The Enemy Class 12 Summary | Dr. Sadao's Story | Vistas Chapter 4
Introduction
"The Enemy" is a story that takes place in Japan during World War II. It tells the story of a Japanese doctor named Dr. Sadao Hoki. He lives in a house by the sea. One day, a wounded American soldier (who is an enemy) washes up on the beach right in front of his house.
1. A Doctor with Two Lives
Dr. Sadao is a very famous and talented doctor. He went to America for many years to learn how to be a surgeon. Even though he is modern in his work, his family life is very traditional. He lives with his wife, Hana, and follows his father’s old-fashioned rules.
Because the doctor is working on a special way to clean wounds and is also taking care of an old, sick General, he was not sent to fight in the war.
2. A Hard Choice
When the wounded American soldier appears on the beach, Dr. Sadao has a very difficult choice to make:
Should he let the man die?
Should he throw him back into the ocean?
Should he call the police and hand him over?
Or should he save his life because he is a doctor?
Even though he does not want to help an enemy, his training as a doctor tells him he must save a life. He brings the man into his house to treat him.
3. Problems at Home
Keeping the enemy in the house causes a lot of trouble for the family.
Hana’s Fear: At first, his wife is scared and doesn't want to help, but later she stands by her husband.
The Angry Servants: The servants (the cook, the gardener, and the nanny) are very upset. They think helping an American is a crime. They refuse to help and eventually leave the house because they are angry at their master.
The Surgery: Dr. Sadao operates on the soldier himself and successfully removes the bullet. He saves the enemy's life.
4. The General’s Plan
Dr. Sadao is afraid that the police will find out he is hiding an enemy. He goes to a high-ranking General and tells him the truth. The General promises to help by sending secret killers to Sadao’s house to kill the man and take the body away at night.
Sadao waits for three nights, but the killers never come. The General was so sick and worried about himself that he simply forgot to send them.
5. The Secret Escape Plan
When the secret killers failed to arrive, Dr. Sadao took matters into his own hands. He designed a clever plan to help the soldier escape:
The Boat and Supplies: Dr. Sadao pulled a strong boat down to the shore. He loaded it with bottles of water and food. He also provided two thick blankets for the cold nights.
A Clever Disguise: Sadao gave him Japanese clothes and wrapped a black cloth around the soldier's blond hair so he would stay hidden in the dark.
The Island Destination: He told the soldier to row to a small, empty island and wait for a Korean fishing boat to pick him up.
The Secret Flashlight Signals: Sadao gave the soldier a flashlight and told him to signal once at sunset if he was okay, or twice if he ran out of food. He warned him never to signal in the dark.
6. The Ending: A Lingering Mystery
The soldier sailed away into the dark night. A few days later, the servants returned, and the General finally admitted he had forgotten his promise to kill the man. Everything seemed to go back to normal, but for Dr. Sadao, the story didn't feel "closed."
Every night at sunset, Sadao would look out toward the island, waiting for a flash of light. Eventually, there were no more signals.
Did he survive? The story leaves both Sadao and the readers curious. There is no official news that the soldier reached home.
The Mystery: Sadao is left wondering if the "white man" actually found a Korean boat or if he was lost at sea. Even though they were enemies, Sadao finds himself standing on his porch, staring into the darkness, simply wondering why he couldn't bring himself to kill that man.
Moral & Conclusion
Moral: The story teaches us that humanity is more important than war.
Conclusion: Dr. Sadao fulfilled his duty as a doctor. Whether the soldier survived or not remains a mystery, but Sadao’s choice to be kind proved that even in war, the human spirit can choose peace over hatred.
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