THE ENEMY

THE ENEMY

The story takes place in Japan during World War II. It covers the moral dilemma of a Japanese surgeon who discovers an enemy soldier on his doorstep as well as the struggle between humanity and patriotism.

1. Introduction to Dr. Sadao

Dr. Sadao Hoki is a Japanese doctor with extensive training and expertise who lives on a remote, peaceful coast. He grew up on this beach as a child and went on to study medicine in America. Sadao's father was strict and solely concerned with his schooling.

Sadao married Hana, a Japanese girl he met in America. Both are loyal to their country.

2. Discovery of the American Soldier

Sadao and Hana witness a man washed up on the beach one evening when the beach is covered in fog. As they approach, they see that:

• he is badly injured,
• heavily bleeding, and
• above all— a white white.

They discover faint writings on his cap that identify him as an escaped American sailor who is a prisoner of war.

3. The Moral Dilemma

Both Sadao and Hana are afraid. They know:

•  if they shelter an enemy soldier, they could be arrested for treason,
• but if they hand him over immediately, he will die.

They can not throw a wounded man back into the sea since they are doctors and human beings. They carry him into the house.

4. Fear, Disgust and Duty

Hana is disturbed seeing an American so close. The servants are shocked too:

• Yumi refuses to wash him.
• According to the cook and gardener, the couple has “forgotten their country”.
• They worry that aiding the enemy may result in misfortune and punishment.

Despite her disgust and fear, Hana washes the man herself since no servant is ready to touch him.

5. The Operation

Sadao decides to operate because the American will die otherwise. He successfully completes the surgery because his skill overcomes his emotions. Hana assists by administering anaesthesia, even though she nearly faints.

The surgery saves the prisoner’s life.

6. Consequences at Home

As the man recovers:

• The servants start to believe that Sadao and Hana have a greater affection for Americans than for Japan.
• After a while, they quit and move out of the house.
• Hana starts to worry more and more that Sadao could be arrested at any time.

The prisoner slowly gains strength. He later tells Hana that his name is Tom, but she refuses to become friendly with him.

7. Sadao Approaches the General

Finally, Sadao visits the old General, who has medical conditions that only Sadao can cure. Sadao tells him everything. The General surprisingly:

• does not punish Sadao,
• does not order his arrest,
• and instead offers to send two private assassins to quietly kill the American.

The General promises Sadao that he will handle everything, and Sadao need not be involved.

8. Waiting for the Assassins

Sadao and Hana are scared of hearing footsteps or evidence of murder, so they lie awake every night. However, the killers never show up. Later, the General admits that he was so unwell and self-absorbed that he forgot.

9. Sadao Makes His Own Decision

Unable to bear the tension, Sadao secretly makes a new plan:

· He prepares a boat

· Packs food, water, and quilts.

· Gives the young soldier Japanese clothes and instructions.

· Tells him to row to a nearby uninhabited island and wait for a Korean fishing boat.

The American escapes safely.

10. Final Resolution

The next day, Sadao informs the General that the prisoner has fled. The General is happy that he won't be involved in any scandals. Additionally, he asks Sadao not to bring up the fact that he neglected to dispatch the assassins. Sadao realises he is now safe. He inspects the island that night. The fact that the prisoner is no longer there indicates that he was able to board a Korean boat.

The story highlights:

·         Humanism over nationalism

·         Moral courage

·         Conflict between duty as a doctor and duty to the nation

·         The power of kindness even in wartime

SHORT SUMMARY OF “THE ENEMY”

In "The Enemy", a Japanese surgeon named Dr. Sadao discovers an injured American soldier washed up on the beach close to his home during World War II. Sadao's duty as a doctor prevents him from letting the man die, even though the man is an enemy and aiding him might be regarded as treason.
After bringing the soldier home, Sadao performs surgery on him to save his life. Fearful that the couple is betraying Japan, the staff leave their house. Sadao struggles between his duty as a human being and his loyalty to his nation.

The General decides to send assassins to assassinate the American in secret after Sadao informs him about the soldier. However, he forgets, and the soldier is still alive. In the end, Sadao secretly assists the soldier in making his way to a neighbouring island so that a Korean fishing boat may save him.
This story demonstrates how, even in times of conflict, people can overcome enmity.

1. Why did Dr. Sadao decide to save the American soldier despite knowing he was the enemy?

Answer: When Dr. Sadao could save a wounded man, he could not allow him to die. His hate of the enemy became secondary to his duties as a doctor. He operated on the soldier because of his humanity, conscience, and training.

2. How did Hana support Sadao during the crisis?

Answer: Despite her fear, Hana supported Sadao. She cleaned the soldier herself after the servants declined to do so. After the staff had left, she took care of him, fed him, and managed the household by herself. Her quiet strength helped Sadao face the situation.

3. Why did the servants leave the house?

Answer: The servants thought it was against Japan to assist an American. They were afraid their children would suffer, and the couple would be prosecuted for treason. They left the house because of their strong sense of nationality and superstition.

4. How did the General respond when Sadao told him about the soldier?

Answer: The General did not feel surprised. Rather, he offered to have the prisoner killed secretly by private assassins. He relied on Sadao for surgery; thus, his health was more important to him than patriotism. He later admitted that his self-centredness caused him to forget about the plan of action.

5. Why did Sadao help the soldier escape?

Answer: Sadao came to the realisation that he could neither give the soldier to the police nor risk keeping him in his home. The assassins of the General did not turn up. In order to protect the young man and his own family, he made his own plan and helped the soldier in making his way to the island.

6. What inner conflict did Sadao face throughout the story?

Answer: Sadao struggled between his loyalty to his job and his nation. As a citizen, he was aware that Americans were enemies. He knew he had to help a dying man since he was a doctor. The story revolves around this emotional conflict.

7. What is revealed about the cruelty of war through this story?

Answer: The story depicts how conflict makes people view one another as enemies rather than fellow humans. Despite being young and defenceless, Tom is seen as a threat. Even the kind-hearted Sadao is torn because his country expects him to turn the soldier in. Fear and compassion are destroyed by war.

8. How does the ending of the story highlight Sadao's humanity?

Answer: Despite the possibility of losing his life, Sadao decides to help the soldier in escaping. His only concern is preventing the young man from dying. This shows how his empathy outweighs his patriotism and fear of consequences.

9. What role does the setting play in the story?

Answer: Sadao's loneliness and the seriousness of his choice are reflected in the lonely Japanese seashore. The enemy gets brought to his door by the sea, which then takes him away. The stress inside the house gets amplified by the peaceful surroundings.

10. What message does the author convey through “The Enemy”?

Answer: The story teaches that people should put aside prejudice, hatred, and war. Acting morally upright in the face of social pressure is the essence of true courage. Compassion is stronger than prejudice.

11. Who was Dr. Sadao? Where was his house?
Answer: Dr. Sadao Hoki was a famous Japanese surgeon. His house was on the Japanese coast, on rocks above a narrow beach with bent pines around it.

12. Will Dr. Sadao be arrested for harbouring the enemy?
Answer: No, Sadao will not be arrested. He told the old General the truth. The General kept it a secret since he required Sadao's help for his own operations.

13. Who was Hana? What did she see coming out of the mist?
Answer: Hana was Dr. Sadao’s wife. One night, she saw something dark emerge from the mist,  and it turned out to be a wounded man who had been carried away by a wave.

14. How did Sadao and Hana know that the man was an American and an enemy?
Answer: Sadao and Hana saw that the man was white and found faint writing on his cap showing “U.S. Navy,” so they realised he was an American prisoner of war. 

15. What dilemma did Dr. Sadao face? How did he resolve it?
Answer: Dr. Sadao had to balance his responsibilities as a doctor and as a devoted Japanese citizen. He was expected to hand over the wounded American soldier to the army as a citizen during the war. However, he believed that as a doctor, he could not allow a wounded man to die when he could help him. At last, he decided to fulfil his humanitarian duty. He saved the soldier's life by bringing him home and performing surgery on him. Later, Sadao helped the soldier flee by providing him with supplies and a boat to get to a nearby island in order to remove the danger to himself and his family.

16. How did Dr. Sadao help the American prisoner escape safely?
Answer: Sadao planned the American soldier’s escape carefully. He gave him his boat along with two quilts, a torch, food and bottled water. He instructed the man to row to a neighbouring small, uninhabited island and wait for a Korean fishing boat to pass. Also, he told him how to safely signal for help. In this way, the American reached safety without being caught.

17. How does Hana show her strength of character?
Answer: Despite her fear, Hana stands by her husband. She shows courage when she washes the wounded man because the servants refuse. When the servants leave, she accepts responsibility for the household and assists Sadao in looking after the soldier.

18. What was Sadao’s main concern when he found the soldier?
Answer: Sadao’s main concern was saving the man’s life as a doctor, even though that meant helping an enemy.

19. What does the story tell us about war and humanity?
Answer: The story shows how kindness and humanity should triumph over fear and hatred, even though war might cause people to see others only as enemies. Since they are human, even enemies should be treated with kindness.

20. 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: This story is all about this difficult choice. Dr. Sadao's professional duty as a doctor is to save any life (his private role). However, as a Japanese citizen during wartime, his national duty is to hand over an American prisoner of war (the enemy) to the police.

In the end, his professional and human duty wins. He performs surgery to save the man's life , and then he helps the prisoner escape to a small island. He chooses to be a good doctor and a decent human being over being a perfectly loyal citizen to his country in that moment.

21. 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?

Answer: Hana was sympathetic for a few reasons. She saw the soldier as a wounded, helpless man, not just "the enemy". When the servant Yumi refused to wash the white man, Hana felt angry at her coldness, which pushed Hana to do the task herself. She was terrified of the danger they were in , but her loyalty to her husband made her stand by him and help him get the problem solved.

22. How 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?

Answer: The young soldier, Tom, was very reluctant to leave because Dr. Sadao's house was the only safe place he had. He was an escaped prisoner of war and was severely wounded. Outside the doctor's care, he knew he would face capture, torture, and death. He was weak, terrified, and clinging to the safety of the only people who had shown him kindness.

23. 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 simply self-absorption?

Answer: The General's attitude was primarily self-absorption. He was extremely ill and only cared about his own health and the need for Dr. Sadao's excellent surgical skills. He was so focused on himself and his pain that he completely forgot his promise to send private assassins to kill the soldier. He wasn't thinking about national loyalty or duty at all—he was only thinking about himself.

24. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?

Answer: What makes a person rise above hatred is humanity and professional duty. Dr. Sadao was a professional surgeon who saw the wounded man as a patient in need of care, not just an enemy. His medical training and basic human instinct to save a life were stronger than his prejudices against the American soldier.

25. Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?

Answer: Yes, the doctor's final solution was the best possible choice. It allowed him to achieve three things:

·     Protect his family: He removed the risk to Hana and his children by getting the enemy out of the house, which had become a major problem with the servants.

·     Fulfil his moral duty: He kept his promise to his conscience by saving the man's life, which he could not let die.

·         Avoid treason: He avoided having to hand the soldier over to the authorities, which would have meant certain death for the American and would have violated his professional ethics

Character Sketches

1. Dr. Sadao Hoki

Dr. Sadao is a highly skilled Japanese surgeon who received his training in America. He is calm, disciplined, and driven by a strong sense of professional responsibility. Despite his profound loyalty to Japan, he is unable to overlook a dying man. His choice to help the American soldier shows that his compassion overcomes hatred. Despite fear, pressure from his servants, and threats from the authorities, he is firm in his commitment to doing the right thing. His last act of helping the soldier escape displays his compassion and moral courage.

2. Hana

Hana is kind, insightful and supportive. She stands by Sadao in every difficult moment, even when she is scared. When the servants refuse, she shows strength and dignity by washing the injured soldier herself. After the staff leave, she takes care of the household by herself. Sadao's practicality is complemented by her empathy and sense of responsibility. She is a symbol of quiet strength and emotional courage in a committed relationship.

3. The American Soldier (Tom)

Tom is a young American prisoner of war who washes up on the beach. He is wounded and terrified. He needs Sadao to survive because he is weak and helpless. His innocence and vulnerability make him more human than an enemy. He is grateful for Sadao's help and has faith in him. His fear of being caught shows the harsh realities of war. In the end, his escape shows the strength of kindness and brings hope.

4. The General

The General is an elderly officer with great power but no moral accountability. His health is entirely dependent on Sadao. He speaks of patriotism, but his primary interest is his own survival. His self-absorption causes him to forget his casual offer to have the soldier killed. His persona highlights the selfishness and hypocrisy of those in positions of authority.

5. The Servants (Yumi, Cook, Gardener)

The servants represent ordinary people who were influenced by nationalism, terror, and superstition throughout the war. They consider it a treachery to help an enemy. The cook openly criticises Sadao, the gardener warns of bad luck, and Yumi declines to wash the soldier. Their choice to leave the house shows the profound impact that war has on the minds of ordinary people. They draw attention to the difference between genuine humanity and blind loyalty.

MCQ

1. Who is the author of the chapter 'The Enemy'?

A. A. J. Cronin

B. Pearl S. Buck (✓)

C. Rabindranath Tagore

D. R. K. Narayan

2. What was Dr. Sadao Hoki's profession?

A. Teacher

B. Soldier

C. Surgeon (✓)

D. Farmer

3. Where was Dr. Sadao's house built?

A. Near a busy city

B. On the Japanese coast (✓)

C. In the mountains

D. Next to a General's house

4. What did Dr. Sadao and his wife find washed ashore?

A. A piece of wreckage

B. A Japanese soldier

C. An American prisoner of war (✓)

D. A fishing boat

5. What was the name of the white soldier?

A. Joe

B. Tom (✓)

C. Jim

D. Mike

6. What was the biggest problem facing the white soldier when found?

A. Broken leg

B. Severe wound from a bullet (✓)

C. Starvation

D. Drowning

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

A. He was too old

B. He was sick

C. The General trusted him completely

D. The General might need an operation (✓)

8. Who refused to wash the wounded white man?

A. Hana

B. The cook

C. Yumi, the servant (✓)

D. The gardener

9. What emotion did Hana show towards the soldier initially? 

A. Love 

B. Indifference 

C. Fear and slight repulsion (✓) 

D. Extreme hatred

10. What was the doctor's primary internal conflict?

A. Duty as a father vs. duty as a doctor

B. Duty as a doctor vs. duty as a patriot (✓)

C. Duty as a husband vs. duty as a son

D. Duty as a friend vs. duty as a citizen

11. Who helped Dr. Sadao in operating on the soldier?

A. The General

B. His assistant

C. Hana (✓)

D. Yumi

12. What did the General promise to Dr. Sadao?

A. To give him a medal

B. To send private assassins to kill the soldier (✓)

C. To promote him

D. To keep the soldier as a servant

13. How did Dr. Sadao come to know the General had forgotten his promise?

A. The General wrote a letter

B. The General's men arrived

C. Three days passed without any action (✓)

D. Hana told him

14. What did Dr. Sadao give the soldier to help him escape?

A. Food and water

B. A boat, food, and extra clothes (✓)

C. A uniform and a gun

D. A map and money

15. Where did Sadao instruct the soldier to go?

A. To the nearest town

B. To a small, nearby island (✓)

C. To the General's house

D. To the American embassy

16. What time of day did Sadao suggest for the soldier's escape?

A. Mid-day

B. Sunset

C. Night (✓)

D. Dawn

17. What did the General suffer from?

A. Heart disease

B. Cancer

C. Paralysis

D. A life-threatening condition requiring surgery (✓)

18. Where did Dr. Sadao and Hana meet and fall in love?

A. In Japan

B. In America (✓)

C. In China

D. In a European university

19. What was Dr. Sadao's father's main concern?

A. His wealth

B. His family name

C. Sadao's education (✓)

D. Sadao's marriage

20. What did Sadao's father consider the islands yonder to be?

A. Places for holidays

B. Stepping stones to Japan's future (✓)

C. Enemy territory

D. Good fishing spots

21. Why did all the servants leave Dr. Sadao's house?

A. They were offered better pay

B. They feared the danger of harboring an enemy (✓)

C. They were going back to their village

D. They disliked Hana

22. Who provided the anesthesia during the surgery?

A. Dr. Sadao

B. The gardener

C. Hana (✓)

D. Yumi

23. What was Tom's condition when he was found?

A. He was completely conscious

B. He was in a dying state (✓)

C. He was pretending to be dead

D. He was shouting for help

24. What was the doctor's initial reaction when he saw the wound?

A. He felt joy

B. He started crying

C. He determined to operate (✓)

D. He wanted to leave him

25. What did Dr. Sadao use to wash the soldier's wound?

A. Clean water

B. Tea

C. Boiling water

D. Hot water from the kitchen (✓)

26. What was the General's appearance described as?

A. Tall and muscular

B. Fat and old (✓)

C. Short and thin

D. Young and handsome

27. What did the General accuse Dr. Sadao of?

A. Dishonesty

B. Superiority complex

C. Lacking patriotism (✓)

D. Bad surgical skills

28. How long had Dr. Sadao been in America?

A. One year

B. Five years

C. Eight years (✓)

D. Ten years

29. What type of girl did Sadao's father wish for him to marry?

A. An American girl

B. A Russian girl

C. A Japanese girl, pure in her race (✓)

D. Any girl he loved

30. What was the first name Hana called the soldier?

A. A friend

B. An American

C. A white man

D. An enemy (✓)

31. When Dr. Sadao first saw the soldier, what did he first think he was?

A. A fisherman

B. A wounded man

C. A dead body (✓)

D. An escaped criminal

32. What did Sadao use to plug the soldier's wound temporarily?

A. A towel

B. Sea-moss (✓)

C. A bandage

D. A piece of cloth

33. What was the name of the house cleaner/nanny who refused to help?

A. Hana

B. Yumi (✓)

C. Taro

D. Jiro

34. Why did the servants cry when they left?

A. They hated the family

B. They were sad to leave the comfortable home (✓)

C. They were happy to go

D. They were sad about the war

35. Where did the General want the soldier's body to be disposed of?

A. In the sea (✓)

B. In Sadao's garden

C. Cremated

D. Taken by the assassins

36. What did Dr. Sadao wait for before deciding to help the soldier escape?

A. The General to die

B. The servants to return

C. Three nights to pass after the promise (✓)

D. The soldier to regain full strength

37. What was Tom's reaction when he realized he was free to go?

A. He was angry

B. He was sceptical and asked, "Are you really doing this?" (✓)

C. He cried with joy

D. He immediately ran away

38. What did Sadao tell the soldier to do if his food ran out before he was rescued? 

A. Wait two more days 

B. Swim back to the shore 

C. Flash the torch twice 

D. Flash the torch once (✓)

39. What signal did Sadao give the soldier to show he was safe (did not need help)?

A. None (✓)

B. A flash of the torch

C. A smoke signal

D. A flag

40. What was the white soldier wearing when he was found?

A. A Japanese uniform

B. Rags (✓)

C. A fishing suit

D. Nothing

41. What was the maximum depth of the island's water at high tide, according to Sadao?

A. One fathom

B. Two fathoms (✓)

C. Three fathoms

D. Four fathoms

42. What did Sadao observe about the General's health after telling him about the soldier?

A. He was completely cured

B. He suddenly became very sick

C. He closed his eyes and sat motionless (✓)

D. He laughed heartily

43. What did Sadao feel when he remembered the General's failure to send the assassins?

A. Joy

B. Disappointment

C. Relief and resentment (✓)

D. Fear

44. What did the soldier say to Sadao after the surgery?

A. Thank you (✓)

B. Nothing

C. He asked for his parents

D. He asked for more food

45. What was the relationship between Sadao and his father?

A. Playful and joking

B. Formal and highly respectful (✓)

C. Distant and cold

D. Close friends

46. What did Hana see in the General's behaviour toward Dr. Sadao?

A. Kindness

B. Absolute selfishness (✓)

C. Patriotism

D. Confusion

47. How did Dr. Sadao feel after the soldier had escaped?

A. Guilty

B. Completely relieved (✓)

C. Worried about his boat

D. Anxious for the soldier

48. What material was Dr. Sadao's house made of?

A. Wood

B. Bamboo

C. Low, square stone (✓)

D. Brick

49. When the soldier was about to be operated on, what did Hana bring to give him?

A. Painkillers

B. A cup of tea

C. Anaesthesia (✓)

D. New clothes

50. At the very end of the chapter, what question was Sadao left pondering?

A. Why the General forgot his promise

B. Why he couldn't kill the man, despite hating Americans (✓)

C. If the soldier made it to safety

D. When the servants would return