AISSCE (2024-25)

ENGLISH INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

CLASS XII A

TOPIC: The Enemy

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Ms. Priyashri dubey MRIDUL KHANDELWAL
(PGT ENGLISH)
 CERTIFICATE

This is hereby to certify that, the original and genuine

investigation work has been carried out to investigate about the
subject matter and the related data collection and investigation
has been completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily done by,
Mridul Khandelwal a student of class 12th for the academic session
2024-2025, Regarding the investigatory project entitled " The
Enemy Of English Department under direct supervision of the
undersigned as per the requirement for the Board Examination in
partial fulfillment of physics practical examination conducted by
AISSCE.

Internal examiner Principal External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my

teacher Ms. Priyashri dubey, who gave me the golden
opportunity to do this wonderful project of English on " The Enemy
", who also helped me in completing my project, also I am very
much thankful to our principal Mr. Satish Niranjani for giving
valuable time and moral support for this project. I came to know
about so many new things I am really thankful to them. Secondly I
would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a
lot in finalizing this project within the limited time frame.

Mridul Khandelwal
XII A
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the project work entitled “The Enemy ",
submitted to Department of English , The Omni School, Indore
(M.P.) is prepared by me. All the results are of my personal
efforts.

Mridul Khandelwal
XII A
 INDEX

S.NO TOPIC Page

. no.
1 Certificate of excellence
2 Acknowledgement
3 Declaration
4 About the Author :
 About the Author : - Pearl Sydenstricker Buck
(1892 –1973)
Pearl Sydenstricker was born on June 26, 1892, in Hillsboro, West
Virginia. Her parents, Absalom and Caroline Sydenstricker, were
Southern Presbyterian missionaries, stationed in China. In 1910,
Pearl graduated from a Woman’s college in Virginia in 1914.
Although she had intended to remain in the US, she returned to
China shortly after graduation. Her first novel East Wind, West
Wind was published in 1930. . Her next novel, The Good Earth,
earned her a Pulitzer Prize in 1932. After receiving the Pulitzer,
Buck moved back to the United States permanently. In 1938, she
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her rich and truly
epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical
masterpieces. She was the first American woman to win the Nobel
Prize for Literature.
 Introduction

The story is set during the Second World War. It takes place on a
coastal town of Japan in the year 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl
Harbor. A war going on between America and Japan. Japanese
were hostile to the Americans and ready to kill any American
found in their soil. The story highlights how a Japanese doctor
saves the life of an American prisoner of war and rises above
narrow national prejudices. He risks his honour, career, position
and life by sheltering a war prisoner of the enemy camp and
saving his life. The author has beautifully portrayed the conflict in
the doctor’s mind as a private individual and as a citizen with a
sense of national loyalty.

Theme : ‘The Enemy’ gives the message that humanism

transcends all man made prejudices and barriers. Dr. Sadao
upholds the ethics of medical profession in treating an enemy.
The story is a great lesson of peace, love, sympathy, fellow
feeling and humanism.

Sub-Theme : Service to mankind, professional ethics, human

predicament

The story emphasises

predicament and humanism
 CHARACTERS :
Dr. Sadao Hoki - A Japanese doctor trained by Americans
Sadao’s father - Much concerned about his son’s education, a
true patriot
Hana - Sadao’s wife, met him in America
Tom - An American prisoner of war (PoW), a soldier of U.S. Navy
The General - A sick Japanese army General, trusted only Sadao
An officer - A messenger of the General
Gardener - An old gardener in the house of Dr. Sadao
Yumi - Hana’s maid servant
The cook - An old cook in the house of Dr. Sadao
 SUMMARY
Life during wartime in Japan. Dr Sadao Hoki and his wife Hana
spot a dark shape in the surf that turns out to be a white man; a
severely wounded soldier. At first they agree to turn the man over
to authorities as a prisoner of war. This makes only perfect sense
considering not just the ramifications of treating his wounds, but
that the doctor and his wife are both virulently racist nationalists
who consider the Japanese to be superior to the white race
anywhere in the world. They had met in America before the war
and he only proposed because his father consented to his choice
of a pureblood. Changing their minds in the face of the massive
trauma exhibited by the man, the two agree to take him to their
home and treat his injuries as an act of humanitarian compassion
consistent with their belief in the superiority of the Japanese
people. The must inform their servants of this decision, of course.
The servants are every bit as racially prejudiced and biased as
their employers, but their edges have not been softened by the
humanitarianism of medical service. The servants make no secret
of their belief that the man should have been left to die and turn
cold toward the doctor and his wife. After a week of treating the
white man and helping him recover from his life-threatening
injuries, the servants quit when their ultimatum that the man be
turned over to the authorities is met by the doctor’s steadfast
resolve. Meanwhile the man—an American named Tom —is well
enough to thank the doctor for saving his life. The doctor warns
him not to be premature with this assessment. When a
messenger arrives for her husband, Hana is terrified that the
servants have spilled the beans and they are about to be
punished. Instead, the message directed Dr. Hoki to a patient
consultation with General Takima, a wife-beating hero of the
Battle of Manchuria. Takima is very ill and will likely die without
the surgical skill of the doctor. Sadao chooses to confess to the
General about the situation with the injured soldier. The General,
in a remarkable display of self-interest over duty agrees to keep
the secret. After all, if he turns in the doctor, Sadao will likely be
executed and he needs the doctor alive in order to prolong his
own life. They reach an agreement in which the General will send
assassins to kill Tom. After a few days, the soldier not only has
not been assassinated, but has recovered much of his strength
which intensifies the doctor’s fear. Since it seems the General has
changed the plans they agreed upon, Dr. Hoki takes it upon
himself to arrange the man’s nighttime escape aboard a Korean
fishing boat without informing his wife. The escape plan seems to
be going off without a hitch. Then the doctor is called in for
emergency surgery to save the General’s life and when the
patient is strong enough to receive the news, he tells him that his
prisoner somehow escaped at night The General confesses that
he was worried about his own life to the degree that he had
completely forgotten the assassination agreement. He then
admits that it was simply a case of carelessness and most
certainly not dereliction of duty or lack of patriotism. The two men
strike a deal to keep secrets secret with the General promising
Sadao that he will be rewarded. As Dr. Hoki looks out toward the
horizon for the American’s signal, meant to convey that he was
still safe in his hiding spot awaiting the arrival of the fishing boat.
But the sun sets without a signal, informing the doctor that the
escape has been successful. This, Dr. Hoki thinks, is his real
reward. As he ponders his time in America, the true depth of his
irrational prejudice against the white race is revealed through his
thoughts. He remembers his landlady in America who seemed
indifferent and yet how she treated him when he had influenza.
He remembers the repulsive whites and their unwelcoming
attitude during his stay in America. Then he muses to himself:
“Strange. I wonder why I could not kill him?
 Character Sketch

Dr Sadao Hoki – As a doctor, as a Japanese, as a human being, his predicament

Hana – As a wife, as a Japanese, as a human being