CBSE Class 12 English Vistas The Enemy Pearl S Buck Assignment Set C

About the Author

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (1892 – 1973), also known by her Chinese name Sai Zhenzhu, was an American writer and novelist. As the daughter of missionaries, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in Zhenjiang, China. She wrote about Chinese people, their attitude and customs. Her novel ‘The Good Earth’ won a Nobel Prize in literature for her. Buck had a humanistic attitude to the problems of life.

She felt that while nations were at war, individuals were humans and they could feel for others. After returning to the United States in 1935, she continued writing prolifically and became a prominent advocate of the rights of women and minority groups.

Theme

The Enemy deals with the conflict between Man’s humane feelings and the prejudices created by nations at war. It deals with the universal human values which must take precedence over narrow considerations like nationalism. The bond uniting all human beings must transcend the difference between nations.

Justification of the Title

‘The Enemy’ is an apt title with the Second World War as the background. Dr. Sadao, being a skilled surgeon saved the life of an escaped American prisoner of war, his enemy, who was wounded seriously and had been washed ashore. Torn between his duty and his integrity as a doctor, he chooses to save the enemy’s life first and then hand him over to the police. His inner conflict and professional ethics makes him choose the first option. His servants too, desert him for fear of getting into trouble. He is fully aware of the fact that harbouring a prisoner of war would endanger his own life as well.

The docor’s professional ethics urge him to treat the ‘enemy’as a patient. Neither Dr. Sadao nor Hana, at any stage consider him their friend. Yet they treat him as a fellow human being should be treated. The title is therefore appropriate.

Message

The author advocates universal brotherhood and highlights that service to the wounded is the best service to humanity. The story underlines the message that doctors have no nationality. They must rise above all petty issues like Sadao did and make all possible efforts to save human life. It highlights the dilemma faced by the doctor between his professional duty and his loyality to his country.

The theme of racism is reflected in the story in several ways. When Sadao recalls how he met Hana, he remembers that he didn’t become serious with her until he was sure that she “had been pure in her race” because otherwise his father wouldn’t have approved. Yumi refused to touch the American, let alone wash him before the operation, and when he left she “cleaned the guest room thoroughly…to get the white man’s smell out of it.” Sadao has strong feelings about white people. He thinks that they are “repulsive” and that “it was a relief to be openly at war with them at last.” He also believed that Americans were full of prejudice, and it had been bitter to live there, knowing himself their superior. With the backdrop of Second World War, the author highlights the horrors of war by portraying the helpless American sailor,who was tortured.

Summary

‘The Enemy’ tells the story of a Japanese doctor who hates Americans as a patriotic Japanease as America and Japan were at war. One day an American prisoner of war is washed ashore in front of a Japanese doctor’s house. The soldier is wounded and has evidently escaped from prison. Dr. Sadao’s house was a solitary house on the seashore. Dr. Sadao and Hana ran to help. The American sailor was bleeding. They thought of throwing him back into the sea. But they could not do so. Dr. Sadao carried him home. Hana washes the soldier as Yumi, the servant, refused to do so.

Sadao operates on the American. He returned with his surgeons’s emergency bag. He turned over the wounded soldier who lay unconscious. He washed his back and asked Hana to help him. He wanted Hana to give the patient the anesthetic. Hana had never seen an operation and she felt like vomiting. Sadao saw the bullet in the wound. Hana observed that there were red scars on the soldier’s neck and realised that he had been tortured. Sadao removed the bullet from the wound and declared that the American would survive. Sadao and Hana look after the American. But the servants were becoming restless. The gardener felt the prisoner should have been allowed to bleed to death. On the seventh day the servants leave Sadao’s house. They did not work that morning.Hana paid them their wages.

They cried as they left. Hana held back her tears. The gardener was there since he was a boy. Yumi was attached to the children. Hana had to do all the household work on her own. Hana wanted Sadao to get rid of the American quickly. Sadao promised to do something about it. In the evening a messenger in uniform arrived. Hana was paralysed with fright. She felt the servants must have complained and the messenger had come to arrest Sadao. The fears were unfounded as the old general had been suffering from an ailment. Sadao had been treating him and the general was in pain and had sent for him.

The general trusted Sadao. He knew he might need to be operated upon. That is why Sadao was not sent away with the troops. Sadao told the general about the American. The general replied that Sadao was indispensable and could not be arrested. Then the General suggested a way out. He would send two of his private assassins to his house to kill the American quietly and remove the body. Sadao agreed to the plan. Sadao waited for three nights. No assassins arrived.

The American was getting better. He thanked Sadao. Sadao found it difficult to keep the American in his house any longer. He was tired of waiting for the assassins to do away with the American prisoner.Dr Sadao decided to help him to escape. Sadao provided him with his boat. He put food water, and a quilt in his boat. He also gave the American his flashlight. There was an uninhabited island very close to the shore. He told the American to sail to the island. He could live there till he found a Korean fishing boat pass by the island.

Then he could seek help and escape to freedom. He warned the American not to make any fire. He could catch fish and eat it raw. It was a moonless night when the American sailed away to the island. Sadao was again called by the general. He operated on the general. Sadao told the general that the prisoner had escaped. The general recalled that he had failed to send the assassins as he had forgotten to keep his promise. He added that it was not because of lack of patriotism nor dereliction of duty. He was simply absorbed in his own affairs.

Sadao realized that he was safe. But he assured the general that he would ever remain loyal to him. As the American had left, all the servants returned. Things came back to normal.Sadao remembered the American and hated him. But did not know why he had saved the prisoner’s life.

CHAPTER IN A NUTSHELL

Dream of Sadao’s Father
Took him to the islands and said they were ‘stepping stones’ to the future of Japan. Sadao realized education is important. At 22 went to America to study surgery and medicine. Returned at 30, as a famous surgeon and scientist. Trusted by general-so not sent with troops.

Meeting between Hana and Sadao
By chance. At professor Harley’s house in America. Professor and wife kind, helped foreign students. Sadao met Hana there. Married after completion of studies. Marriage finalised in the traditional way, after his father had seen her. Happy together.

Appearance of American Soldier 
Hana and Sadao leaning on railing, one foggy evening, saw man crawling on hands and knees. Fell on face. Rushed thinking –fisherman. Saw a white man with reopened gun shot wound, badly hurt. US Navy insignia on tattered uniform- realised he was a prisoner of war.

Dilemma of Sadao
As a doctor he should attend to a dying man and stop the bleeding.
As a patriotic person he should put him back in the sea or hand him over to the authorities.
Decided not to be callous and took him in.

Risks
Would be arrested for sheltering an enemy- a white man, would endanger the lives of their children.

Reaction of Servants
Frightened. Felt they should not heal him – gardener felt he should die or he’d take revenge. Cook felt pride in his skill made him save the American soldier. Felt their years in America had made forget to think of their country first. Left on the seventh day.

Hana’s Role
Washed him. Helped Sadao operate. Gave anaesthesia. Felt nauseated but continued.

General Takima— Cruel Man
Known to beat his wife mercilessly. Hana feared how he would deal with an enemy. Retained Sadao in Japan as he could need an operation.

Reaction to Information about the Fugitive
Felt reassured Sadao had capability to save. Wanted to save doctor as he would need his services. Suggested he would send two private assassins at night-capable men, familiar with the trick of inward bleeding, would take the soldier’s body away too. Sadao waited three nights, realised General had forgotten.

General party to guilt
Sadao gets hold on him. Convinces Sadao- not lack of patriotism or dereliction of duty – was self absorbed as he was suffering. Promised to reward Sadao.

Sadao helps American Escape
Put his boat on the shore at night, with food, bottled water, extra quilts and extra clothing. Told him to row to an island near the coast. He instructed him to stay there till a Korean fishing boat was seen passing by. Gave him a flashlight- Instructed him to signal with two flashes before sunset, if he ran out of food. Warned him to eat fish raw, as cooking over fire would be noticed. Wrapped a black cloth about his blond head and dressed him in Japanese clothes.

Sadao’s Recollection of Americans Recalled other white faces:
(i) professor at whose house he met Hana.
(ii) his teacher of Anatomy.
(iii) his fat landlady. Recalled how difficult it was
to find a place to live in as Americans were prejudiced-had been difficult to live amidst such feelings. As a Japanese he felt he was superior. Hated the ignorant, dirty woman who rented him a room and looked after him when he was sick. He despised her and could not feel grateful to her. He felt he found all white faces, disgusting and wondered why he could not kill the prisoner.

Humanitarian considerations override man made barriers of culture and nationality.

Difference in the reaction of Sadao, Hana and the Servants
Servants – simple, superstitious, patriotic-consider harbouring an enemy to be a crime. Fear for lives, insular. Do not understand higher level of reasoning, humanitarian considerations.

Sadao and Hana – Had been exposed to other nationalities, more tolerant. Feel it is unethical for a doctor to let a person die if he can be saved. Even an enemy is a human being first.

Read the extracts given below and attempt the questions that follow:

1. Dr Sadao Hoki’s house was built on a spot of the Japanese coast where as a little boy he had often played. The low, square stone house was set upon rocks well above a narrow beach that was outlined with bent pines. As a boy Sadao had climbed the pines, supporting himself on his bare feet, as he had seen men do in the South Seas when they climbed for coconuts. His father had taken him often to the islands of those seas, and never had he failed to say to the little brave boy at his side, ‘‘Those islands yonder, they are the stepping stones to the future for Japan.’’ ‘‘Where shall we step from them?’’ Sadao had asked seriously. ‘‘Who knows?’’ his father had answered. ‘‘Who can limit our future? It depends on what we make it.’’

Questions

(i) Who is referred to as ‘he’ in the above extract?
Answer: In this extract ‘he’ refers to Dr. Sadao Hoki.

(ii) What had Sadao climbed as a boy?
(a) coconut trees
(b) palm trees
(c) pines
(d) walls

Answer: C

(iii) Where did Sadao’s father often take him?
(a) coast
(b) islands
(c) Japan
(d) USA

Answer: B

(iv) What did Sadoa’s father say to Sadao about the islands?
Answer: Sadao’s father said to Sadao that islands yonder were the stepping stones to the future for Japan.

2. It was at this moment that both of them saw something black come out of the mists. It was a man. He was flung up out of the ocean — flung, it seemed, to his feet by a breaker. He staggered a few steps, his body outlined against the mist, his arms above his head. Then the curled mists hid him again. ‘‘Who is that?’’ Hana cried. She dropped Sadao’s arm and they both leaned over the railing of the veranda. Now they saw him again. The man was on his hands and knees crawling. Then they saw him fall on his face and lie there.

Questions

(i) Hana cried, “Who’s that?” This reveals her ............ .
(a) concern
(b) anger
(c) anxiety
(d) hope

Answer: A

(ii) Who was ‘flung out’ of the ocean?
Answer: A man was flung out of the ocean.

(iii) The phrase, “...his body outlined against the mist,” means ............ .
(a) his body was covered with mist
(b) his body seemed flowing in the mist
(c) his body was going against the direction of the mist
(d) his body was slightly visible in the mist

Answer: D

(iv) What does the expression “flung up out of the ocean” suggest?
Answer: It suggests crawling out of the ocean.

3. I wondered, Your Excellency,” Sadao murmured. “It was certainly very careless of me,” the General said. “But you understand it was not lack of patriotism or dereliction of duty.” He looked anxiously at his doctor. “If the matter should come out you would understand that, wouldn’t you?”

“Certainly, Your Excellency,” Sadao said. He suddenly comprehended that the General was in the palm of his hand and that as a consequence he himself was perfectly safe. “I swear to your loyalty. Excellency,” he said to the old General, “and to your zeal against the enemy.”

Questions

(i) What was ‘carless’ of the General?
Answer: The General had promised Dr Sadao that he would send his personal assassins to eliminate the enemy.

(ii) What would happen if the matter should come out?
Answer: The General would be accused of not performing his duty and showing lack of patriotism by not arresting the POW.

(iii) What did Sadao comprehend?
Answer: Sadao understood that the General was obliged to him and as a consequence, he himself was safe.

(iv) What did the General want Sadao to understand?
(a) It was his illness.
(b) It was not lack of patriotism.
(c) It was dereliction of duty.
(d) he did not have the assassins.

Answer: B

4. Thus agreed, together they lifted the man. He was very light, like a fowl that had been halfstarved for a long time until it is only feathers and skeleton. So, his arms hanging, they carried him up the steps and into the side door of the house. This door opened into a passage, and down the passage they carried the man towards an empty bedroom. It had been the bedroom of Sadao’s father, and since his death it had not been used. They laid the man on the deeply matted floor. Everything here had been Japanese to please the old man, who would never in his own home sit on a chair or sleep in a foreign bed. Hana went to the wall cupboards and slid back a door and took out a soft quilt. She hesitated. The quilt was covered with flowered silk and the lining was pure white silk.

Questions

(i) Who is being talked about in the extract?
Answer: The injured man is being talked about in the above extract

(ii) ‘She hesitated’ means that Hana didn’t want to ............ .
(a) carry the wounded man as he had a limp leg
(b) use her silk as he was their guest
(c) use her white silk as the man was bleeding
(d) share her stuff

Answer: C

(iii) “his arms hanging” indicated the state of the man. Pick the option that correctly tells his state.
(1) Unconscious (2) Weak
(3) Strong (4) Rebellious
(5) Calm (6) Conscious
(a) (1) and (2)
(b) (2) and (3)
(c) (5) and (6)
(d) (4) and (5)

Answer: A

(iv) They laid the man on the
(a) shore
(b) hospital bed
(c) matted floor
(d) veranda

Answer: A

5. She had the bottle and some cotton in her hand. “But how shall I do it?” she asked. “Simply saturate the cotton and hold it near his nostrils,” Sadao replied without delaying for one moment the intricate detail of his work. “When he breathes badly move it away a little.” She crouched close to the sleeping face of the young American. It was a piteously thin face, she thought, and the lips were twisted. The man was suffering whether he knew it or not. Watching him, she wondered if the stories they heard sometimes of the sufferings of prisoners were true. They came like flickers of rumour, told by word of mouth and always contradicted. In the newspapers the reports were always that wherever the Japanese armies went the people received them gladly, with cries of joy at their liberation.

Questions

(i) What is Hana doing
(a) cleaning up the wounded soldier
(b) helping Sadao.
(c) watching the wounded soldier
(d) observing the wounded soldier

Answer: B

(ii) Which of these questions does Hana start reflecting on in the extract?
(a) Why did men like the young American choose to fight?
(b) What should she and her husband do about the enemy?
(c) Is the Japanese army actually emerging victorious or is it all fake news?
(d) How different was the reality of prisoners from what she was led to believe?

Answer: D

(iii) What did Hana observe about the young American
(a) he was breathing badly
(b) the man was suffering
(c) he was young and strong
(d) he was a repulsive American

Answer: B

(iv) How do Hana and Sadao react to the situation of the wounded man?
Answer: Hana is confused about it but Sadao is confident about it.

6. “A white man!” Hana whispered. Yes, it was a white man. The wet cap fell away and there was his wet yellow hair, long, as though for many weeks it had not been cut, and upon his young and tortured face was a rough yellow beard. He was unconscious and knew nothing that they did for him. Now Sadao remembered the wound, and with his expert fingers he began to search for it. Blood flowed freshly at his touch. On the right side of his lower back Sadao saw that a gun wound had been reopened. The flesh was blackened with powder. Sometime, not many days ago, the man had been shot and had not been tended. It was bad chance that the rock had struck the wound.

Questions

(i) Who does ‘white man’ refer to here?
Answer: Here ‘white man’ refers to an American prisoner of war

(ii) Hana’s remark “A white man!” on seeing the white man indicated what she was feeling. Pick the option that correctly states her feeling.
1. Horror 2. Shocked
3. Unfamiliar 4. Annoyed
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1 and 4

Answer: A

(iii) How did the white man’s face appear?
(a) Old
(b) Tortured
(c) Fresh
(d) Annoyed

Answer: B

(iv) Why didn’t he know the presence of Dr Sadao and Hana?
(a) As he was sleeping.
(b) As he was pretending to be unconscious.
(c) As he was unconscious.
(d) None of these.

Answer: C