Question:
Who are the mutual enemies in the story "The Enemy'?
Who are the mutual enemies in the story "The Enemy'?
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When analyzing literature, always consider the historical and social context. Understanding the setting (like WWII in 'The Enemy') is crucial to grasping the characters' motivations and the story's central themes.
Updated On: Oct 28, 2025
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Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The story 'The Enemy' by Pearl S. Buck is set during World War II. The question asks to identify the 'mutual enemies' in this context, which refers to the warring nations whose conflict forms the backdrop of the story's central dilemma.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The mutual enemies in the story are the nations of Japan and America.
Historical Context: The story takes place on the coast of Japan during World War II. At this time, Japan and America were on opposing sides of the war, and their soldiers were trained to view each other as mortal enemies. Any Japanese citizen found helping an American soldier would be considered a traitor.
The Central Conflict: This national enmity creates the primary conflict for the protagonist, Dr. Sadao Hoki. He is a patriotic Japanese surgeon. When a wounded American prisoner of war washes ashore near his house, Dr. Sadao is caught between his duty as a doctor to save a human life and his duty as a citizen to hand over the 'enemy' to the authorities. The American soldier represents the enemy nation, making Dr. Sadao's decision to shelter and treat him a dangerous act of defiance against his country.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The mutual enemies in 'The Enemy' are Japan and America, who were at war with each other during World War II. This national conflict is the source of the moral and ethical dilemma faced by the story's main character, Dr. Sadao.
The story 'The Enemy' by Pearl S. Buck is set during World War II. The question asks to identify the 'mutual enemies' in this context, which refers to the warring nations whose conflict forms the backdrop of the story's central dilemma.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The mutual enemies in the story are the nations of Japan and America.
Historical Context: The story takes place on the coast of Japan during World War II. At this time, Japan and America were on opposing sides of the war, and their soldiers were trained to view each other as mortal enemies. Any Japanese citizen found helping an American soldier would be considered a traitor.
The Central Conflict: This national enmity creates the primary conflict for the protagonist, Dr. Sadao Hoki. He is a patriotic Japanese surgeon. When a wounded American prisoner of war washes ashore near his house, Dr. Sadao is caught between his duty as a doctor to save a human life and his duty as a citizen to hand over the 'enemy' to the authorities. The American soldier represents the enemy nation, making Dr. Sadao's decision to shelter and treat him a dangerous act of defiance against his country.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The mutual enemies in 'The Enemy' are Japan and America, who were at war with each other during World War II. This national conflict is the source of the moral and ethical dilemma faced by the story's main character, Dr. Sadao.
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