Vistas Chapter 4 The Enemy

Dr. Sadao Hoki was a famous Japanese surgeon and scientist. He was famous for his art of healing the wounds. He went to America for learning surgery and medicine. He was working on a discovery which would totally clear the wounds. But milk of humankind rolled in his veins. He lived in a house built on the Japanese coast. His square stone house was set upon rock above a narrow beach. The beach was outlined with bent pines.

It was the time when Japan was at war with America. It was against the laws to shelter an enemy as Dr. Sadao had sheltered an enemy soldier but he can’t be arrested and punished for harbouring the enemy. It would not happen since his servants did not disclose the secret to the police. Even Dr. Sadao had told every thing to the old General but he went on sleeping over the matter. He was not at all in a mood to lose the precious services of an expert surgeon.

Hana knows that the man is an enemy and he is the prisoner of war. He belongs to the U.S. Navy. She is well aware that sheltering an enemy can put them in severe danger. She asks her maid Yumi to bring warm water and wash him but she declines. Since the blood of humanity and obedience to her husband compel her to do the needful.

Dr. Sadao and his wife Hana have brought the wounded soldier in the house. Due to humanity, they operate and treat his wounds. Even the servants refuse to keep and threaten to leave their house but Hana is reluctant to help them. She assures the soldier not to afraid. She serves him cooked food and feeds him by herself. They keep him for a fortnight and did their best to save the enemy soldier.

Dr. Sadao was a man of considerate nature. He had given lease of life to the wounded enemy soldier at the risk of his life. Instead of killing him after treatment, Dr. Sadao arranged for a boat, food and clothing to send the enemy back to the nearby island. The man took the Korean Boat and escaped to freedom.

Very often there appear moments in our life when it really becomes difficult to choose between our roles loyal citizens since nation is a necessity like bread. But as an individual we are compelled with the feeling of humanity and compassion Dr. Sadao is confronted with such conflicting realities of life. As a doctor he is trained and duty bound morally to save life. He is put in a tantalising situation. He is in a fix if he should hand over the prisoner of war to the Army as a patriot or he should save his life as a true and faithful doctor. Keeping everything in mind, Dr. Sadao prepares himself to save his enemy soldier.

At that time Japan is at war with America. During his training in America he has seen the unpleasant experiences of racial discrimination among the whites. He is full of patriotic feelings and is not in a mood to ignore his duties as a doctor. A doctor never considers whether the affected person is an enemy or a friend. He is taught to save the life of a dying man. Thus Sadao’s professional loyalty comes in conflict with a sense of national loyalty. His servents leave and the maid servant Yumi revolts. But he puts his life in danger. As the milk of humanity is flowing in his blood so he saves the enemy and helps him in escaping to freedom.

Dr. Sadao Hoki was a dutiful and an humanitarian doctor. He was much compelled by his duty to help the enemy soldier. He did not pay any heed to the fact whether the patient was an enemy or a friend. On the other hand Hana, Dr. Sadao’s wife, was a very kind hearted and considerate type of lady. She was obedient, faithful, loyal and well-wisher of her husband as well. On seeing the wounded soldier in the most precarious and pitiable condition, she developed a natural sympathy for the dying and wounded enemy soldier. She could not be easily provoked and had to face the open defiance of her domestic staff. She played a significant role and contributed towards her duties as a wife and the mistress of the house.

When the soldier was brought home, she helped her husband in his treatment. The domestic staff refused to cooperate and threatened to report the matter to the police as Japan was at war with America at that time. Further, sheltering an enemy was illegal and punishable. They wanted the white man to die.Yumi refused to wash the enemy but she faced the challenge and helped her husband in washing the wounded soldier. She cooked food and fed the enemy. It was her sympathy, humanity, loyalty, faithfulness, cooperation and obedience that helped the doctor Sadao to save the prisoner.

The enemy soldier was given shelter, medical treatment and lease of life by Dr. Sadao and his wife though there was stiff and stem objection by the domestic staff at the house. He was on the verge of death but doctor Sadao operated upon him to save his life. Soon he knew that he was out of danger. But he was reluctant to leave the doctor’s house since he was safe there in all respects. The outside world was waiting to gulp him up immediately. So he did not want to risk his life to the outside world. During his stay there with the doctor he had became confident that they would not let him die again. He had developed a fine understanding of the couple.

Side by side the enemy soldier was aware of his position there in the house as his presence was posing a severe danger to the doctor as well as to himself. He could be arrested and put to death at any time. Being quite unknown to the spot, he did not know what to do and where to escape. So he was lucky enough to leave himself at the mercy of a very obliging couple. He was well aware about the rising opposition of the domestic servants but Dr. Sadao’s and the cooperation of his wife made home in his mind not to leave the house. In such hard conditions, Dr. Sadao saved the prisoner and helped him escape.

The General can be called the most cunning, ruthless and a self-absorbed person. Dr. Sadao has told everything to him about the soldier enemy. He has revealed his operation, treatment and sheltering at his house as well. Dr. Sadao is well aware about this favour and the legal punishment that he can be met with. Instead of taking any action against Dr. Sadao. the General advises him that he has his private assassins to kill the American soldier. He even promises him to send them so that Dr. Sadao may get rid of the wounded enemy but he fails to fulfil his promise.

In the true sense, the General knows that Dr. Sadao is a skilled doctor perfect in the art of surgery. He has himself to be operated the next day. So his death will be a personal loss to his life. He does not want to take further risk about his life. Hence he does not intend to take any action against Dr. Sadao. In this way it is his personal consideration that outweighs all other considerations. He cannot allow anything to happen to Sadao. In a way the General compromises with the national security by not initiating any proceeding against the enemy.

Being a General and loyal to his country, he should have arrested the prisoner of war. But to save himself, he hushes the matter and goes on sleeping over the facts. So the General is surely a self-absorbed person.

It is natural on the part of every human being that hatred breeds against the ememy race.The soldier is thrown back on the beach near Dr. Sadao’s house. He is an enemy. At that time Japan is at war with America. It is the humanity and the basic sympathy that compel Dr. Sadao and his wife Hana to look after the wounded enemy. There is no denying the fact that the domestic servants react very sharply on seeing the enemy soldier. They leave the house so long as the American lives there. They donot want to save his life at any cost as the saying goes on, “Everything is fair in war and love”.

If we meditate on the other side, Dr. Sadao has perceived the racial prejudices of the white during his training period. He has to face a lot of trouble in getting a house. Further sheltering an enemy is also illegal. It cannot be estimated that Dr. Sadao was not patriotic in helping the enemy soldier. Only the human qualities, humanity and sense of duty force Dr. Sadao to operate upon the soldier and thereby to save his life. Thus the basic sense of humanity and duty urge Dr. Sadao to rise above all narrow prejudices, hatred and petty considerations. It is the love of humanity that instigates both Dr. Sadao and his wife, Hana, to save the soldier in all possible way. So both rises above narrow prejudices and save the enemy.

Dr. Sadao was a very careful, considerate and a trained person who can adopt himself according to the circumstances. When the enemy is being brought to the house, Dr. Sadao says “The best thing that we would be to put him back into the sea.” But Dr. Sadao does not take this view and rather tries his best to help the wounded man at the cost of his life. As a doctor he has been morally trained not to let a man die if he can help it. It is this person who acts appropriately well in time. At the same time he takes him to his house, treats and gives shelter the enemy. His wife cooperates in this matter though the domestic servants leave the house and the maid Yumi refuses to wash the patient.

Dr. Sadao is aware that he is helping an enemy. He is in a strict mood to get rid of him at the earliest possible. He thinks to hand him over to the police but he canot do so due to love for humanity. Further he points out everything before the General who in turn promises to get the enemy assassinated through his private person. But that does not happen. Dr. Sadao is in a fix what to do. Ultimately he resorts to the best possible solution available at the point of time under the available circumstances. After treatment he helps the man escape in a boat and ensures his freedom. In this way Dr. Sadao gets rid of the enemy without having killed him. He rises above all and varied narrow prejudices and acts in a true humanitarian manner.

In both the stories, i.e. ‘Birth’ by

A.J. Cronin and ‘The Enemy’ by Peral S. Buck one can realise the humanity, dedication, selfless service and love of human being. Thus a good deal of affinity runs between the two stories. In the story ‘Birth’, the doctor saves the mother of the child and then turns to save almost a stillborn child from dying. He acts properly at the proper time though the nurse abandons the child thinking it to be dead. But the doctor tries his best and gets success in saving the child from the cruel jaws of death.

In the same way, Dr. Sadao gives a lease of life to his enemy soldier. He treats and shelters him at his house though the domestic servants leave the house till the patient stays in the house. The maid servant Yumi refuses to wash and cooperate. But Dr. Sadao and his wife rise against all narrow prejudices, racial discrimination and despise to save the enemy. In this way, both the stories highlights love of humanity, sense of duty, moral help and dedication towards the suffering human beings.

Sadao and Hana met at an American Professor’s house. They fell in love but he did not marry her till they had finished their studies. When they returned back, Sadao’s father confirmed that the girl was of pure Japanese race. After this he consented and both were married according to their customs.

Sadao’s father was an ambitious person. He wanted to make his son only a famous doctor. Therefore, he sent Sadao to America to attain higher education. Sadao mastered the art of healing wounds. Sadao came to his father’s expectations when he became a successful surgeon and a famous scientist.

Sadao’s father had great expectations from his only son. He wanted to see him successful in his life. He never played or joked with his son. Sadao’s education was the main concern of his father. His father sent him to America to study medicine and surgery. He was very ambitious about Sadao’s future as well as about Japan’s future.

Sadao was a famous surgeon and scientist. He had mastered the art of healing wounds. The old General of Japan had full faith in his abilities as a surgeon. He did not believe any other doctor. He was not keeping good health and could require a surgery any time, so Sadao was not sent with the troops abroad.

Dr. Sadao and Hana were standing out facing the sea. Mist had gathered around their house. Suddenly they saw something black coming out of the sea. He was crawling on his hands and knees. Then suddenly he fell down on his face and lay there motionless. They went to see him. When they turned his face, they were shocked to see a white soldier. They read the print writing on the cap. “U.S. Navy”. The man was a prisoner of war.

The American soldier was wounded. He was very weak and pale. He had a wound of a gun and had the bullet stuck in his wound. His face looked tortured and his back was stained with blood flowing from the wound. The wound was black and was also stuck by the rocks. He was almost at the verge of death if Sadao had not saved him.

When Dr. Sadao and his wife found that the wounded whiteman was a ‘prisoner of war’, they were shocked. They thought if they would shelter a whiteman in their house, they would be arrested and if they would hand him over to the police, he would die. So they thought that it would be the kindest thing to throw him back in the sea. But the milk of kindness and humanity was flowing in their veins. So they brought him to their house. The feeling of humanity and generosity was overtaken by the feeling of nationality.

First of all, they thought of throwing the American back in the sea. But they could not do so because the American was badly wounded and required immediate medical treatment. So they took him to the room of Sadao’s father. Hana washed the wounded and dirty soldier with warm water. Sadao immediately brought his surgeon’s emergency bag and opearted upon him. He pulled out the bullet from his wound and gave him the essential medical treatment.

When Dr. Sadao told his servants about the enemy soldier, they were frightened. They thought that the enemy must die. They were reluclant to let the white man first be shot and then caught by the sea and tortured by the rocks. In case Sadao saved him, the rocks would avenge. But the master did not change his decision. They showed their resentment and threatened to leave. Ultimately, they left Dr. Sadao’s house.

Hana asked the maid servant Yumi to wash the wounded dirty man with warm water. Finding a white man she became stubborn as she had never washed a white man. So she was determined not to wash him. Hana cried at her sternly but Yumi had a fierce look of resistance on her round face. Then Hana decided to do it with her own hands and asked her to return back.

Hana was very much helpful while the operation was on. She dipped a small clean towel into the steaming hot water and washed his face. She was requested to give the anaesthetic if needed. With the help of instruments from his emergency bag, Sadao made a clean and precise incision. The bullet was out and the doctor declared that the man would live.

The American soldier became nervous and fearful on finding himself in a Japanese house. He knew that he had suffered a lot at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. Innumerable tortures were inflicted on him and there were scars on his neck and a bullet in his wounds confirmed all this. On seeing Sadao he was troubled what would be his fate.

Hana told that the servants were feeling uncomfortable about the presence of the American in their house. They felt that they could not stay anymore in Sadao’s house, if he would continue to hide the soldier inside the house. They thought that their master had been living in America for a long time, so he had forgotten about his own country and was helping an enemy.

Servants tried to make Hana understand that they should not try to save a person, whom even the nature had tried to kill. They were superstitious and fearful about the wreak of the nature. They tried to speak indirectly of their resentment about the presence of the enemy in the house. They warned the couple of not working in their house anymore, if they would shelter the enemy in their house. They even put the mental and emotional pressure on their masters.

The servants had tried a lot to pressurize their masters to send the American out of their house. But the master did not change their decision. This created a lot of resentment in otherwise very loyal servants. They finally decided to leave their jobs and told Hana about it. Hana did not show her pain. She put up a brave face and paid all of them, their dues.

Dr. Sadao gave shelter to the enemy soldier. The domestic servants were reluctant to help Dr. Sadao and Hema. They left their jobs. The gardener was of the opinion that Dr. Sadao should have allowed the soldier to die. In case Sadao interfered he would be condemned as a traitor. It created unrest in his mind. He didn’t like Sadao’s efforts to harbour and save an enemy

The keeping of enemy at his house became the cause of stress, tension, trouble and fear for Dr. Sadao and his wife. All his servants had deserted him. The General also came to know about his presence there. It would be all the more troublesome if the General’s assassin killed the enemy. These factors, forced Dr. Sadao to be impatient and irritated with his patient.

The general was very ill. He was in pain and required medical treatment immediately. He had faith only in Sadao’s medical capabilities. With his orders, the messenger came to Dr. Sadao. Hana thought that the general would penalise her husband for giving shelter to an enemy.

Hana was Dr. Sadao’s wife. The old General was a very powerful person. Hana felt weak. When he called Dr. Sadao for his treatment. Again she felt suspicion when the General (Takima) told Dr. Sadao that he would send his assassins to kill the enemy. Hana was afraid of the General.

Dr. Sadao and his wife found a wounded American soldier. Though he was an enemy but the doctor and his wife operated and saved his life. He told the General for giving shelter to the enemy. He promised to get the soldier killed secretly but he failed in his promise. He could not take any action due to seriousness of his illness and forget all about him. Thus the General spared the life of the American soldier.

The General told Sadao that the best thing would be to quietly kill the soldier. Sadao also agreed to it readily. The General volunteered to help Sadao in it. He told Sadao that he would send his personal assassins to kill the soldier to Sadao’s house. They were experts in killing a person, without even making a noise or even not a drop of blood flowing.

The General had known about the presence of the enemy in Sadao’s house. He had forgotten his promise to send his personal assassins to kill the enemy. The enemy had recovered. Sadao had given him a lease of life. He had no desire see the enemy killed. Therefore, he decided to get the enemy out of his house and reach the nearby island.

Sadao instructed him to row and stay on the island for the arrival of a Korean fishing boat. He advised him not to bum any fire for fear of being caught. He gave him his flash light and told to signal two flashes. In case he ran short of food or still he was on the island, one flash would suffice. He sternly warned him to flash the light only at the sunset and never during the darkness.

Old gardner was a person of superstitions. He wanted that the white man should die. First he was shot and then he was caught in the sea. The gardner believed that American soldier had a fate of death.

It was the afternoon and Hana was busy in her chores. Suddenly, she saw a messenger in the official uniform at the doorstep. Her hands became weak and she could not draw her breath. She thought that the servants must have told the secret about the soldier. She saw to Sadao gasping. The messenger too followed her.

After giving first aid to the enemy soldier, Dr. Sadao and his wife Hana wanted to throw him back into the sea. It was because the enemy’s presence in the house would lead to them death penalty. They would be called traitors. It was illegal to save and shelter an enemy in the house.

Dr. Sadao and Hana were standing outside their house. They saw someone flung by the waves of the sea. They went closer and saw that he was an enemy soldier. They were in a dilemma. They first thought of throwing him back in the sea. But their compassionate nature could not allow them to throw the wounded person into the sea.

So they decided to take him in and treat his wounds first and then hand him over to the police when he recovered. Dr. Sadao operated upon the wound of the American and brought the bullet out from the wound. He gave him an injection to boost up the pulse rate. Hana administered anaesthesia to the American. They served the soldier even after their servants left the house in protest against sheltering an enemy in the house. When the soldier was fully recovered from his illness, Dr. Sadao sent him back to sea to an unguarded island, from where he could go away in a Korean fishing boat.

Sadao Hoki was both an expert surgeon in the art of healing wounds and a scientist as well. At the age of 22, his father sent him to America to study surgery and medicine. There he fell in love with Hana but married after returning from Japan when his father was convinced that the girl was a pure Japanese. He was very generous and loyal to his country. His wife Hana was also a sympathetic, kind, obedient and faithful wife. While standing on the veranda of their house, they saw something crawling on the beach. They approached there and found that he was a wounded and an escaped prisoner of war. At one time they thought to throw him back in the sea. On the other hand, they thought that the fellow would die if handed over to the police. As a doctor he was trained to save a life if he could do.

There flowed the milk of human kindness in both of them. They brought him home but the servants were badly against them. Sadao performed the operation and his wife Hana stood by him through every thick and thin. There was a great risk of Dr. Sadao being arrested for harbouring a prisoner of war. Being a patriot, he declared everything to the General and was ready to face the consequences. This shows that both Dr. Sadao and his wife, Hana were sympathetic, loyal, patriot, compassionate and honest people.

Dr. Sadao Holu was a very dutiful and an humanitanan doctor. He was very much compeled by his duty to help the enemy solder. Instead of caring for the prejudices of race and country he rose above to save the American soldier. His wife too lent a helping hand without paying any heed whether the patient was an enemy or a friend. He was floating his duties as a doctor and the enemy on the other, the feeling of compassion and humanity had the upper hand. As that time Japan is at war with America and a person cannot shelter an enemy. Even during his training he had realised the unpleasant experiences of racial discrimination among the whites. He had patriotic feelings and could not ignore his duties as a doctor since a doctor’s duty to save the humanity. Here the professional loyalty of Dr. Sadao came in conflict with a sense of national loyalty. But he operated upon the American soldier and served as his house in the most precarious conditions of his safety. He could face all the charges of a traites but he put his life in danger and saved the soldier.

Dr. Sadao was standing with his wife on the veranda of their house. They saw a wounded and escaped prisoner of war crawling on the beach. They brought him home but the servants were badly against them. Sadao performed the operation. His wife helped him. There was a great risk of Dr. Sadao being arressted for harbouring the prisoner of war. Being a patriot, he declared every thing to the General. The general was very close to Dr. Sadao. He had firm faith in Sadao’s faithfulness and surgery. He called him in the night because there arose a problem in his gall bladder. During the treatment he assured him all possible help, security and safety. He assured him that he would get the white American killed quietly by his private assassins that night. He asked Dr. Sadao to keep open the outer partition of the white man’s room into the garden while he slept. He told that the assassins would remove his dead body without making any noise. Doctor Sadao could not afford to see it. Therefore, he made the man escape in the night. In this way the general helped him in solving the problem.

Dr. Sadao was an expert doctor in surgery. He was a Japanese native and at floating in the sea. Thinking him to a fisherman, he brought out. He was badly wounded. Seeing a whiteman and his most fatal condition, Dr. Sadao and his wife took him in their house for treatment. They were very much conscious about the reactions of the people around. Their maid refused to help in any way but disguised. All the servants revolted and declined to enter the room. Dr. Sadao’s wife Hana had to help in all respects. She fed him through her hand.

These arose an unrest in the minds of the servants. They were troubled why their master was sheltering an enemy in the house. They denied to serve. They had the fear of condemning their master as a traitor. Even they left their jobs. Dr. Sadao was troubled at heart for keeping an enemy in his house. Dr. Sadao was called by the General and on hearing this ‘Hana felt weak. He saw the General and told what had happened at his house. He even promised the Dr. to help him and getting rid of the enemy. But Dr. Sadao was successful in getting rid of the enemy. Thus Dr. Sadao lost all his peace of mind and put his life in danger.

Since Dr. Sadao was keeping an enemy at his house and he was becoming the cause of great stress, tension, trouble and fear for him. Even the General failed to send his assassins, so Dr. Sadao worked out a plan and apprised the soldier about his return and safety.

It was pointed out by Dr. Sadao that he would put his boat with extra clothing, medicines and other essentials on the shore that night. He would row it to the little island which was not far off from the coast. The island is inhabited. He would have a Korean fishing boat. The American soldier agreed and pulled that boat down to the shore. Dr. Sadao arranged everything for the prisoner. He gave him some instructions. In case he ran short of food he would flash two signals when the sun sets. If he was all right and was on the island he would flash one. The man escaped in the night and Dr. Sadao got no flash of light in the twilight. So the soldier had safely boarded the Korean fishing boat. Thus Dr. Sadao was able to get rid of the soldier.

The family of Dr. Sadao was very well-off. They had servants to look after their children and to do the domestic chores. They had a fine cook and a garderner who had been with the family since Sadao was a child. All of them were sincere, faithful, honest and dedicated for the family. Side by side they were ardent Japanese and did not like Americans since at that time Japan and America were at war. Sadao had studied surgery in America and there he was trained to use his knife to save every life. But the servants could not understand this ideology and they viewed that Sadao and Hana liked the Americans because they had studied there. In brief they lacked both humanity and patriotism.

The gardener was of the opinion that Sadao should have allowed the soldier to die. Being a superstitious man, he believed that the fun and the sea were to kill the enemy. In case Sadao interfered, they would take the revenge. The cook too was full of all despise for the soldier. When Hana asked Yumi to wash the soldier, she looked at the white man in a great disgust and scorn. She refused to wash. After one week, all the servants decided to go away from the house of Sadao.

Dr. Sadao was both a dutiful and an humanitarian doctor. He was much compelled by his duty to keep the enemy soldier. Knowing that the patient was an enemy soldier, he decided to save his life. The family servants objected and left the home since sheltering an enemy was illegal and punishable. Dr. Sadao was well aware of all the hard consequences hovering on him but he showed his sympathy for the patient. His wife too cooperated him in treating the patient. On the other hand, the enemy soldier was aware about his position since the outside world was readily waiting to gulp him immediately.

He knew that patient was a danger both to the doctor and to himself about it, side by side Dr. Sadao had apprised the general who as promised to get rid of the enemy soldier but that did not happen. Keeping in view all the facts as well as his safety he arranged a boat for his enemy’s departure with food and other material. Dr. Sadao advised him to do the signals on reaching. Thus he was able to free himself from the wounded soldier. Hence it can be well-estimated that milk of human kindness, sympathy, security, safety, morality and duty flowed in the views of Dr. Sadao.

Hana was a fully devoted wife. She supported her husband in his decision to save the soldier’s life. She always had faith in her husband’s decision. When Dr. Sadao decided to take the enemy in her house and operate upon him, she fully supported his decision and assisted him in the operation. She followed her husband’s instructions and administered anaesthetic to the American.

She washed him herself and fed him with her own hands. She hated the enemy soldier but still served him because her husband had sheltered him. She had to face resentment from the servants but she did not loose her patience and laboured herself. She proudly paid them their dues and thanked them for their services. She cooked food herself and looked after the whole house herself. But she did not go against her husband’s decision.

It is quite natural as well as acceptable beyond doubt that individuals who belong to enemy countries tend to despise and show jealousy towards each other even if they are quite unknown and ignorant about each other. Among them only the few people behave above narrow mindedness and petty prejudices. Rather the milk of sympathy, kindness, humanity and solace flows in their pure veins and they fail to realise that after all the affected person is a man like them. He too possesses the same personality, feelings, traits and exceptions like others.

In the story ‘The Enemy,’ Dr. Sadao and his wife provide a fine example of this kind who rise above narrow mindedness and petty prejudices. Their inner urge overpowers them and they save the life of a fatally wounded soldier duly flung away through the sea waves near the house of Dr. Sadao. They bring him home and find him to be an enemy but Dr. Sadao has got sufficient mastery in his training to save the dying humanity. The milk of human kindness flows both in Dr. Sadao and his wife Hana though there are every chance of being called him as a traitor. The domestic servants too object and leave the house till the stay of the soldier. In the end Dr. Sadao helps his safe return as well. Thus we can see some people rise above petty prejudices and narrow mindedness.

The American soldier was thrown out of the waves by the waves. He staggered a few steps till he fell on his fours. After crawling a few steps, he fell unconscious. Dr. Sadao found him wounded and unconscious. He found that the soldier had a gunshot wound on the right side of his lower back and it had reopened when the young soldier had hit against rocks. The soldier was bleeding profusely.

Dr. Sadao was in a position of trust. The predicament had put before him conflicting values. He faced the dilemma; whether he should he fulfil his duty as a doctor or his duty as a true nationalist, a loyal patriot. Dr. Sadao had spent a couple of years in America while he was a student of surgery. At that time, he went through racial prejudices and bias. He struggled with the issues of duty, wartime medicine and racism. Ultimately, he preferred to save the life of the enemy risking his own.
He stood up for his beliefs without thinking about the repercussions and chose humanity over nationality. He took the soldier in, provided him shelter- operated upon him and takes utmost care of him. Not only that, he helps the American to escape.

Dr. Sadao informed the General about the American prisoner and told him that he had operated him successfully. He made it obvious to him that he cared nothing for the man and he is enemy to him. The general promised his help and said that he would not be arrested. The General suggested that he would send his personal assassins to kill the prisoner and then remove his body from Sadao's house, to get rid of the American prisoner. The plan was not executed because the General forgot his promise to send the assassins. The old General had a long expressionless face, which seemed to reflect the cold and calculated ruthlessness of the man as a general. He had an unusual sense of humour and seemed to generate fear in others' hearts quite effortlessly. The General is self-centered and he thinks of his own interest.He does not take any action against Dr Sadao for sheltering the enemy. He is suffering from serious ailments and he always needs his services. He does not get him arrested because he knows that in that case he would not be able to get his services. 

The distress of his wife at the sight of the operation and his inability to go to her at once forced Dr. Sadao to be impatient and irritable with his patient who lay like a dead under his knife.

Yes, she thought that the Japanese tortured their prisoners of war as she saw deep red scars on the neck of the wounded American soldier while washing him. The scars right under the ears spoke of the extreme torture afflicted upon the prisoners of war.

Dr. Sadao helped him by giving him a boat, rations, Japanese cloths and even a torch light with which he could indicate in case his supplies ran out or if he did not find a Korean fishing boat to rescue him from the Island where he was to seek refuge. Sadao had made sure that he was strong enough to take this chance and save his life.

As a doctor, Sadao knew the value of human life. He risked his own life by saving the American sailor, even though he knew that he could go to prison for hiding a prisoner of war. He cleaned the Americans wounds, fed him and nursed him back to health. When the American was feeling healthy, he gave him provisions such as food and a boat, and helped him to escape from Japan. As a Japanese citizen, he fulfilled his duty by telling the General about the American. Even though the General forgot to send his assassins, Sadao could not be blamed for the American escape. Thus we can say that Sadao carried out his responsibilities, as a doctor, and as a Japanese citizen both.