There are moments in life when we have to make hard choice between our souls as private individuals

and as citizens with a sense of national loyalties. Discuss with reference to the story you have just
read.

Sometimes in life we come across some difficult situations where no one answer seems to be the right
one. Dr. Sadao’s case was one such dilemma. On one hand it was his loyalty to his country while on the
other hand his ethical and moral responsibility as a doctor who can never kill his own patient, even if the
patient is an enemy. In this case, the patient is an enemy soldier who is dying and his life is in Dr.
Sadao’s hands. Keeping everything in mind, Dr Sadao decides to fulfill his duties as a doctor first and
save his life and as citizen later. The decision not to hand over the prisoner to the army. was not taken in
good light. His servants and his maid servant, Yumi, were dead against him. Thus, he endangers his own
life in order to save the prisoner’s life and helping him to escape to freedom for the sake of humanity.

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?

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 enemy soldier fighting a life and death
situation, she was deeply moved and developed a natural sympathy for the soldier. Besides, she also
understood her husband’s ethical and moral responsibility as a medical practitioner.

When the soldier was brought home, 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, the maid refused to wash the
wounded soldier, but Hana stood up to 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 Dr Sadao to save the prisoner.

How would you explain the reluctance of the soldier to leave the doctor’s house even when he knew
as he could not stay there without risk to the doctor and himself?
During the course of his treatment the enemy soldier had developed a sense of trust and understanding
that he was far safer with the compassionate couple, who had saved his life, than outside in a foreign
land where he was nothing beyond an enemy soldier. The immediate punishment being death. The
Sadao couple had given shelter, medical treatment and a fresh lease of life in spite of stiff objection by
the domestic staff in the house and a defiance of the law of the land by showing sympathy towards an
enemy Thus, he was reluctant to leave the doctor’s house since he was safe there in all respects. In
addition, he had developed a sense of confidence that they would not let him die again.

Alongside, 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 owing to the rising opposition of the domestic
servants. 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, till such time, he decided to remain indoors at the mercy
of this very obliging and cooperative couple.
What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldiers? Was it human
consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of duty or simply-self-absorption?
Even though Dr. Sadao is well aware about the legal punishment that he can face for the favour he has
extended to the enemy soldier, still he reveals to the general everything about how he had operated,
treated and has been sheltering the enemy soldier at his house. However, instead of taking any action
against Dr. Sadao. the General advises him that he will depute 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
himself has to be operated the next day by Dr Sadao. So, Dr. Sadao’s death will be a personal loss to his
life. He does not want to risk his life. Hence, he decides not 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 or his benefactor.
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. Thus, the General was cunning,
ruthless and self-absorbed person who only looked at his own selfish gains and nothing beyond it.

While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable specially during war time, what makes
a human being rise above narrow prejudices?

How did Dr. Sadao rise above narrow prejudices of race and country to help a human being in need?

A war is a war and an enemy is an enemy may perhaps be a natural line of thought with most human
beings. However, there are those bold people who rise above this narrow view point and prejudices to
prove a bigger point of view. Humanity comes first. Dr Sadao was one such person who believes that his
ethical duty and responsibility to save lives is above all other duties as he is a doctor and his duty is to
save lives, irrespective of caste, creed, society, nationality and gender, even if the patient is an enemy. It
is exceedingly difficult to act in such situations. In the story, Dr. Sadao is at the receiving end from all
staff members in his house when he decides to save the life of a dying enemy soldier. His wife is the only
person who decides to stand by him in this life saving act. Though she was quite aware of the severe
consequences if ever the army comes to know about sheltering an enemy soldier during the war. Dr
Sadao forgets all racial prejudice of the white against him during his training period and decides to do
his level best to save the dying enemy soldier. His wife decides to stand by him and together they rise
above all petty prejudices to show that being humane is our foremost duty.