Chapter the-enemy: The Enemy | Long Questions

The old General plays a crucial role in highlighting the theme of self-interest over national duty. When Dr. Sadao confesses that he has been harbouring an American prisoner, the General does not order his arrest. This is not out of kindness, but rather pure self-absorption. The General is suffering from a severe medical condition and completely relies on Dr. Sadao’s unmatched surgical skills to keep him alive. He fears that if Sadao is arrested and executed for treason, there will be no capable surgeon left to save him. He even promises to send private assassins to silently eliminate the prisoner, but completely forgets this promise due to his own illness and pain. The General’s selfish dereliction of duty inadvertently ensures the safety of both Dr. Sadao and the American soldier.

Dr. Sadao decides to help the American soldier escape because he can no longer endure the immense psychological strain and guilt of waiting for the man to be assassinated. After the General promises to send killers, Sadao spends three sleepless nights anticipating a gruesome murder in his own home. He realizes that while he does not necessarily like the American, he cannot let a life he fought so hard to save be destroyed so callously. By providing the prisoner with a boat, food, water, and a flashlight, Sadao ensures the man's safe passage to a nearby island. This final act of arranging the escape demonstrates Sadao's complete triumph as a humanist. He resolves his conflict by honoring his medical duty to preserve life and freeing his household from danger without becoming a murderer.

Through "The Enemy," Pearl S. Buck beautifully conveys the message that human compassion and the ethical duty to save lives must transcend narrow national prejudices and wartime hatred. The story emphasizes that all human beings share a common bond that is much stronger than the artificial borders or political conflicts created by nations. Dr. Sadao’s journey from seeing the American as a hated enemy to treating him as a vulnerable patient illustrates this powerful truth. The author suggests that true patriotism does not mean blindly hating an enemy or abandoning one’s humanity. By showcasing Dr. Sadao's ultimate decision to heal and free the prisoner of war, the narrative teaches us that love, empathy, and a commitment to preserving life are the highest moral values a person can uphold in times of immense darkness.