In "The Enemy" by Pearl S. Buck, the story is set during World War II in Japan. Dr. Sadao Hoki, a prominent Japanese surgeon, lives with his wife Hana and their two children near the coast. The couple is loyal to their country and its traditions. As a highly respected doctor, Dr. Sadao ...
The Enemy - Vistas - Class 12 - English
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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.
In “The Enemy,” the protagonist, Dr. Sadao Hoki, faces a moral dilemma requiring him to choose between his role as a private individual and his national loyalty. Let us analyse the moral roadblocks Sadao had to face:
- Dr. Sadao’s compassion and duty as a doctor conflict with his responsibilities as a Japanese citizen. He decides to help the wounded American soldier, Tom, despite the potential repercussions. His dedication to his profession requires him to save lives irrespective of nationality. Dr. Sadao’s wife, Hana, also supports the decision to help the injured soldier, showcasing their shared empathy as individuals.
- Fear of being labeled a traitor also plays a significant role, as Dr. Sadao and Hana worry about how authorities and neighbors would perceive their actions. Their decision to help an enemy soldier could jeopardize their family’s safety and reputation in society. Despite these fears, they choose to uphold their moral beliefs and continue treating the soldier.
The story further illustrates the struggle between personal values and national loyalty as Dr. Sadao contemplates whether to hand over Tom to the authorities after completing his treatment. Dr. Sadao’s decision to let Tom escape, instead of arresting or killing him, reflects his prioritizing of moral values over nationalist principles.
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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 defiance from the domestic staff?
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Sign up nowHow would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home even when he knew he couldn’t stay there without risk to the doctor and himself?
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Sign up nowWhat 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 simply self-absorption?
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Sign up nowWhile hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
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Sign up nowDo you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?
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Who was Dr. Sadao? Where was his house situated?
Dr. Sadao Hoki was a Japanese surgeon and scientist in the short story “The Enemy” by Pearl S. Buck. He was well-educated, having completed his medical studies in America before returning to Japan. His house was situated on the coast of Japan, overlooking the sea, and was set upon rocks well above a narrow beach that was outlined with bent pines.
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Give two reasons why Dr. Sadao was not sent abroad with the Japanese troops.
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Sign up nowWhy do you think Hana believes that the man (the American POW) is a ‘menace, living or dead’?
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Sign up nowDo you agree with the observation of the American professor, "Ignorance of the human body is the surgeon's cardinal sin"?
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Sign up nowAfter recovering when the American prisoner asks the doctor, "What are you going to do with me?”. Do you think the doctor's answer was any consolation for him?
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Vocabulary - Flashcards - The Enemy | Vistas | Class 12 Literature | English
About the Author - The Enemy | Vistas | Class 12 Literature | English
Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) was an American author, humanitarian, and advocate for women's and minority rights. Born in West Virginia, she spent much of her early life in China as the daughter of missionaries. This unique upbringing and immersion in Chinese culture greatly influenced her literary work.
Buck's writing often explored the complexities of East-West relations, cultural differences, and the lives of ordinary people. She is best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Good Earth" (1931), which portrayed the struggles of a Chinese peasant family. In 1938, Buck became the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces.
Throughout her career, Buck authored over 100 works, including novels, short stories, essays, and children's books. Apart from her literary achievements, she was deeply involved in humanitarian causes, particularly those related to women, children, and minority rights. Buck established the Pearl S. Buck Foundation to support children in need, particularly those of mixed racial heritage in Asian countries.
What was the primary focus of Pearl S. Buck's literary work?
Summary - The Enemy | Vistas | Class 12 Literature | English
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Themes - The Enemy | Vistas | Class 12 Literature | English
Loyalty and Patriotism
In "The Enemy," Dr. Sadao and Hana are confronted with a difficult decision when they discover an injured American soldier on their beach. As Japanese citizens during World War II, they are expected to be loyal to their country and report the enemy soldier. However, their actions demonstrate that loyalty can be complex, and individuals may find themselves torn between allegiance to their nation and their personal beliefs.
Morality and Compassion
The story examines the power of compassion and empathy, even in times of war. Dr. Sadao and Hana choose to help the .......
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Unlock now 🔓Plot - The Enemy | Vistas | Class 12 Literature | English
“The Enemy” is a short story written by Pearl S. Buck. The story is set in Japan during the period of World War II and revolves around the moral dilemma faced by a renowned Japanese doctor, Dr. Sadao Hoki, and his wife, Hana, when they discover an injured American prisoner of war (POW) washed ashore near their home.
Dr. Sadao Hoki is a highly skilled surgeon who was trained in the United States but returned to Japan to serve his nation. He lives in a beautiful seaside house with his wife and servants, Yumi, an elderly woman, and a gardener. Sadao is highly reputed, even serving a Japanese General, who is undergoing surgery under Sadao’s care.
The story begins when Dr. Sadao and Hana notice an injured man washed ashore on the beach near their home. Upon closer inspection, they discover that .....
What is the primary moral dilemma faced by Dr. Sadao Hoki and his wife, Hana, in the short story "The Enemy"?
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- Sadao Hoki: Sadao is the protagonist of the story, who is a Japanese surgeon and a devoted patriot. He is married to Hana and has two small children. Sadao is a compassionate and skilled doctor who studied medicine in the United States and made American friends. However, he is also a conflicted character, as he has to choose between his patriotism and his duty as a doctor. His character displays the struggle between his humanity and loyalty towards his country. In the end, he manages to save his patient and stay true to his principles, without betraying Japan or his conscience.
- Hana: Hana is Sadao’s wife and shares his strong sense of patriotism and loyalty towards Japan. Although she is initially frightened and repulsed by the presence of the American prisoner in their house, she helps her husband in his duty to save Tom’s life. She is a loving mother and ......
What is the main conflict Sadao faces throughout the story?
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Unlock now 🔓Important Lines - The Enemy | Vistas | Class 12 Literature | English
"Those islands yonder, they are the stepping stones to the future for Japan. Who knows? Who can limit our future? It depends on what we make it."
These lines are spoken by Sadao's father and signify the importance of ambition, exploration, and growth for Japan's future. Additionally, it highlights the importance of taking control of one's destiny.
"Now he felt her hand on his arm and was aware of the pleasure it gave him, even though they had been married years enough to have the two children."
This line demonstrates the deep love and affection between Sadao and Hana, despite having been married for several years. Their relationship serves as a central theme of the story.
"A white man!" Hana whispered.
This line refers to the wounded soldier that Sadao and Hana discover on the beach. The fact that the soldier is white and not Japanese introduces the theme of racial tension and prejudice, as well as the concept of the "enemy."
"What shall we do with this man?" Sadao muttered.
This line signifies the moral conflict that Sadao faces throughout the story, as he ....
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Infinity: The quality of being limitless or endless.
This scarf has an infinity design that can be looped around your neck.
Patriot: A person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.
The soldier is a true patriot who risked his life for his country.
Staggered: Walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
After running the marathon, he staggered towards the finish line.
Voluble: Speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently.
He is a voluble speaker and can.............................
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