Class 12 English - CBSE
Supplementary: The Enemy
The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck is a profound Class 12 CBSE chapter set during World War II, focusing on Dr. Sadao Hoki, a Japanese surgeon who finds an injured American prisoner of war washed ashore. The story explores the agonizing conflict between humanism and patriotism, forcing Sadao and his wife Hana to choose between their legal duty to report an enemy and their moral duty as doctors to save a human life. It is highly important for CBSE board exams as it frequently features in long-answer questions testing critical thinking, character analysis, and ethical dilemmas.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Ethical Dilemma vs. Patriotism
The core conflict where Dr. Sadao must choose between his national duty as a Japanese citizen and his professional oath as a doctor to save a dying human being.
Character of Dr. Sadao Hoki
A brilliant, dedicated surgeon trained in America who embodies scientific perfection, emotional restraint, and deep-rooted moral values.
The Role of Hana
Sadao's loyal and courageous wife who supports him through the crisis, manages the difficult household, and helps perform the surgery despite her own fears.
General Takima
A self-absorbed Japanese military general who delays the prisoner's arrest because of his own selfish need for Sadao's surgical skills, highlighting wartime hypocrisy.
Universal Humanism
The thematic message of the story that human life and empathy transcend artificial boundaries of race, nationality, and war.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the CBSE Class 12 English Core exam, this chapter typically contributes to the 6-mark long-answer questions from the Supplementary Reader (Vistas). Questions often test character analysis, the justification of the title, or the resolution of the moral dilemma faced by Dr. Sadao.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Dr. Sadao save the American soldier despite him being an enemy?
As a doctor, Sadao's primary training and ethics compelled him to save a dying human life, regardless of his nationality or political enmity during the war.
Why didn't General Takima have Dr. Sadao arrested for harboring a prisoner of war?
The General was selfish and relied entirely on Sadao for his own health conditions. Fearing that Sadao would be executed and no one else could operate on him, he kept the secret.
What is the significance of the title 'The Enemy'?
The title is ironic; while the American is legally an 'enemy' of Japan, he is ultimately saved by human compassion, proving that political enemies are often just fellow human beings in need.
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