1.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?
It is true that Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to save the enemy soldier's life. However, this was possible also because of the support given to him by Hana his wife. When faced with the dilemma, she says, " You also cannot throw him back into the sea." She goes on to state the obvious, "We must carry him into the house."
When faced by open defiance from the servants, Hana supports Sadao. She stands by her husband affirming her faith in him. She washes the sailor when Yumi refuses to do so. She nurses the sailor to good health feeds him and tends him.
Hana displays her true love and affection for Sadao by supporting him in times of difficulty. She shows her loyalty and faith in her husband. It is because of her love for her husband that Hana was sympathetic to Sadao in spite of all the difficulties they had to face. It was a fully balanced partnership between husband and wife.
2. Who was the guiltier of the two, Dr. Sadao or General Takima?
Both Sadao and General Takima were guilty of the crime of treason. While the former had given shelter to the 'Enemy' and treated him, the latter had not reported the matter to the authorities. Both, Sadao and General Takima had broken the laws of patriotism. Both of them could go to prison. Both of them were guilty of the crime of treason.
However, there is a difference in the quantum of guilt and the amount of punishment that could be awarded to them. Dr Sadao, it can be argued, was doing his duty. It was his duty as a doctor to save a life. And added to this, he did not save Tom's life for any selfish reason. General Takima, unlike Sadao, had failed to do his duty to report the sailor's presence to the authorities. In fact, it was more of a responsibility that he had to the nation as a member of the armed forces. To make things worse, General Takima did not report the matter to the authorities for a selfish reason - he did not want Sadao to be arrested because there would be no one to treat him.
It can be rightly said that while both Sadao and the General are guilty of breaking the rules of the land, General Takima is the guiltier of the two. He broke the rules because he put himself before the nation. Sadao, however, broke the rules only to uphold the higher laws of humanity and that too not for any selfish reason.
3. While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
Hatred against members of the enemy race especially during wartime is often caused by the narrow prejudices created by the rules of patriotism. Rules of patriotism dictate that we look at people belonging to enemy countries as people to be feared, sub-humans, and not deserving of respect and kindness.
However, adherence to the higher laws of humanity, helps people rise above narrow prejudice. A sense of duty towards other humans, better education and a broad-minded attitude can help. Dr. Sadao and Hana were loyal to the higher laws of humanity. For Sadao it was also about his being a doctor, he could not see Tom die. For Hana, it was about affirming her faith in Sadao.
Having studied in America, both Sadao and Hana had a broader mindset, they had a broader perspective about life. It was for this reason that unlike the servants they simply could not put Tom back into the sea. They knew that Tom was first a human being and then the enemy.
MCIQ type questions
They came like flickers of rumour, told by word of mouth and always contradicted. In the newspapers, the reports were always that wherever the Japanese armies went the people received them gladly, with cries of joy at their liberations. But sometimes she remembered such men as General Takima, who at home beat his wife cruelly,
1. The statement, "They came like flickers of rumours" does not refer to
i. the rumours of the defeat of the Japanese army.
ii. the rumours of the excesses committed by the Japanese army.
iii. the rumours of cruelty committed by the invading Japanese army
iv. the rumours of crimes committed by people like General Takima.
2. The term, 'word of mouth ' does not refer to
i. Stories passed on by people'
ii. Whispered conversations.
iii. Unofficial sources of information.
iv. Newspapers and Radio reports.
3. The newspaper reports about the Japanese army being received gladly is
i. true
ii. false
iii. inconclusive
4. Hana's perception about the greatness of General Takima is affected by
i. the rumours she had heard about his actions in the field of battle.
ii. the stories she had heard about his leadership qualities.
iii. the stories she had heard about him beating his wife at home.
iv. the stories she had heard about his being a magnanimous man.
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