clashed. He could have faced all charges of being a
traitor, but he risked his own life to save the American soldier. He operated on him and provided
for him in the most perilous circumstances.

10."If all the Japs were like you there wouldn't have been a war" said Tom. Justify his
statement. (Imp)

Ans. The wounded American soldier was an enemy. In spite of all this Dr Sadao gave him
shelter in his house. He didn't hand him over to the police. He operated on him. Dr Sadao risked
his own life but saved an enemy from dying. Tom was right. If all the Japanese were like him,
there would not have been a war between America and Japan.

11.Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to save a dying enemy. What made
Hana to sympathize with the American sailor in spite of open defiance from the
servants ? How do you justify the behaviour of the old General ? Was it human
consideration or lack of national loyalty or dereliction of duty ?

Ans. Dr Sadao and Hana both loved their country. They didn't have any liking for the white
people. He considered that Americans suffered from racial prejudice. Both of them were happy
that Japan was fighting against the white people. But Dr Sadao had been trained as a doctor
even to save a dying enemy. Handing him over to the police would have meant throwing him
into the jaws of death. Hence, he put aside all other considerations and respected the ethics of
his profession. Hana was a woman with a tender heart. She couldn't bear the sight of a
wounded and bleeding soldier. Hence, she herself helped Sadao to carry the wounded man into
the house. No doubt, the behaviour of the old General defies logic. Certainly, he lacks national
loyalty. He can also be accused of dereliction of duty. Being a General, it was his duty to get the
prisoner of war arrested at once.

12.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.

Ans.
There are times when we are faced with difficult choices in life. An individual is torn apart
between his duty towards his motherland and the moral responsibility of helping a needy
person. This is the same dilemma that Sadao and Hana are confronted with.
As patriotic citizens of Japan, they are expected to hand over an American prisoner of war to
the police. But it is a doctor’s duty to save a human life. How could Sadao leave Tom bleeding
to death?
Similarly, Hana is an epitome of kindness and cannot leave a wounded person to die. When
Yumi, the governess does not wash the wounded man, Hana does so herself. Likewise Sadao
goes through a torturous mental conflict. All these developments lead Sadao to let the prisoner
of war escape safely.

13.Dr Sadao and his wife, despite every possibility of being caught, save the life of the
American prisbner and finally let him escape. Nothing is bigger than patriotism, but there
is one sentiment that is above all.
What is the value that was displayed by Dr Sadao and his wife? Write in about 120-150
words.

Ans.
Patriotism is undoubtedly important but it is humanity that is above patriotism. Dr Sadao and his
wife know that the Americans are their enemies and that if they let the American prisoner stay,
they can land into trouble. Notwithstanding this possibility, they gave him shelter in their house
and treat his wounds. Hana washes his wounds when her maid refuses. Dr Sadao operates
upon him. However, he proves himself loyal to his country by informing the General’s about the
enemy. When the General’s private assassins fail to turn up, Sadao arranges for the American’s
escape. He handles the situation quite diplomatically.
He conveys a message through his noble gesture that nothing is greater than humanity.