Access impeccable NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 4: “The Enemy.” Engage with the intricate narrative through expertly crafted question-and-answer solutions. Dive into the themes of human nature and conflict showcased in the chapter, enhancing your analytical skills. These solutions offer a clear comprehension of the text, aiding effective exam preparation. Elevate your learning with these concise, reliable, and insightful academic resources.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Vistas Chapter – 4 The Enemy Questions and Answers
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Who was Dr. Sadao ? Where was his house?
Answer: Dr. Sadao, a Japanese physician, resided in a house perched upon a patch of the Japanese shoreline, elevated above rocky terrain, with a slender beach graced by the presence of windswept pine trees.
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Will Dr. Sadao be arrested on the charge of harboring an enemy?
Answer: Following the surgery on the wounded enemy soldier, Dr. Sadao meticulously documented the entire incident and shared it with the General. The General provided his assurance that Dr. Sadao would not face arrest for potentially harboring an enemy. Furthermore, the General revealed his plan to have the man discreetly eliminated by his confidential assassins.
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Will Hana help the wounded man and wash him herself?
Answer: Initially, Hana was reluctant to assist the wounded man due to his status as an enemy soldier. However, witnessing her husband’s willingness to help, she too prepared to offer her aid. When the maid-servant declined to wash the wounded man, Hana took it upon herself to do so.
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What will Dr. Sadao and his wife do with the man?
Answer: Dr. Sadao and his wife, Hana, brought the man into their home. Dr. Sadao skillfully performed the surgery, successfully saving the man’s life, while Hana actively assisted her husband throughout the procedure. Following the operation, Hana tenderly and compassionately cared for the man, providing him with attentive nursing and heartfelt sympathy.
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What did Dr. Sadao do with the wooded man?
Answer: Dr. Sadao encountered a wounded man right at his doorstep, who, to his surprise, turned out to be an American soldier. Although initially hesitant, Dr. Sadao made the compassionate decision to bring the man into his home and proceeded to perform a life-saving operation on him.
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What will Dr. Sadao do to get rid of the man?
Answer: Dr. Sadao, having waited for the General’s assassins to arrive for several days in vain, eventually decided to take matters into his own hands. He moved his boat down to the shore, stocked it with essential supplies, including food, bottled water, and two quilts. Before the daring escape, he entered the guest room to assess the wounded enemy’s condition, checking his temperature, the state of his wound, as well as his heart rate and pulse. Dr. Sadao then handed the man his personal flashlight and assisted him in escaping by boat, ensuring his safe departure.
READING WITH INSIGHT ➤➤➤
1. There are moments in life when we have to make hard choices between our roles as private individuals and as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss with reference to the story you have just read.
Answer: The story “The Enemy” presents a poignant illustration of the difficult choices individuals sometimes face when torn between their multiple roles and responsibilities. Dr. Sadao, as a private individual and a compassionate doctor, is compelled by his duty to save the life of an injured person, driven by both his humanity and his professional training. This decision comes at a cost, leading to a rebellion among his servants who depart in disagreement.
Simultaneously, as a citizen with a deep sense of national loyalty, his allegiance demands that he hand over the injured man to the authorities, a course of action that could have resulted in the prisoner’s death. His moral compass, however, rejects this, as he couldn’t reconcile letting a fellow human being perish.
Upon the recovery of the injured man, the weight of his enemy status clashes with Dr. Sadao’s allegiance to his country. He seeks a solution by seeking assistance from the General, willing to comply with the offer to eliminate the prisoner. However, when the General fails to fulfill his promise, Dr. Sadao grapples with his principles. Ultimately, he helps the man escape, a decision that, unbeknownst to the prisoner, serves the dual purpose of protecting his life and also ridding Dr. Sadao of a potential threat to his country.
2. Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Answer: Hana’s compassionate nature, her medical training received in America, and her current life in the United States all played significant roles in her empathy toward the injured man. Like her husband Sadao, she had been educated in the medical field in America, which shaped her commitment to aiding those in need. Consequently, she couldn’t turn away from the injured man, feeling a duty to help him.
Initially, both Hana and her husband contemplated returning the man to the sea, yet a reluctance to do so emerged in both of them. Ultimately, they reached a unanimous decision: they couldn’t bear the thought of being passive witnesses to the man’s demise, and they agreed that ending his life was not an option they could accept.
This realization led them down the path of treating the injured man, despite the strong protest from their servants, who definitely left the house in response. Rather than being swayed by the rebellion, Hana’s determination to provide care for the injured man only solidified. She firmly believed that, as the mistress of the house, she had the authority to make this decision, and she wasn’t willing to be dictated by the actions of the servants.
3. How would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home even when he knew he couldn’t stay there without risk to the doctor and himself?
Answer: The soldier found himself in a precarious situation with no apparent refuge. Leaving the doctor’s house meant almost certain capture by the Japanese, which would lead to further torture, as he had already experienced. Conversely, his encounters with Sadao and his wife had shown him that they were unlikely to betray him. Additionally, he was unfamiliar with the island until Sadao provided him with information about it. Given these circumstances, it was only natural for him to desire staying under Sadao’s protection, even if it entailed some degree of risk.
4. What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldier? Was it human consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of duty or simply self-absorption?
Answer: The General’s apparent negligence stemmed from a blend of both human empathy and self-centeredness. During his conversation with Sadao, he disclosed that he had obtained one of his degrees in America. He used this detail to explain that he couldn’t be as merciless as his counterparts, who had received their training in Germany. This revelation highlighted the influence of his diverse educational background in shaping his approach, implying a level of compassion that set him apart from those with different origins of education
5. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
Answer: The capacity for open-mindedness and rational thinking is crucial for individuals to transcend narrow prejudices. Interacting with people from diverse nations and communities also plays a significant role in this process. In fact, it’s often observed that ignorance tends to fuel prejudice, leading to an unjust perception of others.
The General’s observation in the story “Enemy” highlights this idea. He suggests that individuals who have lived in Adica and experienced different cultures are less likely to be as cruel as those who lack such exposure. This insight underscores the importance of broad experiences in shaping a more empathetic perspective.
Furthermore, an unhealthy form of nationalism can foster national prejudices. It’s essential to recognize that a nation is essentially a group of people residing within specific geographic boundaries. This does not grant them the right to consider people from other groups as inferior or to deny them the same level of independence. Everyone deserves equal respect and the right to self-determination, regardless of their national or cultural background.
6. Do you think the doctor’s final solution to the problem was the best possible one in the circumstances?
Answer: Indeed, the doctor’s final decision in the given circumstances appears to be the most optimal one, ultimately resulting in the preservation and well-being of everyone involved. By helping the American soldier escape, Sadao and Hana eliminated the risk associated with sheltering him. This action also allowed their servants to return without facing potential consequences. Moreover, crucially, it saved the life of the American soldier, ensuring his survival.
In analyzing the alternatives, it’s evident that no other solution could have achieved this balance of outcomes. The doctor’s choice, although not without its risks, managed to address the immediate dangers facing all parties, making it the most prudent course of action under the circumstances.
7. Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by A. J. Cronin that you read in Snapshots last year? What are the similarities?
Answer: Please try it yourself.
8. Is there any film you have seen or novel you have read with a similar theme?
Answer: Please try it yourself.