The-Enemy.pptx

INDEX
1. About the Author
2. Introduction
3. Theme, Sub-theme, Plot
4. Characters
5. Summary
6. Sequence & Key-Points
7. Vocabulary
8. Points to Ponder
9. Character Sketch
10. Assignment
- Pearl Sydenstricker Buck
(1892 –1973)
The Enemy

Pearl Sydenstricker was born on June 26, 1892, in
Hillsboro, West Virginia. Her parents, Absalom and
Caroline Sydenstricker, were Southern Presbyterian
missionaries, stationed in China. In 1910, Pearl graduated
from a Woman’s college in Virginia in 1914. Although she
had intended to remain in the US, she returned to China
shortly after graduation. Her first novel East Wind, West
Wind was published in 1930. . Her next novel, The Good
Earth, earned her a Pulitzer Prize in 1932. After receiving
the Pulitzer, Buck moved back to the United States
permanently. In 1938, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in
Literature for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant
life in China and for her biographical masterpieces. She
was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for
Literature.
The Enemy
About the Author :
- Pearl Sydenstricker Buck
(1892 –1973)

P S Buck – Indian Connection

A Japanese doctor finds an American
PoW at his doorstep. He is in a
dilemma that being a doctor, should
he save the wounded man or being a
Japanese, should he hand over the
enemy to the army…

Introduction :
The Enemy
The story is set during the Second World
War. It takes place on a coastal town of
Japan in the year 1941 when Japan attacked
Pearl Harbor. A war going on between
America and Japan. Japanese were hostile
to the Americans and ready to kill any
American found in their soil. The story
highlights how a Japanese doctor saves the
life of an American prisoner of war and rises
above narrow national prejudices. He risks
his honour, career, position and life by
sheltering a war prisoner of the enemy camp
and saving his life. The author has beautifully
portrayed the conflict in the doctor’s mind as
a private individual and as a citizen with a
sense of national loyalty.
- P S Buck

Theme : ‘The Enemy’ gives the message that humanism transcends all man
made prejudices and barriers. Dr. Sadao upholds the ethics of medical profession
in treating an enemy. The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow
feeling and humanism.
Sub-Theme : Service to mankind, professional ethics, human predicament
Plot : PoW washed ashore-rescue-surgery-servants’ apprehension- the
predicament-Episode with the General-the assassination plan-escape of the PoW-
realisation by Sadao
The story emphasises predicament and
humanism
The Enemy

CHARACTERS :
The Enemy
Dr. Sadao Hoki - A Japanese doctor trained by Americans
Sadao’s father - Much concerned about his son’s education, a true patriot
Hana - Sadao’s wife, met him in America
Tom - An American prisoner of war (PoW), a soldier of U.S. Navy
The General - A sick Japanese army General, trusted only Sadao
An officer - A messenger of the General
Gardener - An old gardener in the house of Dr. Sadao
Yumi - Hana’s maid servant
The cook - An old cook in the house of Dr. Sadao

SUMMARY
The Enemy
Life during wartime in Japan. Dr Sadao Hoki and his wife Hana spot a dark
shape in the surf that turns out to be a white man; a severely wounded soldier.
At first they agree to turn the man over to authorities as a prisoner of war. This
makes only perfect sense considering not just the ramifications of treating his
wounds, but that the doctor and his wife are both virulently racist nationalists
who consider the Japanese to be superior to the white race anywhere in the
world. They had met in America before the war and he only proposed because
his father consented to his choice of a pureblood. Changing their minds in the
face of the massive trauma exhibited by the man, the two agree to take him to
their home and treat his injuries as an act of humanitarian compassion
consistent with their belief in the superiority of the Japanese people. The must
inform their servants of this decision, of course. The servants are every bit as
racially prejudiced and biased as their employers, but their edges have not
been softened by the humanitarianism of medical service. The servants make
no secret of their belief that the man should have been left to die and turn cold
toward the doctor and his wife. After a week of treating the white man and
helping him recover from his life-threatening injuries, the servants quit when
their ultimatum that the man be turned over to the authorities is met by the
doctor’s steadfast resolve.

SUMMARY
The Enemy
Meanwhile the man—an American named Tom —is well enough to thank the
doctor for saving his life. The doctor warns him not to be premature with this
assessment. When a messenger arrives for her husband, Hana is terrified that
the servants have spilled the beans and they are about to be punished. Instead,
the message directed Dr. Hoki to a patient consultation with General Takima, a
wife-beating hero of the Battle of Manchuria. Takima is very ill and will likely die
without the surgical skill of the doctor. Sadao chooses to confess to the General
about the situation with the injured soldier. The General, in a remarkable display
of self-interest over duty agrees to keep the secret. After all, if he turns in the
doctor, Sadao will likely be executed and he needs the doctor alive in order to
prolong his own life. They reach an agreement in which the General will send
assassins to kill Tom. After a few days, the soldier not only has not been
assassinated, but has recovered much of his strength which intensifies the
doctor’s fear. Since it seems the General has changed the plans they agreed
upon, Dr. Hoki takes it upon himself to arrange the man’s nighttime escape
aboard a Korean fishing boat without informing his wife. The escape plan seems
to be going off without a hitch. Then the doctor is called in for emergency surgery
to save the General’s life and when the patient is strong enough to receive the
news, he tells him that his prisoner somehow escaped at night.

SUMMARY
The Enemy
The General confesses that he was worried about his own life to the degree
that he had completely forgotten the assassination agreement. He then admits
that it was simply a case of carelessness and most certainly not dereliction of
duty or lack of patriotism. The two men strike a deal to keep secrets secret with
the General promising Sadao that he will be rewarded. As Dr. Hoki looks out
toward the horizon for the American’s signal, meant to convey that he was still
safe in his hiding spot awaiting the arrival of the fishing boat. But the sun sets
without a signal, informing the doctor that the escape has been successful.
This, Dr. Hoki thinks, is his real reward. As he ponders his time in America, the
true depth of his irrational prejudice against the white race is revealed through
his thoughts. He remembers his landlady in America who seemed indifferent
and yet how she treated him when he had influenza. He remembers the
repulsive whites and their unwelcoming attitude during his stay in America.
Then he muses to himself: “Strange. I wonder why I could not kill him?”

The Enemy : Sequence & Key Points
Dr Sadao Hoki and his early life
- his house built on Japanese coast
1 2

3 4

5
6

8
7

9
10

11
12

POINTS TO PONDER
The Enemy
* Sadao, a Japanese surgeon finds a wounded American soldier
on the beach near his house.
* He is unable to throw him back though he was his enemy as he
was a doctor and his first duty was to save a life.
* Hana, his wife, though initially reluctant because it was
dangerous for all including the children to keep the enemy in the
house, joins her husband in operating and nursing the enemy
soldier back to health, even though the servants desert the
house.
* Hana assists Dr. Sadao in operating the soldier in spite of her
physical discomfort and hesitation.

POINTS TO PONDER
The Enemy
* Though it was war time and all hands were needed at the front,
the General did not send Sadao with the troops as he is an
expert surgeon and the General needed him.
* Sadao tells him about the enemy soldier but he does not take
any action as he is self-absorbed and forgets his promise that he
would send his private assassins to kill the enemy and remove
his body.
* Taking advantage of the general’s self-absorption Sadao
decides to save the soldiers life. After the soldier is out of danger
Dr. Sadao helps him to escape from his house to safety.

Character Sketch
The Enemy
• Dr Sadao Hoki – As a doctor, as a Japanese,
as a human being, his predicament
• Hana – As a wife, as a Japanese, as a
human being

ASSIGNMENT : QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSION
- Next slide for long answer questions
The Enemy
1. Why did Sadao Hoki decide to operate the American prisoner of war?
2. What was the apprehension of Dr. Sadao and his wife?
3. How did the servants react to their master when the prisoner was treated by him?
4. What plan did Dr. Sadao and Hana have in their mind about the prisoner?
5. What impression do you gather about Dr. Sadao’s father?
6. What did the General promise to Dr. Sadao?
7. Why did the General fail to execute his promise?
8. Why did Dr. Sadao realise that the General was in the palm of his hand?
9. What was Dr. Sadao not sent abroad?
10.What experiences did Dr. Sadao and Hana have in America?
11.Why was the prisoner reluctant to leave Dr. Sadao’s house?
12.Why was Dr. Sadao determined to overcome the menace?
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)

ASSIGNMENT : QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSION
The Enemy
1. Discuss the predicament in the story. How did Dr. Sadao overcome it?
2. There are moments in life when we have to make hard choices between our
roles as private individuals and as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss
with reference to ‘The Enemy’.
3. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during
wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow human prejudices?
4. How did Dr. Sadao save the life of his enemy?
5. How did Dr. Sadao help the prisoner escape?
6. Draw a character sketch of Dr. Sadao Hoki.
7. Draw a character sketch of Hana.
8. Draw a character sketch of the General.
Long Answer Questions (150 words)

The-Enemy.pptx

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