Class 12 English - RAJASTHAN
Supplementary: The Enemy
Supplementary: The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck is a profound story set during World War II, focusing on Dr. Sadao Hoki, a Japanese surgeon who finds a wounded American POW washed ashore. The chapter explores the eternal conflict between humanism and nationalism, medical ethics, and racial prejudice. Sadao faces a moral dilemma: whether to save his 'enemy' as a doctor or hand him over to the authorities as a loyal citizen. For RBSE Class 12 board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing critical thinking, character analysis, and thematic understanding, frequently appearing in long-answer and value-based questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Dr. Sadao Hoki's Dilemma
The core conflict between Sadao's professional duty as a doctor to save lives and his patriotic duty as a Japanese citizen during wartime.
Hana's Role and Support
Sadao's wife Hana represents compassion and courage, bravely assisting him in nursing the enemy soldier back to health despite the immense personal risk.
The Impact of Racism and Prejudice
The story highlights how racial hatred fueled by war clouds human judgment, seen through the servants' reaction and general societal attitudes.
General Takada's Self-Absorption
The General delays action against the POW not out of mercy, but purely out of self-preservation, needing Sadao's expert surgical skills for his own health.
Universal Humanism
The ultimate message of the chapter transcends borders, emphasizing that humanity and professional ethics supersede national boundaries and wartime hatred.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Rajasthan (RBSE) Class 12 English Board Exam, this chapter generally contributes to the Supplementary Reader (Vistas) section, carrying around 4 to 6 marks. Expect questions ranging from short-answer type questions on character traits to long-answer questions analyzing themes of morality, humanity, and the psychological conflict faced by Dr. Sadao.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Dr. Sadao help the American soldier despite knowing the risks?
As a trained physician, Dr. Sadao's primary ethics and instinct were to save a dying human life, regardless of nationality or the severe consequences he and his wife could face.
How does the General react when Sadao informs him about the POW?
The General promises to have the soldier quietly eliminated by assassins, but he forgets his promise due to his own deteriorating health and self-absorption, indirectly giving Sadao time to help the POW escape.
What is the significance of the title 'The Enemy'?
The title is ironic; while the American soldier is legally an 'enemy' of Japan during wartime, the true enemies in the story are racial prejudice, narrow nationalism, and the dehumanizing effects of war.
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