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?
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.
What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldiers? Was it human consideration, lack of national loyalty, dediction of duty or simply-self-absorption?
While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable specially during war time, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
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?
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.
