In derogatory sense the term ' Enemy' is used to mean some who is at daggers drawn with us. One who is at our opposite side at an individual level. In the social context, it may a group of people or a community that works in contradiction to our course of actions. In the context of political discourse, it may be the country plotting against the other or in the international political context; it may be different blocks fighting wars against each other.
Pearl S. Buck has set the story in the midst of Word War in Japan and particularized it between the two nations only; America and Japan . Dr Sadao Hoki is a Japanese surgeon by profession and he is not sent to the frontiers for the reason that an Army General is suffering from an ailment and he might need a surgery at any time. One day, Dr Sadao and his wife-Hana are at their home with arm in arm with each other and Dr Sado Hoki is reflecting on his past in the sense that if had not met Hana who he would have married. Then describing his first meet at a professor’s home and making friends with each other. Dr Sadao would not propose to Hana until he confirmed that the girl was a Japanese .As his father would not allow him to marry any girl who were not of their race. In the meanwhile, they happen to see something black coming out of the mists and they lean over the railings of veranda .Dr Sadao can’t resist the temptation and goes down the stairs. Hana follows him and her sleeves fly in the air. They notice that the person is an American and their enemy. Hana whispers ‘He is an American’. Sadao replies with a nod. Sadao asks her wife that they should throw him back to the sea as if they take him to the home , they might be held responsible by the govt. for harboring an enemy in their home and it may lead to his arrest and loss of job. But, the matter of fact being that he wants to check the impulses his wife and checks whether she would support him in case he takes him to his home for treatment for the person has been wounded badly and might die if not medicated in time. Ultimately they decide to take the wounded POW to their home and irrespective of a strong resistance and leaving the job on part of their domestic staff they continue to treat him very tenderly until he recovers and gets well.
In the meantime, Dr Sadao is summoned by the army General to his quarters and enquires about the American run away POW and lets him know about the consequences in case he ( General) informs the higher ups of the country defense wing. But, at the same time expresses his self absorption in the sense that if he informs the authorities, Dr Sadao would be arrested and it might put his own life on risk. So, he tells him with a conviction that he would manage to kill the enemy soldier in such a way that the skin of both is saved. Although, Dr Sadao agrees with him ,but in the heart of hearts he worries about the prisoner of war and his life. He concludes that it would wastage of his efforts to save a human life in case the prisoner is killed. He leaves the quarter of General and heads towards his home where he reveals all the narrative to the enemy and asks him to leave to which the enemy refuses as his mindset has been so impressed that he prefers to be either arrested or killed than to leave the Doctors company. At the end, Dr Sadao lets him go back without being noticed by anyone.
The conclusion that can be drawn from this story is that sometimes we are caught in a situation where we can’t decide whether to prioritize our individual, professional or national duty. The moral that comes out of the short story is that professionalism transcends any sort of difference and humanity is above all. As we see in the story that doctor is compelled to medicate the enemy, but the matter of introspection being what makes his wife-Hana Sympathetic towards him. It is the humanity that is highlighted by the writer. If we put humanity at the top we shall get a freedom from the servitude of hate, pride and prejudice. The current world is running an arms race and hence the enmity is at peak. So are the masses of the countries. In reality, we all are made of same stuff (bone & flesh) and have same whims and aspirations. Hence, we must be the same to make this world a beautiful place to live in.
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