The Enemy - By Pearl S. Buck
Introduction
This Story is woven around the life and dilemma of a japanese doctor who saves the life
of an American prisoner of war and rises abovenarrow national prejudices, He risks his
honour, family, career, position and lifej by sheltering a prisoner of war Of the enemy
camp and saving his life. The author has very evocatively portrayed the conflict in the
doctor's mind thätarisesbetween him being a humane and committed doctor on One
side and a Japanese citizen With a deep sense of loyalty on the other. The story takes place
on a coastal town ofJapan in the year 194i when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, At that time,
the war going on between Amelica and Japan was at its peak. Obviouslythen, the Japanese
',verevery hostile towards all Americans and ready to kill any American found on their soil.
Theme
'The Enemy gives the message that humanism transcends all man made prejudices and
barriers. Dr. Sadao upholds the ethics of the medical profession and of humaneness whilo
treating an injured and defenseless enemy. The story is a perfect platform to highlight the fact
that love, empathy, fellow and humanism, transcend all other emotions and priorities,
includingpatriotism. Inherently, every human being is humane and compassionate and
instinctively gives priority to this.
Hlahlights:
Dr Sadao Hoki was a Japanese doctor who was famous as he was not onlv a_sutgeombuta_.
He had been sent by his father to when he was
twenty-twoyears old and returned back to his
Dr Sadao's father was a very traditional and conservative Ja anese, though he also ensured
that his son got the best of education. So Dr Sa ao's personality and perspective was a umque
The story begins with a description of where Dr Sadao lived, also highlighting the influence
that his father's traditionalistic perspective had on his personality.
Dr Sadao was not sent with the troops to fight the war as he was erfectin a discovery that
would render wounds entirely clean Also the old General was not too we an rmg t nee qn
operation. Thus, Dr Sadao was being kept in Japan.
Dr a aomet Hana while he was in the ut he only allowed himself to fall in love with her
after his father approved o e match.
One day, Dr Sadao and his wife Hana, found a wounded Arnericansoldier on the beach near
their house.
He was unable to throw him back even though he realized that the man was an American, his
enemy. This was because he was a doctor and his first duty was to save lives.
Hana, his wife, was initially reluctant to help thßnjured because it would have
dangerous for their entire family if they harboured an enemy in their house.
/ s h2L,be'u
Scanned with CarnScanner
, I-lowever, once Dr SadaO
to the soldier, in Spite decided to treat the prisoner, Hana assisted Dr. Sadao in attending
clear though that they of her physical discomfort ahd_imrnensehesitation. Both were very
would hand over the prisoner to the aUthorities once they saved his life.
• Both Dr Sadao and Hana
were worried a to how their se n 8 would react, as th were all
very tra itiona an conservative
t elr outloo
Dr Sadao then proceeded to perform the
clear that Dr Sadao was a operation and save the life of the prisoner. It became
doc}" and an However,
while he was Operating, the author cle •o s th adao
goes torn between his responsibilities as a doctor and his duties as a patriotic
apanese.
On the seventh day after the arrival of the prisoner, two things happened. Firstly, in the
morning, the servants decided to leav eir
ell' e-American-in-the-housg.Secondly, in the afternoon. a messenger
came to the door in official uniform and both
In orme e government about the American risoner. However, the had come to
cal r a ao ast e Generalwas o
Dr Sadao then went to meet the General. Seeing the General in a
Sadao told him all about the risoner who took this news in his stride_asat that moment he
and was tota y depen ent on Sadao to éå+öhrs life.
The General then assured Sadao that he would send his privete assassins to Dr Sadao's house
to • the American instructing him to leave the outer partition A man's room open
OfithGiGfiite
to the gar en at mght.
Thereafter, Dr Sadao waited every night with bated breath, the assassins to come
and kill the American and tåk@his body away. However, three excruciating nights passed and
fh@fdid not come.
After the third night, Dr Sadao could not tolerate the tension anymore, as his humane nature
part oopch inhumanity. So he made
American escape safely from Japan.
Soon after, the servants returned to the house and Dr Sadao had to erform an emergency
A week after the operation, Dr Sadao informed the General that the prisoner had escaped
from his house. The General then felt quite guilty that he had forgotten to send his assassins
to kill the American. Dr Sadao used this to his advantage as he realized that the Genearl was
in the palm ofhis hand and so he and his familywere safe.
Dr Sadao was also very satisfied when he realized that the American had been successful in
escaping. The story concludes with Dr Sadao wondering and analyzing why he had been
life.
unable to kill the enemy and why he had helped save his
Scanned WithCacnScanner
Introduction
This Story is woven around the life and dilemma of a japanese doctor who saves the life
of an American prisoner of war and rises abovenarrow national prejudices, He risks his
honour, family, career, position and lifej by sheltering a prisoner of war Of the enemy
camp and saving his life. The author has very evocatively portrayed the conflict in the
doctor's mind thätarisesbetween him being a humane and committed doctor on One
side and a Japanese citizen With a deep sense of loyalty on the other. The story takes place
on a coastal town ofJapan in the year 194i when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, At that time,
the war going on between Amelica and Japan was at its peak. Obviouslythen, the Japanese
',verevery hostile towards all Americans and ready to kill any American found on their soil.
Theme
'The Enemy gives the message that humanism transcends all man made prejudices and
barriers. Dr. Sadao upholds the ethics of the medical profession and of humaneness whilo
treating an injured and defenseless enemy. The story is a perfect platform to highlight the fact
that love, empathy, fellow and humanism, transcend all other emotions and priorities,
includingpatriotism. Inherently, every human being is humane and compassionate and
instinctively gives priority to this.
Hlahlights:
Dr Sadao Hoki was a Japanese doctor who was famous as he was not onlv a_sutgeombuta_.
He had been sent by his father to when he was
twenty-twoyears old and returned back to his
Dr Sadao's father was a very traditional and conservative Ja anese, though he also ensured
that his son got the best of education. So Dr Sa ao's personality and perspective was a umque
The story begins with a description of where Dr Sadao lived, also highlighting the influence
that his father's traditionalistic perspective had on his personality.
Dr Sadao was not sent with the troops to fight the war as he was erfectin a discovery that
would render wounds entirely clean Also the old General was not too we an rmg t nee qn
operation. Thus, Dr Sadao was being kept in Japan.
Dr a aomet Hana while he was in the ut he only allowed himself to fall in love with her
after his father approved o e match.
One day, Dr Sadao and his wife Hana, found a wounded Arnericansoldier on the beach near
their house.
He was unable to throw him back even though he realized that the man was an American, his
enemy. This was because he was a doctor and his first duty was to save lives.
Hana, his wife, was initially reluctant to help thßnjured because it would have
dangerous for their entire family if they harboured an enemy in their house.
/ s h2L,be'u
Scanned with CarnScanner
, I-lowever, once Dr SadaO
to the soldier, in Spite decided to treat the prisoner, Hana assisted Dr. Sadao in attending
clear though that they of her physical discomfort ahd_imrnensehesitation. Both were very
would hand over the prisoner to the aUthorities once they saved his life.
• Both Dr Sadao and Hana
were worried a to how their se n 8 would react, as th were all
very tra itiona an conservative
t elr outloo
Dr Sadao then proceeded to perform the
clear that Dr Sadao was a operation and save the life of the prisoner. It became
doc}" and an However,
while he was Operating, the author cle •o s th adao
goes torn between his responsibilities as a doctor and his duties as a patriotic
apanese.
On the seventh day after the arrival of the prisoner, two things happened. Firstly, in the
morning, the servants decided to leav eir
ell' e-American-in-the-housg.Secondly, in the afternoon. a messenger
came to the door in official uniform and both
In orme e government about the American risoner. However, the had come to
cal r a ao ast e Generalwas o
Dr Sadao then went to meet the General. Seeing the General in a
Sadao told him all about the risoner who took this news in his stride_asat that moment he
and was tota y depen ent on Sadao to éå+öhrs life.
The General then assured Sadao that he would send his privete assassins to Dr Sadao's house
to • the American instructing him to leave the outer partition A man's room open
OfithGiGfiite
to the gar en at mght.
Thereafter, Dr Sadao waited every night with bated breath, the assassins to come
and kill the American and tåk@his body away. However, three excruciating nights passed and
fh@fdid not come.
After the third night, Dr Sadao could not tolerate the tension anymore, as his humane nature
part oopch inhumanity. So he made
American escape safely from Japan.
Soon after, the servants returned to the house and Dr Sadao had to erform an emergency
A week after the operation, Dr Sadao informed the General that the prisoner had escaped
from his house. The General then felt quite guilty that he had forgotten to send his assassins
to kill the American. Dr Sadao used this to his advantage as he realized that the Genearl was
in the palm ofhis hand and so he and his familywere safe.
Dr Sadao was also very satisfied when he realized that the American had been successful in
escaping. The story concludes with Dr Sadao wondering and analyzing why he had been
life.
unable to kill the enemy and why he had helped save his
Scanned WithCacnScanner
