Dr. Sadao Hoki, a Japanese surgeon and scientist, finds an injured American soldier on his doorstep during World War II. Though the American is his country's enemy, Sadao's humanitarian instincts as a doctor compel him to operate and save the man's life, with help from his wife Hana. This causes conflict with Sadao's servants and the general offers to send assassins, but Sadao stands by his duty as a healer. He eventually helps the prisoner escape by boat so he won't be killed. Sadao reflects on why he saved an enemy, overcoming his feelings of hatred for Americans through his belief in basic humanity.

1. The Enemy –
The Enemy - Pearl S. Buck

2. Know Your Author
Birth - June 26, 1892, in Hillsboro, West Virginia.
Parents - Southern Presbyterian missionaries,
stationed in China, where Pearl S. Buck spent
most of her first forty years of her life.
Awards - 1932, won the Pulitzer Prize and the
Howells Medal in 1935, for The Good Earth which
was adapted as a major MGM film in 1937.
In 1938, won the Nobel Prize in literature, the first
American woman to do so.
By the time of her death in 1973, Pearl published
over seventy books: novels, collections of stories,
biography and autobiography, poetry, drama,
children's literature, and translations from the
Chinese.

3. The Enemy
 Dr. Sadao Hoki’s Childhood
 Climbed pines, watched islands, played
along the coast
 Stone house located upon rocks, well
above the narrow beach
 Education
 At 22yrs. Went to America &
returned after 8yrs., became a
surgeon & scientist

4. Presently
 Army at war but Sadao not
sent to war..
 General might need him
 Was perfecting a discovery that
would render wounds entirely clean

5. Wife
 Pleasant, affectionate, caring, Sadao
met Hana at Prof. Harley’s House in
America
 Married her in Japan (traditional way)

6. The Challenge
 Misty night, staggering body appeared, wounded, collapsed
 A white man ( American ), an enemy
 Sadao & Hana carried him to Sadao’s father’s bedroom
 Washed by Hana because Yumi refused
 Operated by Sadao & Hana held the anesthetic
 Bullet removed from near the kidney
 Life saved- prisoner- feeble & weak
 Prisoner fed & rested to recovery, but was anxious for his future

7. Sadao’s Dilemma
 Servants threatened to leave in protest
 Conflict between duty as a doctor and
duty as a true patriot
 Afraid of being called a traitor
 Resolved to save the prisoner
 Hana & Sadao stood firm, did not relent-
treated the prisoner with respect

8. General Finally Informed
 The General offered to help and
send assassins
 Assassins would kill and remove the
prisoner quietly
 3 nights passed – no assassins
turned up

9. The Escape
 Sadao gave the prisoner a boat, extra food,
clothing, bottled water & a flashlight and covered
his hair with a black cloth
 Directed him to row to an uninhabited island
 Asked him to wait for a Korean fishing boat
 Told him to flash the torch twice if he ran out of
food and flash it once if he was alright
 The prisoner escaped

10. Admission by the General
 That he had failed in doing his duty
towards his country
 Justified his action - that it was due
to ill-health and not due to lack of
patriotism

11. Sadao Reflected
 Wondered as to why he had saved
the American.
 Had hatred for Americans – their
enemy – but humanity overpowered
his feelings

12. Worksheet
 Answer briefly.
1. Give two reasons why Sadao was not
sent abroad with the troops.
2. What did the servants think of Dr. Sadao
sheltering the enemy?
3. Hana plays an instrument role in saving
the life of an injured prisoner. Give an
account of her role in light of the above
statement.
4. True humanity overpowers prejudices
and has no barriers. Elaborate.