Class 12 English - KERALA
Supplementary: The Enemy
Supplementary chapter 'The Enemy' by Pearl S. Buck explores the moral dilemma of Dr. Sadao Hoki, a Japanese surgeon who finds a wounded American prisoner of war washed ashore during World War II. Torn between his duty as a loyal Japanese citizen and his oath as a doctor to save lives, Sadao and his wife Hana choose humanity over patriotism. The story highlights the conflict between national prejudice and universal human compassion, emphasizing that enmity must ultimately surrender to the healing power of empathy. This chapter is vital for Kerala SCERT Class 12 board exams, frequently appearing in essay questions and character evaluations.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Dr. Sadao Hoki
A talented Japanese surgeon and scientist torn between professional ethics and intense nationalistic loyalty during World War II.
The Ethical Dilemma
The intense conflict between the duty to turn in an enemy soldier to save one's country and the humanitarian duty to save a dying human being.
Hana's Role
Sadao's supportive wife who assists in the operation and displays immense courage, empathy, and loyalty despite the personal risks involved.
General Takada
A self-absorbed Japanese General who prioritizes his own health over national security, forgetting his promise to have the prisoner assassinated.
Universal Humanism
The core theme of the story asserting that basic human empathy and professional ethics transcend artificial national boundaries and wartime hatred.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Kerala (SCERT) Class 12 English examinations, this supplementary chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Common question types include paragraph-length analytical questions on character development (Sadao or Hana), essay-type questions on the thematic conflict between patriotism and humanity, and short justification questions based on key incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Dr. Sadao save the American soldier despite knowing the risks?
As a trained physician, Sadao had taken an oath to save lives. Despite the American being an enemy, his humanitarian instinct and medical ethics compelled him to treat the wounded man rather than let him die.
Why did General Takada not have the American prisoner arrested or killed?
The General was selfishly dependent on Sadao's unique surgical skills for his own survival and feared that if he underwent another operation, Sadao might be executed and he would die.
What is the significance of the title 'The Enemy'?
The title is ironic; while the American is nominally an 'enemy' due to war, the real enemies in the story are narrow-minded patriotism, racial prejudice, and the inhumanity fostered by conflict.
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