The Enemy : Introduction/Summary /Vistas /Class-12

The Enemy

INTRODUCTION

The story highlights have a Japanese doctor saves the life of an American Prisoner Of War and Rises above narrow national prejudices. He risks his owner, career, position, and Life by sheltering a war prisoner of the enemy camp and saving his life. The author has beautifully portrayed the conflict in the doctor's mind as a private individual and as a citizen with a sense of national loyalty.

SETTING

The Enemy gives the message that humanism transcends all man-made prejudices and barriers. Dr. Sadao uploads the Ethics of the medical profession in treating an enemy. The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow feeling, and humanism.

CHARACTERS

1. Dr. Sadao Hoki: Japanese doctor trained by Americans.
2. Sadao's father: much concerned about his son's education, a true patriot.
3. Hana: wife of Dr. Sadao, met in America, become friends, and got married in Japan.
4. Tom: An American Prisoner Of war, a soldier of the U.S. Navy.
5. The Old General: a sick Japanese army General, needed an operation, trusted only Dr. Sadao.
6. An Officer: a messenger of the General.
7. Gardener: An old gardener in the house of Dr. Sadao.
8. Yimi: Hana's maidservant.
9. The Cook: an old cook in the house Dr. Sadao.

SUMMARY

The story is written with the backdrop of the Second World War. It brings out the sad plight of a prisoner of war and also deals with the conflict that a' doctor couple faces because of sheltering an enemy. Dr. Sadao, a Japanese surgeon finds a wounded American soldier on the beach near his house. He is unable to throw him back though he was his enemy as he was a doctor and his first duty was to save a life. Hana, his wife, though initially reluctant because it was dangerous for all including the children to keep the enemy in the house, joins her husband in operating and nursing the enemy soldier back to health, even though the servants desert the house. Hana assists Dr. Sadao in operating the soldier in spite of her physical discomfort and hesitation. Though it was wartime and all hands were needed at the front, the General did not send Sadao with the troops as he is an expert surgeon and the General needed him. Sadao tells him about the enemy soldier but he does not take any action as he is self-absorbed and forgets his promise that he would send his private assassins to kill the enemy and remove his body. Taking advantage of the general’s self-absorption Sadao decides to save the soldier's life. After the soldier is out of danger Dr. Sadao helps him to escape from his house to safety. Sadao recalled his time spent in America, the people he met, the teacher who taught him, Miss Harley who hated him yet was kind to him, the Americans with all their prejudices. He wondered why he could not kill Tom, the American prisoner of war.

1. Dr. Sadao, a Japanese surgeon finds a wounded American soldier on the beach near his house.
2. He is unable to throw him back though he was his enemy as he was a doctor and his first duty was to save a life.
3. Hana, his wife, though initially reluctant because it was dangerous for all including the children to keep the enemy in the house, joins her husband in operating and nursing the enemy soldier back to health, even though the servants desert the house.
4. Hana assists Dr. Sadao in operating the soldier in spite of her physical discomfort and hesitation.
5. Though it was wartime and all hands were needed at the front, the General did not send Sadao with the troops as he is an expert surgeon and the General needed him.
6. Sadao tells him about the enemy soldier but he does not take any action as he is self-absorbed and forgets his promise that he would send his private assassins to kill the enemy and remove his body. 
7. Taking advantage of the general’s self-absorption Sadao decides to save the soldier's life. After the soldier is out of danger Dr. Sadao helps him to escape from his house to safety.