Class 12 English Vistas – Chapter 4: The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck
1. What is the central theme of “The Enemy”?
Answer:
The story explores humanity beyond boundaries. It questions war, racism, and ethics, highlighting how compassion can rise above hatred, even for an enemy.
2. Who is Dr. Sadao and what is his dilemma?
Answer:
Dr. Sadao is a Japanese surgeon who faces a moral crisis when he shelters and heals an American prisoner of war—his enemy, according to his country.
3. How did Dr. Sadao’s upbringing influence his decision?
Answer:
Trained to serve humanity and science, he felt ethically bound to save a life, regardless of nationality or war, showing how values can override fear.
4. How does the story depict conflict between duty and humanity?
Answer:
Sadao must choose between loyalty to his country and his duty as a doctor. He chooses humanity, risking everything to save the wounded enemy soldier.
5. How does Hana support Sadao during the crisis?
Answer:
Though scared, Hana stands by Sadao’s decision. She helps during the surgery, tolerates social pressure, and silently supports her husband’s moral choice.
6. What risks did Dr. Sadao face by helping the enemy?
Answer:
He risked arrest, loss of reputation, and execution. Harboring an enemy during war was treason, yet he put his conscience above personal safety.
7. How is the enemy portrayed in the story?
Answer:
The American soldier is helpless and injured, evoking sympathy. The story shows that enemies are human too, challenging the idea of blind hatred during war.
8. What does the general’s character reveal about power?
Answer:
The general is selfish and manipulative. Though he promises to eliminate the soldier, he delays action to protect his own interests—exposing the hypocrisy in power.
9. Why does the general not report Dr. Sadao?
Answer:
He needs Sadao’s medical expertise for his own health. He values personal benefit over loyalty to war laws, reflecting opportunism in authority.
10. How is prejudice shown in the story?
Answer:
Despite being educated, Sadao’s servants and society display racial and national prejudice, unwilling to help an American purely because he is the enemy.
11. What does the American soldier symbolize?
Answer:
He symbolizes the shared vulnerability of all humans, regardless of race or nationality. His suffering evokes compassion, bridging the enemy barrier.
12. What is the role of internal conflict in the story?
Answer:
Sadao constantly battles between his identity as a loyal citizen and his oath as a doctor. This moral struggle drives the story’s depth and emotion.
13. What message does “The Enemy” convey?
Answer:
It teaches that compassion is greater than hatred. In times of war, humanity must prevail over violence, proving that moral courage defines true patriotism.
14. How is war criticized in the story?
Answer:
The story shows war as senseless and dehumanizing. Even those labeled enemies are human, and war’s rigid ideologies often conflict with basic human ethics.
15. What role does Hana’s fear reflect?
Answer:
Her fear reflects societal pressure and danger of defying authority. Still, her moral support to Sadao shows that silent courage is also powerful.
16. Why does Dr. Sadao finally help the prisoner escape?
Answer:
To resolve his inner turmoil and avoid the general’s empty threats. He chooses the path of peace by secretly aiding the soldier’s escape.
17. What do the servants’ reactions reveal about society?
Answer:
They reflect blind nationalism and intolerance. Their refusal to help shows how deeply rooted prejudices can override empathy, even in critical situations.
18. How does the setting affect the story’s tone?
Answer:
The seaside house, isolation, and war backdrop create tension and highlight Sadao’s isolation—both physically and emotionally—as he struggles with his secret.
19. How does Pearl S. Buck humanize the enemy?
Answer:
By showing the American as young, wounded, and afraid, she strips him of political identity, making readers see him first as a human being.
20. What lesson does “The Enemy” offer in today’s world?
Answer:
In a world still divided by politics, race, and war, the story reminds us that kindness, empathy, and personal ethics must guide our actions over blind hatred.