EBD_7525

23

MIND MAP

SUMMARY OF THE STORY

Dr. Sadao Hoki was a Japanese surgeon. He studied in America and returned with Hana, a Japanese girl whom he met there and
married in Japan. While most of the doctors were sent to serve the Japanese army in the World War II, Sadao was allowed to stay
home for two reasons: he was perfecting a discovery on cleaning wounds and the old General might need him for an operation.
He lived with his wife Hana and two children on the Japanese sea-coast. His house was located on the sea-coast where he had spent
his childhood. Once while the couple was enjoying the mist at dusk on their porch, they noticed some movement near the sea. A
man ‘flung’ out of the ocean, walked few steps and then fell unconscious. He was badly injured. They discovered that the white man
was an escaped prisoner of war, a sailor from an American warship. He had lost a lot of blood due to a gun wound and a rock injury.
The couple knew that they would be termed treacherous if they did not inform the police or the army about it, who would eventually
kill the man. But, they could not bring themselves to do what seemed the best course of action at that point, i.e., to throw the man
back into the sea. After a lot of speculation, the doctor thought of treating the dying man on humanitarian grounds before deciding
his fate.
Though unwilling to help his enemy, Dr. Sadao took the young soldier into his house and provided him with medical aid. Sadao
performed a difficult operation and removed the bullet efficiently. Hana helped her husband in whatever way she could. She herself
took every possible care of the American, even fed him with her own hands.
Under Hana’s care and the expert medical administration of Dr. Sadao, the young American recuperated. Soon his scared servants
left him. Dr. Sadao saw that the soldier was getting well and looked absolutely alright. Once his patient was no more in need of
him, the doctor turned into a patriot, conspiring to kill him in his sleep. He informed the General of the American and the General
promised that he would send his private men to kill the American. Sadao awaited the American’s death every morning but to his
gloom the man was still alive, healthier and posing danger to him. He decided to get rid of the stranger and the inconvenience his
presence caused. He packed him off on a boat with the basic necessities like food, bottled water and two blankets to a nearby isolated
island from where he was to board a Korean ship to freedom and safety. He even gave the young man his own flashlight, to be used
in time of need as well as to signal Dr. Sadao about his well-being. Thus, Tom departed secretly.
Sadao became the real man, a true human being who realized the essential worth of human life and universal brotherhood. He
thought beyond countries and continents and races and wars. He found no reason to believe that the American was his enemy. Thus,
Sadao rose above narrow prejudices and acted in a truly humanitarian way.

2. THE ENEMY
by Pearl Sydenstricker Buck

CHARACTER SKETCH: Dr. Sadao Hoki CHARACTER SKETCH: Hana

Dr. Sadao Hoki was a famous Japanese surgeon and a scientist.
He was perfecting a discovery which would render wounds
entirely clean. He is a perfect role model for all the doctors
of the world who really upholds the values of his profession.
His father had taken great care of his upbringing and instilled
in his mind that he had to be a great doctor and surgeon. He
sent him to America at the age of 22 to learn medicine. He
stayed there for 8 years and observed strict self-discipline.
He met Hana, another Japanese girl and fell in love with her.
However, he waited until his father’s approval and married
her only after the approval.
The best trait of his personality comes to light when he risked
his own life and the entire family and dared to save an enemy.
Japan and America were at war in the World War II. During
this an American POW, Tom is washed ashore near his home.
Sadao saves him. He faces opposition from his servants but
he knows his responsibilities as a doctor. He is a man of clear
conscience.
Not only is he a good human being, he is a perfect and skilled
doctor also. General Takima also had great faith in him.
Hana is the embodiment of a loving, dedicated and caring
wife. She loves her family. She always has love and
affection in her heart for Sadao. In spite of being married
for so many years, she is still the same loving wife. She
often assists Sadao in his medical operations as she helped
him with anesthetics while he operated on Tom. She gets
scared when a man in uniform appears at the gate. She is full
of human consideration. Though she does not have good
feelings for the enemy soldier; she does not turn him over
for fear of disturbing his wounds. She assists her husband
in performing the operation on the wounded soldier. She is
quite hardworking. When Yumi, the nurse refuses to wash
Tom, she does it herself. When the servants leave Sadao’s
home in protest, she does all the chores herself. However,
she is not as courageous as Sadao.