NCERT Solutions Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 3 The Enemy

READ AND FIND OUT

Q1. Who was Dr. Sadao? Where was his house located?

Dr. Sadao Hoki was a renowned Japanese surgeon and scientist. He had spent eight years in the United States mastering the fields of surgery and medicine. He was engaged in advanced research aimed at making surgical wounds heal without infection. His home was situated on a rocky cliff along the Japanese coastline, elevated above a narrow beach lined with twisted pine trees.

Q2. Could Dr. Sadao be arrested for sheltering an enemy soldier?

Yes, Dr. Sadao could have faced arrest for hiding an enemy soldier, especially since the wounded man was an American—Japan’s enemy during the war. Keeping the man in his house instead of reporting him to the authorities could be seen as an act of treason. If someone had reported him, he and his family could have been punished for disloyalty.

Q3. Does Hana help the wounded man herself?

Initially, the household servants were terrified and refused to assist with the wounded man, fearing retribution for helping an enemy. Even Yumi, the maid, declined to wash him. Despite her discomfort and fear, Hana took it upon herself to clean the injured man’s upper body using a hot, damp towel. Though uneasy, she continued until the job was done, showing both courage and compassion.

Q4. What do Dr. Sadao and his wife decide to do with the man?

Though Dr. Sadao and Hana told the servants they planned to turn the soldier over to the authorities once he was stable, they secretly decided to treat him. Dr. Sadao performed surgery to remove a bullet from his back, and together with Hana, cared for him during his recovery. They fed him, treated his wounds, and helped him regain strength, all while keeping his presence hidden from others.

Q5. Is Dr. Sadao eventually arrested for helping the enemy?

Although there was a moment when it seemed Dr. Sadao might be arrested—especially when a uniformed official came to the house—it turned out he was summoned to treat the General. Later, Dr. Sadao confessed to the General about harboring the enemy soldier. However, since Dr. Sadao was the only skilled surgeon available, the General promised to protect him and assured no action would be taken.

Q6. How does Dr. Sadao eventually get rid of the man?

The General promised to have the man secretly killed, but no assassins ever came. Realizing he had to take matters into his own hands, Dr. Sadao prepared an escape plan. He told the man—Tom—that he was well enough to leave. He arranged a boat with food, clothes, and a flashlight. Dr. Sadao instructed him to row to a nearby uninhabited island and wait for a Korean fishing boat to pass. Tom was to signal once at sunset if he was safe, and twice if he ran out of supplies. Dr. Sadao gave him local clothing and disguised his appearance before sending him off, helping him escape without drawing attention, while also ensuring his own safety.

READING WITH INSIGHT

Q1. 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 story.

Answer:
In The Enemy, Dr. Sadao Hoki faces a profound moral conflict between his role as a Japanese citizen during wartime and his identity as a dedicated doctor. National loyalty demands that he report or abandon the wounded American soldier he finds on the beach, yet his conscience as a medical professional compels him to save the man’s life. Despite the looming threat of arrest or societal condemnation, he prioritizes his humanistic values and ethical duty. This conflict illustrates how personal integrity and compassion can challenge—even override—patriotic expectations, especially when life and humanity are at stake.

Q2. Dr Sadao was compelled by his 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?

Answer:
Though initially hesitant, Hana’s empathy deepens as she witnesses her husband’s moral turmoil and unwavering commitment to his oath as a doctor. Her emotional support becomes evident when she assists him during the operation and even washes the wounded man herself after the maid Yumi refuses. Despite societal norms and fear of reprisal, Hana’s love for her husband and growing compassion for the helpless soldier push her to overcome her initial reluctance. Her quiet strength and moral sensitivity mirror the same values that guide Sadao.

Q3. How would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home even when he knew he couldn’t stay there without risk to the doctor and himself?

Answer:
Tom, the wounded American soldier, finds both physical refuge and emotional comfort in the home of Dr. Sadao and Hana. Having survived a near-death experience, he clings to the safety and kindness he receives, despite knowing the danger it poses to both himself and his rescuers. His reluctance to leave stems from fear of the unknown and gratitude for the care he received. In a hostile environment, the doctor’s home becomes a rare sanctuary, and his hesitation underscores the universal human instinct to seek compassion and connection—even amidst war.

Q4. What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldier? Was it human consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of duty, or simply self-absorption?

Answer:
The General’s response reveals self-absorption more than anything else. Although he promises to send assassins to eliminate the wounded American to protect Dr. Sadao, he ultimately forgets about it due to his own health concerns. He values Dr. Sadao solely because of his surgical expertise, not out of friendship or moral regard. His actions are not driven by humanity or even national loyalty but by a selfish desire to secure his personal health. His admission that he forgot about the prisoner during his illness confirms his egocentric priorities.

Q5. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?

Answer:
True humanity and professional ethics can rise above wartime hatred and prejudice. In The Enemy, Dr. Sadao exemplifies this by treating the injured American soldier despite knowing the risks involved. His sense of duty as a doctor to save a life, regardless of nationality, compels him to act compassionately. Even though the man is technically his enemy, Dr. Sadao sees a wounded human being who needs help. His ability to prioritize compassion and human dignity over blind patriotism shows how love, empathy, and professional integrity can transcend narrow national or racial biases.

Q6. Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?

Answer:
Yes, under the given circumstances, Dr. Sadao’s decision to help the American prisoner escape was the most practical and humane solution. Having saved the soldier’s life, Sadao could neither hand him over to the police nor wait for the General’s assassins, who never came. The continued presence of the soldier endangered the doctor’s family and career. By secretly arranging the man’s escape with food, a boat, and directions, Dr. Sadao ensured the man’s safety while also protecting his own household. This act resolved the conflict without compromising his ethical standards or his family’s security.

Q7. Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by A.J. Cronin that you read in ‘Snapshots’ last year? What are the similarities?

Answer:
Yes, The Enemy shares thematic similarities with Birth by A.J. Cronin. Both stories highlight the unwavering dedication of doctors towards their duty to save lives. In Birth, Dr. Andrew Manson works tirelessly to revive a stillborn baby, reflecting a deep commitment to life. Similarly, Dr. Sadao, in The Enemy, risks his own safety to save a wounded enemy soldier, driven by professional ethics and compassion. Both stories emphasize how true doctors prioritize human life above all else, even in challenging circumstances. The emotional and moral struggles depicted in both stories underline the nobility of the medical profession.

Q8. Is there any film you have seen or novel you have read with a similar theme?

Answer:
Yes, the theme of The Enemy—rising above hatred in times of war—reminds one of the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Set in Nazi Germany, it portrays how ordinary people showed extraordinary courage and humanity during one of history’s darkest times. Just as Dr. Sadao protects an enemy soldier despite being a Japanese citizen during World War II, in The Book Thief, a German family hides a Jewish man in their basement, risking their lives. Both stories explore the conflict between personal morals and national loyalty and highlight the power of compassion over cruelty. They reflect that even in times of war, human kindness can triumph over hatred.