The Enemy
By - Pearl S. Buck
By - Pearl S. Buck
The story “The Enemy” by Pearl S. Buck revolves around the themes of humanity, compassion, and moral responsibility, set against the backdrop of the Sino-Japanese war. Dr. Sadao Hoki, a skilled Japanese surgeon, lives in a coastal town in Japan with his wife, Hana. Despite being a loyal Japanese citizen, Dr. Hoki believes in humanity above nationality.
One day, during the war, a wounded American soldier is washed ashore near Dr. Hoki’s house. The soldier is seriously injured, weak, and bleeding. Dr. Hoki faces a moral dilemma: the man is his enemy in the ongoing war, yet as a doctor, he cannot ignore the soldier’s suffering. Guided by his professional ethics and humanity, he decides to save the soldier’s life.
Hana, Dr. Hoki’s wife, is initially fearful and anxious. She worries about the consequences if anyone discovers that they are sheltering an enemy soldier. Despite her fears, she supports her husband’s decision, showing trust in his judgment. Together, they secretly care for the soldier, cleaning and dressing his wounds and feeding him.
Dr. Hoki faces another challenge: finding a safe place for the soldier to recover without attracting attention. He uses his medical knowledge and careful planning to ensure that the soldier remains hidden from authorities and locals, demonstrating resourcefulness and courage. During this period, the soldier remains unconscious, which allows Dr. Hoki to work diligently without interference.
As the soldier gradually recovers, Dr. Hoki struggles with feelings of patriotism and compassion. He recognizes the risk of aiding an enemy, but his human instincts and professional oath outweigh political loyalties. Finally, when the soldier is healthy enough, Dr. Hoki and Hana help him escape, ensuring his safety while maintaining their own secrecy.
The story highlights the triumph of humanity over hatred and war. It explores moral dilemmas faced by individuals during conflicts and stresses that ethical responsibility and compassion should prevail, even in difficult circumstances. Dr. Hoki’s actions reflect that true courage lies not only in serving one’s country but in upholding the principles of humanity and professional integrity.
Important Points for Exam:
* Setting: Japan during the Sino-Japanese war.
* Characters: Dr. Sadao Hoki, Hana, and the wounded American soldier.
* Theme: Humanity, moral duty, and compassion above nationalism.
* Conflict: Duty to country vs. duty to humanity.
* Resolution: Soldier is saved; moral responsibility is honored.
पीअर एल. बक की कहानी “The Enemy” मानवता, करुणा और नैतिक जिम्मेदारी के भाव पर आधारित है। यह कहानी जापान में चीन-जापान युद्ध के समय की पृष्ठभूमि में सेट है। डॉ. सदाओ होकी एक कुशल जापानी डॉक्टर हैं, जो अपनी पत्नी हाना के साथ एक तटीय शहर में रहते हैं। डॉ. होकी अपने देश के प्रति वफादार हैं, लेकिन उनका मानना है कि मानवता राष्ट्रीयता से ऊपर है।
एक दिन समुद्र किनारे एक घायल अमेरिकी सैनिक आता है। वह गंभीर रूप से घायल और कमजोर होता है। डॉ. होकी के सामने नैतिक दुविधा आती है। यह आदमी युद्ध में उनका दुश्मन है, फिर भी एक डॉक्टर होने के नाते वह उसके दर्द और ज़ख्मों को नजरअंदाज नहीं कर सकते। उन्होंने अपनी मानवता और पेशेवर जिम्मेदारी के अनुसार उस सैनिक की जान बचाने का निर्णय लिया।
हाना, डॉ. होकी की पत्नी, शुरू में चिंतित और डरती हैं। वह इस बात को लेकर परेशान हैं कि अगर किसी को पता चल गया कि वे एक दुश्मन सैनिक की मदद कर रहे हैं, तो उनके लिए खतरा होगा। इसके बावजूद, वह अपने पति के निर्णय का समर्थन करती हैं और उसकी इंसानियत पर भरोसा करती हैं। दोनों मिलकर सैनिक की देखभाल करते हैं—उसके ज़ख्म साफ़ करते हैं, उन्हें ढकते हैं और उसे खाना खिलाते हैं।
डॉ. होकी के सामने एक और चुनौती आती है: सैनिक को सुरक्षित जगह पर रखना ताकि कोई उसे खोज न सके। अपने मेडिकल ज्ञान और सूझबूझ का इस्तेमाल करके, वह सुनिश्चित करते हैं कि सैनिक छुपा रहे और कोई परेशान न करे। धीरे-धीरे सैनिक स्वस्थ होने लगता है।
सैनिक के ठीक होने के बाद, डॉ. होकी और हाना उसकी मदद करके उसे सुरक्षित रूप से भागने में सहायता करते हैं। कहानी यह दिखाती है कि युद्ध और दुश्मनी के बावजूद मानवता और करुणा की जीत होती है। डॉ. होकी की कार्रवाई यह संदेश देती है कि सच्चा साहस केवल देश सेवा में नहीं, बल्कि इंसानियत और नैतिकता के पालन में भी निहित है।
परीक्षा के लिए महत्वपूर्ण बिंदु:
* परिस्थिति: चीन-जापान युद्ध के समय का जापान।
* चरित्र: डॉ. सदाओ होकी, हाना, घायल अमेरिकी सैनिक।
* मुख्य विषय: मानवता, नैतिक जिम्मेदारी और करुणा।
* संघर्ष: देशभक्ति बनाम मानवता की जिम्मेदारी।
* समाधान: सैनिक की जान बचाई जाती है और नैतिकता की जीत होती है।
1. Who is the main character of the story “The Enemy”?
a) The American soldier
b) Dr. Sadao Hoki ✅
c) Hana
d) A Japanese officer
2. Where is the story set?
a) China
b) Japan ✅
c) America
d) Korea
3. Who finds the wounded soldier washed ashore?
a) Hana
b) Japanese officer
c) Dr. Sadao Hoki ✅
d) Villagers
4. What is Dr. Hoki’s main dilemma in the story?
a) Whether to go to war or not
b) Whether to treat a wounded enemy soldier ✅
c) Whether to leave Japan
d) Whether to inform the police
5. How does Hana feel when she sees the wounded soldier?
a) Happy
b) Afraid and worried ✅
c) Angry
d) Excited
6. What profession does Dr. Hoki follow?
a) Soldier
b) Teacher
c) Doctor ✅
d) Farmer
7. Why does Dr. Hoki decide to save the soldier?
a) Because he wants a reward
b) Because it is his duty as a doctor and human being ✅
c) Because he fears the Japanese army
d) Because the soldier is a relative
8. How do Dr. Hoki and Hana keep the soldier safe?
a) They hide him at the hospital
b) They hide him in their house and care for him secretly ✅
c) They send him back to America
d) They give him to the Japanese army
9. What is the main theme of the story?
a) Patriotism over humanity
b) Friendship and love
c) Humanity and moral responsibility ✅
d) Revenge and war
10. What happens to the soldier in the end?
a) He dies
b) He is captured
c) He recovers and escapes safely ✅
d) He becomes a Japanese citizen
Q.1 Who was Dr. Sadao ? Where was his house ?
Ans : In the chapter 'The Enemy' Dr. Sadao was a Japanese doctor. He was a famaous surgeon and scientist of Japan. He lived with hes wife Hana and two children on the Japaneses sea - coast.
Q.2 Will Dr. Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy ?
Ans : Yes, Dr. Sadao will be arrested on charge of harbouring an enemy if anyone complains against him. However, he knew that they would be arrested if they sheltered a white man in their house because it was the time when Japan was at war with America.
Q.3 Will Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself ?
Ans : In the story 'The Enemy' Hana did not want to help the wounded man and wash him herself. So, she asked their servant 'Yumi' to do so, but the servant Yumi refused to do it. So, as a result Hana had no other option and she washed him herself.
Q.4 What will Dr. Sadao and his wife do with the man ?
Ans : Dr. Sadao and his wife will help the white man. Hana, wife of Dr. Sadao held the cotton soaked in anesthetic near the nostrils of the man and than Dr. Sadao operated on the man and took out the bullet from the back.
Q.5 What will Dr. Sadao do to get rid of the man ?
Ans : In the story "The Enemy" Dr. Sadao will provide a boat to get rid of the man. He arranged for a boat, food and clothes to send the man back to the nearby island. Then, he informed the General that the man had escaped from his house.
Q.6 There are moments in life when we have to make hard choices between our roles a private individuals and as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the story " The Enemy ".
Ans : Yes, it is true. In the story "The Enemy" Dr. Sadao was a famous surgeon and scientist of Japan. Japan was at was with America. An American presioner was washed ashore in dying state and was found at doorstep of Dr. Sadao. Then he made a hard decision. He performed operation and saved his life. Then he informed the General about white man.
Q.1 Give the character sketch of Dr. Sadao.
Ans : Introduction : The present question has been taken from the chapter "The Enemy" written by Pearl S. Buck. It was the time of world war. Japan was at war with America. An American prisoner was washed ashore in dying state and was found at the doorstep of a Japanese doctor Sadao Hoki. At this point, Dr. Sadao was very confuse that he should help the white man or should give him to the Japanese army.
The character sketch of Dr. Sadao : In the chapter "The Enemy" the writer tells that Dr. Sadao Hoki was a Japanese doctor. He was a famous surgeon and scientist of Japan. Hana was his wife and they had two children. One of them mearly three months old. He lived with his wife and two chidlren on the Japanese sea - coast where he had spent his childhood. He was the only son of his father. His father wanted him to be highly educated. Therefore, he had been sent to America at the age of twenty to study surgery and medicine. His father was connected with Japanese tradition. He had met with Hana at the house of an American professor. He married with Hana in Japan in old Japanese way. He was a very noble human being. He was true to his duty. Therefore, he performed an operation on the enemy soldier who was in very critical situation and saved his life. Then he told the General about the enemy soldier. It shows that Dr. Sadao was a patriotic as well as a dedicated surgeon.
Q.2 Describe the main conflict faced by Dr. Sadao Hoki in the story “The Enemy.”
Ans:
Dr. Sadao Hoki, a skilled Japanese doctor, finds a seriously wounded American soldier washed ashore during the Sino-Japanese war.
The soldier is technically Japan’s enemy, which creates a conflict between Dr. Hoki’s loyalty to his country and his moral duty as a doctor.
Dr. Hoki struggles with fear of being punished or labeled a traitor if anyone discovers he is helping the enemy.
Despite these risks, his professional ethics and humanitarian values guide him to save the soldier’s life.
His wife, Hana, also feels anxious but supports his decision, showing trust and courage.
Dr. Hoki uses his medical skills and intelligence to care for the soldier in secret, hiding him from the authorities and locals.
The conflict highlights the tension between patriotism and humanity.
Ultimately, Dr. Hoki’s compassion and ethical responsibility prevail over political loyalty, emphasizing the story’s central theme of humaneness in times of war.
Q.3 How does Hana contribute to the care of the wounded soldier, and what does this reveal about her character?
Ans:
Hana initially feels fear and anxiety upon seeing the enemy soldier.
She worries about the danger to their home and reputation if anyone finds out.
Despite her fears, she supports her husband’s decision and helps him care for the soldier.
Hana actively tends to the soldier’s wounds, cleans and dresses them, and ensures he gets proper food and comfort.
She also helps in hiding him safely from the Japanese authorities and locals.
Her actions reflect courage, empathy, and moral strength.
Hana’s willingness to act against fear for the sake of humanity shows her loyalty to ethical principles over social pressure.
Through Hana, the story conveys that compassion and bravery are not limited to men or soldiers; ordinary people can also make morally significant decisions.
Q.4 Explain how the story “The Enemy” highlights the theme of humanity over nationalism.
Ans:
The story is set during the Sino-Japanese war, a time of intense nationalistic loyalty.
Dr. Hoki faces a choice between serving his country or following his moral duty to save a human life.
By treating the wounded American soldier, he prioritizes ethical responsibility over political allegiance.
The story shows that true morality is universal and transcends nationality, race, or war.
Hana’s support reinforces the theme, emphasizing shared human values over fear or prejudice.
The secret care, risk, and eventual escape of the soldier demonstrate courage and compassion.
Pearl S. Buck emphasizes that humanity must remain intact even during conflict; professional ethics and moral duty should not be compromised.
The story teaches that empathy, kindness, and ethical choices define the human spirit more than blind patriotism.
Q.5 Describe the methods Dr. Hoki uses to care for and protect the wounded soldier.
Ans:
Dr. Hoki first examines the soldier’s injuries and cleans and dresses his wounds meticulously.
He keeps the soldier hidden in his house, away from neighbors and authorities.
He uses his medical knowledge to ensure the soldier gradually recovers without complications.
Dr. Hoki carefully plans to prevent discovery, avoiding attention while providing constant care.
He coordinates with Hana, who assists in feeding, cleaning, and comforting the soldier.
Once the soldier becomes strong enough, Dr. Hoki arranges for his safe escape, ensuring he avoids capture.
These actions reflect intelligence, courage, and strong ethical principles.
By taking these measures, Dr. Hoki balances risk and compassion, showing that moral duty often requires courage and careful planning.