the enemy-que&answers

Themes

1.       The theme of racism is reflected in the story in several ways. When Sadao recalls how he met Hana, he remembers that he didn't become serious with her until he was sure that she "had been pure in her race" because otherwise his father wouldn't have approved. Yumi refused to touch the American, let alone wash him before the operation, and when he left she "cleaned the guest room thoroughly…to get the white man's smell out of it." Sadao has strong feelings about white people. He thinks to himself that they are "repulsive" and that "it was a relief to be openly at war with them at last." He also believed that "Americans were full of prejudice, and it had been bitter to live in it, knowing himself their superior."

2.       The story reveals the conflict between East and West. When we are told about Sadao's father we see that Sadao's father's room has no western furniture, there are mats on the floor and wall cupboards with bedding. This description reinforces the importance to Sadao's father of Japanese culture and tradition. It suggests a complete rejection of western culture, reinforcing the idea of cultural conflict between East and West.

Hana and Sadao are different from other Japanese because they have been exposed to western culture and so are more open-minded and tolerant. They live a good life which combines both traditional values and modern ideas. Because they are well educated and aware, they believe they also have a duty to humanity in addition to their duty to Japan.

Sadao and Hana are both well-educated and acquired some of that education in the USA. Therefore, they possess a great deal of knowledge of the world beyond Japan and, particularly, about Americans and their culture. Furthermore, Sadao is a surgeon and took an oath to save lives, which he takes very seriously. As a result, his loyalty to his country isn't the only driving force in his life. The General is also an educated man who studied at Princeton University in the USA, and this is perhaps why he can understand Sadao's big dilemma. As a general, his loyalty to his country is unquestionable.

The servants are simple, uneducated people.    As servants, they aren't trained to think for themselves but to obey orders. However, we see that their loyalty to their country surpasses their loyalty to their masters. Their knowledge of the world is limited, so they can't begin to understand the dilemma that Sadao and Hana are facing.

3.       The other theme of the story is war and its impact. The story takes place during world war two. From the story, we can understand that Japan was a totalitarian (dictatorial) state in which rulers dealt harshly with those who opposed them. People could be informed on, arrested and condemned to death. An atmosphere of fear and mistrust prevailed. Hana and Sadao mistrust the servants. Sadao and the general mistrust each other.

From what Tom says to Sadao, we can infer that Tom thinks most Japanese are cruel and inhumane, unlike Sadao,"If I hadn't met a Jap like you – well, I wouldn't be alive today. I know that”. The Japanese are aggressive and militaristic as he says "I suggest if all the Japs were like you there wouldn't have been a war."

4.       Universal human values take precedence over narrow sectarian considerations like racism, nationalism, chauvinism. The bond uniting all human beings transcends the difference between us.

Question-answers

·         Why do you think Sadao doesn't want to know any details about the Whiteman?

Ans. Sadao doesn’t want to know any detail about the Whiteman because he doesn’t want to emotionally involve himself with the man. The less he knows of him the better for him and the man.

·         Compare servants’ response to the Whiteman to the Sadao and Hana.

Ans. Servants’ feel the Whiteman should not be saved. The old gardener was a superstitious man. He said the man ought to die. Master should not try to save him. Because ones he was shot dead and then caught by sea. If he tries to save the man they will avenge. On the other hand Yumi refused to clean that man and said, “I never washed a Whiteman and I won’t wash so dirty a one now”.  The cook said, “The young master is so proud of his skill to save life that he save any life”. From their comments and response we come to know that they don’t have any apathy to the man. They just see him as an object of animosity. So they don’t feel any responsibility towards him whereas for Hana and Sadao it was different. They considered him as fellow human. So, they couldn’t throw him back to sea. Instead they carried him home and they feel responsible for the man and tried to save his life.

·         After he recovers from the operation, the white man says to Sadao, "I guess if all the Japs were like you there wouldn't have been a war”. What do you think he means by this?

Ans. By the line “if all Japs were like you there wouldn’t have been war” the Whiteman says if all Japanese would have considered all Americans as individuals but not enemies, there wouldn’t have been a war.

·         Stupid Yumi," she [Hana] muttered fiercely. “Is this anything but a man?" What is the importance of this quote to the story?

Ans.  Hana considers the Whiteman as an individual, as a fellow man who needs their help whereas Yumi sees the man as ‘Whiteman’, a common enemy to all the Japanese.

This is important to the story because this shows how individuals are different in their thought although they belong to same place. Secondly, it shows how all people are similar. They should be treated equally and respected as human being.

·         This man” he thought there is no reason under heaven why he should live.” What prompted Dr. Sadao to say this? What does he do after this?

·         Ans. The enemy was the source of worry and annoyance for the doctor as protecting him could lead him to arrest. So his treatment was an ultimate test of his patience. So he was going through mental conflict.

Wife nauseates during operation and he is unable to attend her. So, became impatient and said the statement in question.

 Unconsciously this thought made him ruthless and he proceeded swiftly. In his dream the man moaned but Sadao paid no heed except to mutter at him.

·         What impression do you form of General Takima?

Ans. As a general he is brave and courageous. He fought victorious battle in Manchuria. But if we peep into his personal life he is ruthless, inhuman, and cruel and at home he beat his wife.

·         What happened on the seventh day, after the doctor and his wife saved the wounded man?

Ans. Two things happened on the day the letter to the superintendent was typed. The cook, the gardener and Yumi had packed up their belongings and left together. Though the servants cried, Hana put up a brave front. The second thing that happened was the arrival of a messenger to tell Sadao that he had been called to the palace as the general was in pain again.

·         Why did servants leave Mr. Sadao’s house?

Ans. Because they did not want to help Dr Sadao to save the enemy and to show their disapproval of his action they left Dr Sadao’s house.

·         Hana’s fears on the messenger’s arrival proved false. How?

Ans. Hana thought servants had informed police authorities about their sheltering the enemy and messenger had come to arrest them. But messenger came to inform Sadao that General was in pain again and needed his care.

·         What did General tell to Dr. Sadao when he heard about the prisoner war?

Ans. The general when heard of the prisoner promised Dr Sadao to send some assassin and kill the Whiteman. He also assured Dr. Sadao that he would not be arrested.

·         Why did the general assure Dr. Sadao that he would not be arrested?

Ans. Sadao’s skill at operating on the prisoner with success, made the general believe more firmly that he was indispensable to him. He did not want to have him arrested because Sadao was the only person who he believed could save him if he had another of his attacks and required an operation.

·         Why do you think Sadao could not sleep properly after his meeting with the General?

Ans. Though he got agreed with General plan but his conscience pricked him and heart reproached him for betraying his guest whom he had treated.  So, he remained disturbed and sleepless on account of fear of assassins killing the enemy. Subconsciously wishes that man should survive.

·         Why couldn’t the General’s plan of eliminating the prisoner succeed?

Ans. The General’s plan of eliminating the prisoner did not succeed because the careless General did not send assassins and Sadao helped the American to escape.

·         How did Sadao help the prisoner to escape?(2008)

Ans. Sadao decided to help the American soldier to escape to safety. He told him to go to an island nearby and wait for a Korean fishing boat to pass by. He even gave him a boat, some food and bottled water. He kept two quilts for him and gave him clear instructions so that this plan would not fail.

·         Why did Sadao feel that the General was in the palm of his hand?

Ans. Sadao fulfilled his duty as a patriot by informing general about the enemy and acceding to his plan. But General did not keep his promise of sending assassins. So, because of General’s carelessness the enemy escaped.

·         What impression do you form of the prisoner?

Ans. He is a man of extraordinary vitality as he gets saved repeatedly from bullet, rocks and waves. Even in his unconscious state he has indomitable will and thankfully acknowledges effort made by Sadaos in saving him.

·         What are the two moral implications on which the whole story is built upon?

Ans. ‘The Enemy’ gives the message that humanism transcends all manmade prejudices and barriers. Here Dr Sadao upholds the ethics of medical profession in treating an enemy. So, doctor must treat patient without considering his identity. The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow feeling and humanism.

·         ‘‘But Sadao searching the spot of black in the twilight sea that night, had his reward’’. What was the reward?

Ans. The “reward” was the escape of the enemy-Dr. Sadao searched the spot of black in the twilight sea that night- see if the man was still there-but there was no light. Obviously the man had gone- The escape of the prisoner was his reward.

·         What message does “The Enemy” give?

Ans. The message is clear-great lesson of humanism. Dr. Sadao by nursing his country’s enemy proves true to his professional ethics.

·         How did Dr. Sadao rise above narrow prejudices of race & country to human being in need?

Ans. Dr. Sadao, a renowned Japanese surgeon, believed in professional loyalty & human kindness saw an American wounded soldier in a terrible condition on beach in front of his house. He took him to his house with the help of his wife Hana and successfully removed the bullet, nursed him back to his life thus rose above racialism. As a patriot, reported the prisoner’s presence at his house to the Army General. The general decided to have him killed. He grew restless to see him & finally decided to help him to escape from his house. He gave him boat and instructed him how he could safely escape.

·         Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?

Ans. Yes,It is the best possible option-general had promised him that he would get the soldier quietly killed through his private assassins-but he forgot to get rid of- Dr. Sadao could do nothing-he wanted to get rid of the wounded soldier-as the servants had left the house-& news could be spread-so he devised his own plan to get the soldier off to the nearby island-managed his boat for the soldier & instructed him. The white soldier took leave of him & followed his instruction & managed to escape safely. Thus all proves that that was the only way out for Dr. Sadao to the problem.

·         Dr Sadao was compelled by duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff? 

Ans. May be Hana’s loyalty towards her husband and her pride in being his wife made her help the Whiteman. Her humanity, ability to recognize what is right and what is wrong rising above prejudices and superstitions let her help the man and her husband when he needed her.