Enemies – Summary | Major (Optional) English Class 12

The Use of Force

Willams Carlos Williams
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

“The Use of Force” by William Carlos Williams shows the conflict between a doctor and his patient at one level and doctor and the parents at another level. The conflict between the doctor and the patient is physical. But the conflict between doctor and parents is psychological. This story tells that the use of force for the benevolent purpose is ethical and justifiable.

The narrator is a doctor who visits the house of the Olson family. Their small daughter Mithalda has had a high fever for three days. Since no medicine worked, her parents called the doctor. Being fearful that the girl may be suffering from diphtheria, the doctor asked her parents if she had a sore throat. The parents had not taken a look at her throat because they did not want to hurt her. The doctor asks Mithalda to open her mouth but suddenly the girl attacks his eyes with her nails. The doctor hates the parents when they say that the doctor is a nice man and will not hurt her. Then the doctor decides to use force than to leave her to die. When the doctor is about to look into her throat, her father suddenly releases her. The parents are restless and fearful that the doctor may harm her child.

On next attempt, he grasps the child’s head and tries to get the wooden depressor into her mouth. The girl breaks it with her molars. The child’s mouth starts bleeding. Later he forces the spoon back of her teeth and throat. He finds that she has a sore throat and is suffering from diphtheria.

Generally, force is unjustifiable, but if it is used with good motives in order to save somebody’s life, it becomes a necessity. Here the basic conflict is between the doctor and the parents of the patient. The doctor uses force because of social responsibility while the parents do not want the use of force. Their love towards their child was about to cause the death of their child. The parents concentrate on immediate pain without thinking about the consequences of deadly diseases. So the doctor loves the innocent child but finds her parents contemptible.

An Episode of War

Stephen Crane
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

‘An Episode of War’ written by Stephen Crane presents the bitter experience of a wounded lieutenant at the war front, barracks, and hospital. Crane hasn’t given a name to the lieutenant but used the generic name in order to show that war is a bitter experience not for an individual only but for all soldiers of any nationality, place and time.

While dividing the coffee powder, the Lieutenant was mysteriously shot on his right arm by a bullet. The fellowmen gazed at him with awe and some offered him help. But lieutenant did not accept their help. Soon all his fellowmen had to take their position in the battlefield, so he started walking alone towards the military hospital. On the way, he met some stragglers who did not care about his wound.

In the barrack, several officers came out to see him and started asking several questions. One of them noticed his wound, but without any right treatment or sympathy, he tied his wound with a handkerchief. He even scolded him. Lieutenant reached the hospital. He found that the hospital was mismanaged- the ambulances were stuck up in the mud and no one cared the wounded soldiers. He met a busy surgeon who behaved him in an indifferent manner. He talked to the lieutenant as if he was talking to a criminal, not to a brave soldier. Though the surgeon told that he would not amputate his hand, he found himself losing his arm. When he went to his home the family members started crying because they did not realize his bravery. Though he was a war hero, he felt ashamed.

Thus this story shows the gap between appearance and reality. War is glorified but soldiers are treated indifferently. A brave war hero is misbehaved wherever he goes. The wound sets the lieutenant apart from his fellow soldiers. He becomes disillusioned by the war while his fellow soldiers glorify war.

Enemies

Anton Checkov
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

“Enemies” is a story written by Anton Checkov. The story suggests that grief and misery do not bring people together to share, but force them apart. Pain is egoistic.

Kirilov is a district doctor. His six-year-old son has just died of diphtheria. He stands watching his unconscious wife near the dead body. The doorbell rings and a wealthy stranger Aboguin enters begging the Doctor to come to treat his wife who is in great pain. Kirilov says that he cannot possibly leave his wife at this time. Abogin requests to treat his wife in the name of humanity. Kirilov forgets his social responsibility as a doctor and is observed in his own pain and grief. In the other hand, Aboguin thinks that his grief is worse than the doctor.

However, after many requests, Kirilov unwillingly goes with Aboguin in his carriage. But when they arrive at Aboguin’s house, his wife is not at home. She pretended to be ill in order to run away with her lover. Aboguin is sad and begins to complain to Kirilov. Kirilov is angry and he does not like to hear the grief of Aboguin. He thinks that Abguin played a joke with him. They scream at one another and the doctor returns home cursing the rich people like Aboguin and forming a deep-rooted enmity towards them.

In unhappiness, both became selfish, wicked, unjust and unable to understand each other. Pain and anxiety made them egoistic and selfish. However, we sympathize with Dr. Kirilov because his loss is greater that Aboguin’s.

Duchoux

Guy De Maupassant
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

Maupassant’s story “Duchoux” is about a self-centered old man named Barone Mardiane who values position more than family. This story implies that modern civilization has separated man from his true self or nature. Modern men only crave for comfort, money, and sex. They have forgotten the values of family bonds and love.

Barone Mardiane, an aristocratic old bachelor is fed up of with his monotonous life. He feels lonely and sad because he is bored with the same friends, gambling and the same activities. In loneliness, he is haunted by the memory of his illegitimate son. He wishes to spend the rest of his life with him and his grandchildren. In his young age, he had a short romantic relationship with the wife of the governor of a colony. A son was born secretly.

The mother died of tuberculosis after three years. Baron had secretly arranged for the boy’s education and marriage. Barone goes to meet his son’s house. When he reaches there, he meets a boy, lifts him and tries to kiss him. But the smell of garlic coming out from his mouth prevents him. Barone notices that everything the son has does not suit his standard. The servants are dirty, the room is dark and dirty, his son Duchoux is bald-headed, shabbily dressed and even daughter-in-law is dirty and shabbily dressed. The room is filled with the odor of garlic. Though Duchoux resembled in many ways with his mother, Barone dislikes him. When the boy comes and calls Duchoux ‘father’ in a Southern tone, Barone is struck by the word. He hates the rural and uncultured environment of his son’s house and returns to Paris.

Important Questions:

1. What is the reason behind the Baron’s rejection of his son, whom he had longed to see so much?
2. What is a son according to the story?
3. Does the story imply that modern civilization has alienated man from his true self or nature? Give reasons for your answer.
4. What is the theme of this story?

The Day of The Dead

Octavio Paz
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

Octavio Paz in the essay “The Day of the Dead” presents the psychological and cultural motivations behind the popularity of fiestas in Mexico. The Mexican people celebrate fiestas with all the colors, strange costumes, dancing, fireworks, drinking, shouting and gathering together. By means of fiestas, Mexican people free themselves from the monotony of life, solitude, order, rigidity, poverty and harsh reality. During fiestas, society frees itself from the laws, traditions, order and come out purified with new energy.

In certain fiestas, the very idea of order disappears, chaos comes back and sexual freedom rules. All the social, sex, caste and trade differences disappear. Fiestas are like a revolution because individual dissolves in mass and forms a unity. The people reveal their hidden secrets and desires and free themselves from the mental burden.

Important Questions:

• What are the Mexican attitudes towards the celebrations of life and death?
• What are the factors which make fiestas so popular in Mexico and what are the psychological and cultural motivations behind them?

A Day In The Life of Salaryman

John Burgess
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

The ‘Salaryman’ described in “A Day in the Life of a Salaryman ” is the representative of average male Japanese white-collar worker who devotes his soul and body to his company. He is a university graduate, lives in a mortgaged house, always wears formal dress and is equipped with every essential item. He is the industrial warrior and a driving force behind Japan’s economic success. He gives more preference to the office than his own family.

He wakes up late. After a quick wash, shave and dressing, he takes his breakfast. His wife drives him to the train station for a 70-minute ride. He then catches a train and starts reading the book on computers in order to improve his skills. He reaches his office at 9:10 where he is a section manager.

At 10:30 he assembles data and attends a meeting about a contract. He works consciously in order to gain promotion. At 4:00 he attends another meeting and by 7:00 he finishes his compiling work. Yet he does not go home. At 7:30 he attends a dinner with the client company. Around 11 pm, his friends rush towards bath house for entertainment, but he rushes towards his house. At home, he takes the late supper left on the table, gives a sentimental gaze at his sleeping children and goes to bed. Thus, for the Salaryman the office is a real home.

Important Questions:

• What is the significance of the time ‘Salaryman’ spends outside his job improving work skills and attending training program?
• Describe “Salaryman’s” job in brief.
• How does ‘salaryman’ represent Japanese white-collar workers?
• Describe the events that normally take place in the working day of a “Salaryman” in Japan. How do you view that the “Salary man” is representative of Japanese white-collar workers?

The Penalty of Death

H.L. Mencke
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

H.L. Mencken’s essay “The Penalty of Death” advocates in favor of the death penalty. Mencken thinks that capital punishment is a very beneficial component of any justice system. Mencken thinks that the death penalty should be given to those who take the lives of other people challenging all civilized order. He presents three reasons for his support of capital punishment. They are pleasantness of ancient art, deterrence, and katharsis.

Mencken attacks the abolitionists' idea that hangman’s job is unpleasant. He claims that there are many jobs which are unpleasant like the job of soldier, sweeper, plumber etc. but which are needed for the society. He thinks that hangman is satisfied to practice his ancient craft and also is needed for society. Mencken mentions that capital punishment saves lives. It saves lives because it stops those who murder from ever murdering again. It also deters potential murderers from ever committing the crime.

The last reason that Mencken gives is the strongest of all. He claims that the main reason for death punishment is to provide Katharsis to the victims, relatives, and society at large. Katharsis is the healthy release of emotions, grief, hatred or anger. It provides sudden emotional and mental satisfaction. It also brings a sense of security and mental peace to the public at large.

Important Questions:

• Identify Mencken’s three reasons for his support of capital punishment. Do all three seem to you equally strong?
• What are Mencken’s three reasons for death punishment? Explain if you are for or against him.

Zeroing in on Science Friction

Gray Goshgarian
Unit: Encounters
Subject: Major English Grade XII

In his essay “Zeroing in on Science Fiction” Gary Goshgarin defines science fiction as the branch of literature that imaginatively speculates human life in the scientific or technological world.

Science fiction differs from other kinds of fiction in the sense that science fiction always gives a scientific logic for any imagination. It does not present any event without scientific rationale. In other kinds of fiction, the consequences are caused by magic or supernatural powers. Science fiction always predicts possibility while other kinds of fiction may present an event that is impossible. Goshgarin thinks that Frankenstein is science fiction while Dracula is fantasy fiction.

Goshgarin also distinguishes between Hard SF and Soft SF. Hard SF takes help of known principles and inventions to fill their stories with scientific jargon. The heroes are usually scientists or engineers. The readers with good knowledge of science can only enjoy this type of fiction. Caves of Steel by Asimov is a Hard SF. Soft SF takes help of sociology, anthropology, psychology, philosophy and other branches of knowledge to show the moral and social results of scientific advancement. It deals with how scientific developments will influence morality, evolution, and the environment. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess is Soft SF.

Important Questions:

• How does Ghoshgarin draw a distinction between hard science and soft science fiction?
• How does Goshgarin distinguish science fiction from other kinds of fiction?