Pearl S. Buck a Nobel laureate who had spent her childhood and youth in China and the east has sensitively crafted the characters in this story. The difference in the cultures and traditions of Japan and America has been juxtaposed, while establishing the effect of the liberal American views on the strictly traditional views of the protagonist Dr. Sadao Hoki.
The characterisation of the fugitive, the runaway American prisoner of war, has been crafted as a gullible, trusting and friendly youth.
The warmth and hospitality extended by the doctor and his wife Hanna towards the enemy though much against their wishes to harbour an enemy condone their humane approach.
The dilemma and inner turmoil of the doctor doesn't stop him from giving Tom the best medical help that could have been provided under any circumstance. Leading up to his safe get away in the end.
Ms.Kundu has very aptly used her superlative skill to tell the reader about the key points of the story in brief . I highly appreciate the choice of words used here as they are very remarkable and have succeeded in striking the reader with a lot of thoughts even if they haven't read about the story . Overall , an excellent write-up . Thank you !
ReplyDeletePlease add your views on the character.
DeleteDr. Sadao fulfilled his professional duty on the grounds of humanity. Sadao has been portrayed as a complex character. Despite his emotional turmoil, ultimately he saved the prisoner's life. This was unexpected considering the rigid Japanese traditions. Although, he was still thinking about turning him over to the authorities which brought out his patriotic self.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the benevolent acts of Dr. Sadao and his wife proved to have a positive impact on the prisoner as he felt safe with them, which made it difficult for him to leave their house.
Well stated!
DeleteSoldiers are not the reason behind the tension between nations or the other difference between the countries.They only follow the orders of their respective officers and so do the officers of the government leader.Such a situation is brought in this story by the author where Dr sadao comes across the sailor of the American Navy,the author has very well depicted the nature of a responsible & patriotic citizen and a doctor.Dr sadao being a doctor, Professionally he was not able to stop himself from saving the Whiteman where as he also thinks about his responsibilities towards the nation and Hana,Dr Sadao's wife was always there to make him realise this.Dr Sadao saved the sailors life where as he also informed the General about the Whiteman.But yes he wasn't comfortable doing that,but this was his responsibility as a citizen.But atlast the assassin were not able to kill the sailor but Dr Sadao was successful in his plan of making the sailor escape from Japan.That was the night he slept peacefully..!
ReplyDeleteThank you.!!
You have elaborated the humane characteristic of Sadao successfully!
DeleteDr Sadao fulfilled his duties as a doctor by healing the patient as his priority. He later on then thought about his family and told the general that he had an injured American at his home thus keeping him and his wife from being arrested.
ReplyDeleteOverall, Sadao had to face a lot of internal struggles with himself regarding whether or not he should save the American or not.
When the general said that he would send assassins to kill the American, Sadao was restless for three nights which ultimately made him help the prisoner escape.
Dr Sadao fulfilled his duties as a doctor by healing the patient as his priority. He later on then thought about his family and told the general that he had an injured American at his home thus keeping him and his wife from being arrested.
ReplyDeleteOverall, Sadao had to face a lot of internal struggles with himself regarding whether or not he should save the American or not.
When the general said that he would send assassins to kill the American, Sadao was restless for three nights which ultimately made him help the prisoner escape.
Thank you.
The kindness of Sadao does seep through.
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ReplyDeleteMs. Anamika has very aptly described the chapter in a very concise way.
ReplyDeleteAfter going through the chapter, ‘The Enemy’, we come to the conclusion that Dr Sadao was an excellent surgeon and a human being per excellence. He appeared to be a man full of; compassion and a surgeon in the truest sense of the word.The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow feeling and humanism.
‘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.
ReplyDeleteYes, it upholds the values of love and sympathy.
DeleteThis lesson gives us the message that the profession is first because in this story Dr.Sadao's profession is a doctor so his first priority is to save the patient whether he or she is enemy or friend
ReplyDeleteSadao is an emotionally complex character who struggles to come to terms with his inexplicable impulse to save the life of an American, who is supposedly his enemy, and his staunch Japanese patriotism. The story suggests that the reason he helped the prisoner of war by putting his family's safety on the line in doing so is because of the latent human impulse to be good and kind. Alongside his nationalism, Sadao is also a proponent of traditional Japanese gender roles, requiring his wife to be a a true japanese housewife.
ReplyDeleteSadao is an emotionally complex character who struggles to come to terms with his inexplicable impulse to save the life of an American, who is supposedly his enemy, and his staunch Japanese patriotism. The story suggests that the reason he helped the prisoner of war by putting his family's safety on the line in doing so is because of the latent human impulse to be good and kind. Alongside his nationalism, Sadao is also a proponent of traditional Japanese gender roles, requiring his wife to be a a true japanese housewife.
ReplyDeleteIshanvy Hemrajani
This story, "The Enemy" deals with the protagonist's inner conflict between his duty towards his country and his conscience. Dr. Sadao, the protagonist, who is brought up in a traditional Japanese environment but has also spent a good part of his life in America for studying, thinks of Americans as his enemies, which shows the patriotic aspect of his character. On the other hand, in the situation he is being put in, he cannot let the American bleed to death too. This gives us a glance of his conscience and duty towards his profession. This urges the doctor to treat the 'enemy' as his patient. Neither does he nor Hana treat him as his friend, but as a fellow human being.
ReplyDeleteHe as well as Hana very well knew the consequences of harbouring a prisoner of war, but they still think of saving the 'enemy' first and then handing him over to the police. But they end up helping the 'enemy' to escape.
It is a touching story on human behavior, conscience, emotion and patriotism.
Well stated!
DeleteIn this chapter Dr. Sadao can said to be the real man because he thought beyond the countries and wars and races.What he did was an act of humanity which should always come first. He rescues the american fighting the war within himself of wether he should save that man or not. And he chooses humanity above it all.And so i would say he indeed did rise above the prejudices the people living on earth have made up.
ReplyDelete