The Enemy

 By Pearl S. Buck

‘The Enemy’, a story set in Japan at the time of Second World War raises high moral questions about ethics in the times of war. What is more important-a man’s primary responsibility as a human being or an overriding, irrational hatred of humans from enemy country?

Dr. Sadao Hoki, faced conflict of interests between loyalty to his country and devotion to his profession when an unconscious, dying American POW was washed ashore in front of his house.  Japan was at war with America and harbouring an enemy would be treason. His rational mind told him to throw the man back into the sea but his conscience and high medical ethics make him instinctively seek the man’s wound, staunch the bleeding, bring him into the house and operate on him. He leaves no stone unturned to nurse him back to health but he clearly intended to hand him over to the army once he was healed. As a Japanese Sadao had no desire to save an enemy’s life but as a doctor he ignores servants’ defiance and the risk to his reputation and family.

His upbringing had been staunchly Japanese but he had received medical education abroad and knew well the principles of humanitarianism. Though aware of Japanese brutality, he as a good patriot reported the matter to the General and accepted his suggestion of private assassins killing and disposing the enemy. But, when the General forgot, he helped the man to escape and thus saved his life again.    The story shows how ideals of humanity and innate goodness triumph over narrow patriotism.

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What was the general’s plan of relieving Sadao of his dilemma?

Send private assassins any night; asked him to leave the outer partition of the white man’s room open to the garden. They would make no noise; knew the trick of inward bleeding; would even dispose of the body.

What were the rumours about general Takima? On the other hand what did the newspapers say?

-Rumours about the suffering of prisoners of war; however newspapers reported that Japanese armies were welcomed gladly with cries of joy wherever they went.

Why were the servants critical of Sadao?

-Sadao too proud of his skill to save life that he saves any life; what will be the fate of the children if their father is condemned as a traitor; feared they would be cursed by gun and the sea for saving a man they had wounded

 How was the general in the palm of Sadao’s hand?

-had forgotten to send assassins to Sadao’s house. He was anxious not to give Sadao the impression that it was not a dereliction of duty or lack of patriotism on his part - just his absorption with his illness.

Why had Sadao not been sent with the troops?

He was perfecting a discovery that would render wounds entirely clean; the old general might need an operation anytime and he did not trust anybody else.

How did Sadao feel rewarded?

There was no prick of light in the dusk; the prisoner had escaped in a Korean fishing boat. Their own life could go back to normal

What did Sadao conclude after examining the wound of the unconscious soldier?

On the right side of his lower back, Sadao saw a gun wound; the flesh was blackened with gunpowder; blood flowed freshly at his touch. Sometime, not many days ago the man had been shot and had not been tended; the rock had struck the wound and reopened.

Why makes Hanna sympathetic to her husband in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?

Hanna did not like Americans but she was a traditional Japanese wife who would always stand by her husband. She understood his duty as a doctor. An educated, tender hearted woman, she realised  that the enemy was just a wounded helpless young boy. Thus Yumi’s stubborn refusal to wash the man angered her and she faced servants open defiance with dignity and herself served the sick man.