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.

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.