The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck – Summary, Theme, and Word Meanings , Answer& Questions (Class 12 English UP Board)

 The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck – Summary, Theme, and Word Meanings,  Answer& Questions (Class 12 English UP Board)

Meta Description:
Read a simple and complete explanation of The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck for UP Board Class 12 English. Includes author bio, summary, theme, Answer& Questions and difficult word meanings in easy English.

About the Writer – Pearl S. Buck

Pearl S. Buck was an American writer and novelist. She was born on June 26, 1892, in West Virginia, USA, and spent most of her early life in China, where her parents were missionaries. Her deep understanding of both Eastern and Western cultures helped her write stories that connected the two worlds. Buck’s famous novel The Good Earth won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932, and in 1938 she received the Nobel Prize in Literature for her powerful and human stories about Chinese life.
Her writing shows kindness, human values, and moral strength. She often wrote about love, humanity, and the importance of doing what is right even when it is difficult. Pearl S. Buck died in 1973, but her writings still inspire people all over the world.

About the Lesson – The Enemy

The Enemy is one of Pearl S. Buck’s most popular short stories. It is taken from her collection The Enemy and Other Stories. The story is set during World War II in Japan. It shows how humanity is greater than war and nationality.
The main character, Dr. Sadao Hoki, is a Japanese doctor who is loyal to his country but also a kind and honest human being. One night, a wounded American soldier, who is an enemy of Japan, comes near Sadao’s house by the sea. Though Sadao knows that helping an enemy soldier is dangerous, he still saves the man’s life because his duty as a doctor is more important to him than hatred or war.
The story beautifully shows how compassion and humanity win over cruelty and national differences.

Summary of the Lesson

Dr. Sadao Hoki was a Japanese surgeon and scientist. He lived with his wife Hana in a house near the seashore. He had studied medicine in America and had learned modern medical science there. Although he had no love for Americans, he respected human life and the duties of his profession.

One stormy night, Dr. Sadao and Hana saw a man lying unconscious on the beach. When they went closer, they found that he was a young American soldier who had been badly wounded. His body was bleeding, and he was almost dying. They were shocked and worried. Sadao knew that helping an enemy could be dangerous because Japan and America were at war.

At first, Hana was afraid and told Sadao that they should hand the man over to the police. But Sadao could not leave him to die. His heart was filled with kindness. He carried the man inside and cleaned his wound. The servants in the house did not like it; they thought it was a crime to help an enemy. One by one, all the servants left the house because they feared that the police might punish them.

Sadao and Hana took care of the American soldier themselves. Sadao operated on him and removed the bullet. Hana helped by washing and feeding him. Slowly, the man began to recover. His name was Tom. He was surprised by the kindness of the Japanese doctor and his wife.

However, Sadao remained worried. He knew that if the authorities found out that he was hiding an American soldier, he could be arrested or even killed. He could not decide what to do. On one hand, he had saved the man’s life; on the other hand, he had a duty toward his own country.

A few days later, Sadao was called to treat an old General who was seriously ill. The General trusted Sadao and promised to protect him. Sadao told the General about the soldier. The General said he would send his private assassins to kill the soldier secretly, so that Sadao would not be blamed. But the assassins never came.

Finally, Sadao decided to help the soldier escape safely. He gave him a boat, food, and water. He told him to go to a nearby island where no one lived and wait for a safe time to leave. The soldier thanked him and left in the dark of night. Later, Sadao came to know that the man had safely escaped from the Japanese coast.

In the end, Sadao felt relieved but thoughtful. He had done his duty both as a doctor and as a human being. The story shows that true humanity does not depend on nationality but on moral values.

Theme of the Lesson

The main theme of The Enemy is humanity above hatred.
The story teaches that love, mercy, and compassion are greater than war or political boundaries. Dr. Sadao, even though he is a Japanese and America is his enemy country, cannot let a man die just because he belongs to another nation.
Another theme is the conflict between duty and patriotism. Sadao faces a great inner struggle between his duty as a doctor (to save life) and his loyalty to his nation (to obey wartime rules).
The story also shows moral courage—the bravery to do what is right even when society, government, or fear stands against it.

Analysis of the Lesson

Pearl S. Buck uses simple language but deep emotion in this story. The sea, the storm, and the silence of the night reflect Sadao’s inner conflict. The story’s moral message is clear: humanity must rise above nationality. Sadao’s decision to save the enemy soldier shows that goodness is a universal value.
The story also criticizes the cruelty of war, which makes people enemies who might otherwise help one another. Through Dr. Sadao, Buck shows that the true spirit of a doctor is to save lives without discrimination.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q.1 - Who was Sadao? Where was his house situated?
Ans- Dr. Sadao was a Japanese doctor and scientist. His house was built on a spot of the Japanese coast, near the sea, where he could see the ocean waves.

Q.2 - Why was Sadao sent to America and why was he later kept in Japan?
Ans-Sadao was sent to America to study medicine and surgery. After completing his studies, he returned to Japan to serve his country as a skilled doctor.

Q.3 - Who was Hana? How did she meet Sadao?
Ans-Hana was Sadao’s wife. She met him in America at a professor’s house while he was studying there.

Q.4 - How did Hana and Dr. Sadao see out of the mist? What did they think?
Ans-They saw a man lying on the beach through the mist. At first, they thought he might be a dead man or a fisherman, but later they found he was an injured soldier.

Q.5 - Who was the wounded person? What had happened to him?
Ans-The wounded person was an American soldier who had escaped from a Japanese prison camp. He had been shot and badly injured.

Q.6 - What did they do with the wounded man and what was his condition?
Ans-They brought the wounded man into their house. He was very weak and bleeding badly, so Dr. Sadao decided to save his life.

Q.7 - Who was Yumi and what did she say?
Ans-Yumi was the servant who looked after Sadao’s children. She refused to wash the American soldier because she said she would not touch an enemy.

Q.8 - Who washed the American soldier and why?
Ans-Hana washed the American soldier herself because Yumi refused to do it, and Hana wanted to help her husband save the man’s life.

Q.9 - How did Dr. Sadao operate the white man?
Ans-Dr. Sadao gave the soldier medicine to make him sleep and then removed the bullet from his body carefully using his surgical skills.

Q.10 - How did the young man (American) wake up? What did he say first?
Ans-After the operation, the young man woke up weak but alive. He looked at Sadao and said softly, “How am I here?”

Q.11 - What did the servants say and how did they react?
Ans-The servants were afraid and angry. They said it was wrong to save an enemy and left the house because they did not want to stay there.

Q.12 - Why did the messenger come to Dr. Sadao’s house and who sent him?
Ans-The messenger came from the General. He brought a message saying that the General was very sick and needed Dr. Sadao’s help.

Q.13 - Who was the General? Why did he call Dr. Sadao?
Ans-The General was a high officer in the Japanese army. He called Dr. Sadao because he trusted only him for his medical treatment.

Q.14 - What did the General promise to Dr. Sadao? What happened then?
Ans-The General promised to send his private assassins to kill the American secretly. But later, he forgot his promise, and no one came to harm the soldier.

Q.15 - What had happened on the third night after the planning of killing the American soldier?

Ans-On the third night, no one came to kill the American soldier as the General had promised. Dr. Sadao understood that the General had forgotten his plan.

Q.16 - What did Dr. Sadao think to get rid of that soldier of an enemy country?
Ans-Dr. Sadao decided to help the soldier escape by giving him a boat, food, water, and extra clothes so that he could reach safety without being caught.

Q.17- What did the white man (the American soldier) think of Dr. Sadao?
Ans-The American soldier was very thankful to Dr. Sadao. He felt that Dr. Sadao was kind and brave because he saved his life even though he was his enemy.

Q.18 - Why did the General have a trust and closeness in Dr. Sadao?
Ans-The General trusted Dr. Sadao because he was a great and skilled surgeon. The General believed that only Sadao could save his life during illness.

Q.19- Why did Dr. Sadao save the life of the war prisoner, an American being a Japanese doctor?
Ans-Dr. Sadao saved him because he was a true doctor. He believed it was his duty to save a dying person, even if that person was his country’s enemy.

Q.20- What was Dr. Sadao thinking standing in the veranda of his house at last?
Ans-At the end, Dr. Sadao stood in the veranda thinking about the white man’s escape and wondering if he had reached freedom safely.

Q.21- Was Dr. Sadao a traitor or a patriot? Explain.
Ans-Dr. Sadao was not a traitor. He was a true patriot and a good human being. He helped his enemy only as a doctor, not as a supporter of another country.

Q.22 - What did Dr. Sadao do to ensure the safe exit of the American soldier?
Ans-Dr. Sadao gave the soldier his boat, food, water, a torch, and directions to reach a safe island. He told him how to signal when he was ready to leave.

Q.23 - Why was Sadao sent to America when he was twenty-two?
Ans-Sadao was sent to America at the age of twenty-two to study medicine and surgery so that he could learn modern medical science and serve Japan.

Q.24 - Who is the enemy of whom in The Enemy? Why?
Ans-The American soldier was the enemy of Japan, and Sadao was Japanese. But in the story, both became human to each other, not enemies, showing that kindness is above war.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Who was Dr. Sadao? How did he meet Hana and marry her? Who played an important role in their marriage and how?
Ans-Dr. Sadao was a famous Japanese doctor and scientist. He had studied medicine in America. There he met Hana, a Japanese girl, at a professor’s house. They liked each other and after returning to Japan, they got married. Their fathers played an important role as both agreed to their marriage because Hana was from a good Japanese family. They lived happily near the sea in Japan.

Q2. How did Dr. Sadao save the life of the American war prisoner? How did his wife Hana help him in that pious act and what was the reaction of the servants and why? Explain.
Ans-Dr. Sadao and Hana found a wounded American soldier on the seashore. Though he was their enemy, Dr. Sadao took him home and operated on him to save his life. Hana helped her husband by washing the wounds and taking care of the man. The servants were unhappy and afraid because he was an enemy soldier. They left the house as they feared punishment from the government.

Q3. Who was the General? Why and how was Dr. Sadao close to him? How did he promise to help Dr. Sadao? Was his promise fulfilled? Why or why not?
Ans-The General was a powerful Japanese military officer. Dr. Sadao was his personal doctor and treated his serious illness, so the General trusted him. When Dr. Sadao told him about the enemy soldier, the General promised to send his private assassins to kill the man and remove the body secretly. But the promise was never fulfilled because the General forgot about it while he was sick. So, Dr. Sadao himself helped the prisoner escape safely.

Q4. How did Dr. Sadao plan to get rid of Tom, the white man, an American? What was the thinking of that prisoner for Dr. Sadao? Was he escaped? Yes or No, explain.
Ans-Dr. Sadao decided to help the American soldier, Tom, escape by giving him a boat, food, water, and extra clothes. He told him to go to a nearby island and wait for an American ship. The soldier trusted Dr. Sadao and was thankful for his kindness and humanity. Yes, he escaped safely. Dr. Sadao later came to know that the man had gone because no signal fire was seen from the island.

Difficult Words and Their Meanings

Word	Meaning (in Simple English)
Surgeon	A doctor who performs operations
Wounded	Injured or hurt
Unconscious	Not awake or aware
Bleeding	Losing blood
Obedience	Following rules or orders
Compassion	Feeling of kindness or mercy
Hesitation	Doubt before taking action
Assassins	Secret killers
Betray	To go against someone or something
Confession	To admit the truth
Forbidden	Not allowed
Loyal	Faithful or true
Patriotism	Love for one’s country
Humanity	Love and care for all human beings
Escape	To get free or run away
Secretly	Quietly, without being seen
Relief	Feeling of comfort after worry
Kindness	Act of being good or caring
Courage	Strength to face danger or fear
Moral	Related to right and wrong

Difficult Words with Hindi Meanings

1. Enemy – दुश्मन

2. Surgeon – शल्य चिकित्सक

3. Wounded – घायल

4. Unconscious – बेहोश

5. Bleeding – रक्त बहना

6. Patriot – देशभक्त

7. Compassion – दया / करुणा

8. Humanity – मानवता

9. Forbidden – मना किया हुआ

10. Loyalty – निष्ठा / वफादारी

11. Betray – धोखा देना

12. Assassins – हत्यारे

13. Confession – स्वीकारोक्ति

14. Obedience – आज्ञाकारिता

15. Courage – साहस

16. Escape – भागना / बच निकलना

17. Faithful – विश्वासयोग्य

18. Secretly – गुप्त रूप से

19. Relief – राहत

20. Danger – खतरा

21. Kindness – दयालुता

22. Compassionate – दयालु

23. Shelter – आश्रय

24. Surgeon’s knife – शल्य चिकित्सा का चाकू

25. Patriotism – देशभक्ति

26. Loyalty – वफादारी

27. Coastal – तटीय

28. Waver – हिचकिचाना

29. Hesitation – झिझक

30. Concern – चिंता

31. Operation – शल्य क्रिया

32. Recovery – स्वस्थ होना

33. Healing – उपचार

34. Conscious – सचेत

35. Injured – घायल

36. Dangerously – खतरनाक तरीके से

37. Compassionately – दया भाव से

38. Disobedience – अवज्ञा

39. Fearful – भयभीत

40. Faith – विश्वास

41. Grateful – आभारी

42. Obey – पालन करना

43. Stranger – अजनबी

44. Decision – निर्णय

45. Patriot – देशभक्त व्यक्ति

46. Island – द्वीप

47. Lonely – अकेला

48. Courageous – साहसी

49. Authorities – अधिकारी

50. Servants – नौकर

51. Disappear – गायब होना

52. Protection – सुरक्षा

53. Secret – रहस्य

54. Stormy – तूफ़ानी

55. Beach – समुद्र तट

56. Bleed – खून बहना

57. Innocent – निर्दोष

58. Sympathy – सहानुभूति

59. Worry – चिंता

60. Risk – जोखिम

61. Duty – कर्तव्य

62. Responsibility – ज़िम्मेदारी

63. Devotion – समर्पण

64. Profession – पेशा

65. Obstacle – बाधा

66. Silence – मौन

67. Danger – ख़तरा

68. Boundary – सीमा

69. Obey – आज्ञा का पालन करना

70. Weakness – कमजोरी

71. Patient – रोगी

72. Honesty – ईमानदारी

73. Selfless – निःस्वार्थ

74. Faith – आस्था

75. Seashore – समुद्र किनारा

76. Wound – घाव

77. Nurse – परिचारिका

78. Tension – तनाव

79. Moral – नैतिक

80. Justice – न्याय

81. Confused – उलझन में

82. Helpless – लाचार

83. Whisper – फुसफुसाना

84. Suspicious – संदिग्ध

85. Stranger – अपरिचित

86. Operation – ऑपरेशन

87. Rescue – बचाना

88. Decision – फ़ैसला

89. Thoughtful – विचारशील

90. Dangerous – ख़तरनाक

91. Bravery – बहादुरी

92. Promise – वादा

93. War – युद्ध

94. Truth – सत्य

95. Death – मृत्यु

96. Fear – डर

97. Silence – चुप्पी

98. Situation – परिस्थिति

99. Helplessness – बेबसी

100. Anger – ग़ुस्सा

101. Calmness – शांति

102. Medical – चिकित्सीय

103. Hospital – अस्पताल

104. Responsibility – जिम्मेदारी

105. Duty-bound – कर्तव्यनिष्ठ

106. Natural – स्वाभाविक

107. Intelligence – बुद्धिमत्ता

108. Nervous – घबराया हुआ

109. Proud – गर्वित

110. Obvious – स्पष्ट

111. Respect – सम्मान

112. Honest – ईमानदार

113. Grief – शोक

114. Hurt – चोट पहुंचाना

115. Blood – रक्त

116. Weak – कमजोर

117. Shock – सदमा

118. Save – बचाना

119. Danger – संकट

120. Support – सहारा देना

121. Feeling – भावना

122. Escape – भाग जाना

123. Hope – आशा

124. Secret – गुप्त

125. Plan – योजना

126. Watch – निगरानी करना

127. Search – खोज करना

128. Suspicion – संदेह

129. Realize – समझना

130. Decide – निर्णय लेना

131. Hidden – छिपा हुआ

132. Enemy ship – दुश्मन का जहाज

133. Responsibility – उत्तरदायित्व

134. Confused – भ्रमित

135. Permission – अनुमति

136. Courage – हिम्मत

137. Shelter – ठिकाना

138. Deserted – सुनसान

139. Escape – निकल जाना

140. Quietly – चुपचाप

141. Grateful – कृतज्ञ

142. Respect – आदर

143. Patriotism – देशभक्ति भावना

144. Sacrifice – बलिदान

145. Humanity – इंसानियत

146. Morality – नैतिकता

147. Bravery – वीरता

148. Conscience – अंतरात्मा

149. Decision – फ़ैसला

150. Relief – राहत

Conclusion

The Enemy is a touching story that teaches a great lesson of humanity. Pearl S. Buck shows that compassion and kindness have no boundaries of nationality or race. Dr. Sadao’s brave decision to save an enemy soldier reminds us that being human means helping others, even when it is risky. The story inspires readers to believe in goodness, peace, and universal love.