Danny And Reuven In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

Words: 658

Pages: 3

Open Document

For a human being, friendship is vital. Not only does friendship spur happiness onto others, it helps a lonely person feel appreciated and cared for. You see this in The Chosen when Danny and Reuven first start to become close with each other, after Reuven’s time in the hospital. Perfect friendships do not exist and sometimes life can get in the way of a strong bond between two people, and we see this when Danny becomes overwhelmed with extra work, and sickness and is unable to see Reuven throughout his weeks. Reuven however always makes sure to call and check on Danny. Danny experiences sadness during their estrangement from each other. While they were not speaking Danny’s grades became increasingly lower, his attitude towards school work became negative and he constantly thought and worried about Reuven. Chaim Potok writes with a passion for retaining true friendships and has always made sure Danny and Reuven come back to each other with open minds, arms, and hearts. …show more content…
Danny was affected by these 2 emotions throughout the novel. One example of Danny’s sadness in The Chosen: “I did not see Danny that entire week. He called me on Wednesday night, sounding sad, and we talked for a while.” (172) Reb Maulter and Danny had a unique relationship that caused Danny to feel dispirited. It seems that Reb neglected Danny’s emotional needs. A young man thrives on his father’s wise words and support but Danny and Reb did not speak unless a topic about the Talmud, or an educational debate came up at dinner time. When Reuven entered Danny’s life he filled some of the emptiness in his heart. Danny was able to express his opinion, laugh, and talk freely with

The Chosen Friendship Quotes

numerous life lessons. The two characters, Danny Saunders, a Hasidic Jew, and Reuven Malter, a son of ‘goyim’ continue to captivate the minds of thousands of readers. Why? Is it because of their story, dreams, choices, or religion? Personally, I enjoyed Chaim Potok’s book, The Chosen, because it proved the significance of religion, demonstrated the importance of friendship, and illustrated the necessity for a fatherly figure. Firstly, I enjoyed reading The Chosen because it proved the significance of…

Words 466 - Pages 2

the chosen Essay

The chosen A person’s vision is demonstrated by their ability to see the world as well as themselves. In Chaim Potok’s book, The Chosen, he illustrates how one moment can change a person’s life forever as their perception of the world and themselves is altered. Reuven Malter, a Jewish boy living in Brooklyn, is involved in an accident, which changes his perspective on life. The accident alters the life of Danny Saunders as well. Billy Merrit is in an accident too, and his life is never the same…

Words 658 - Pages 3

Reb Saunders In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

Hebrew War-Priest. Reb Saunders; dedicated, no-nonsense, and certainly a warrior from Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. The way rebbe Reb Saunders controls his community to the way he rules his son, the character portrays similarities to traditions of the old Orthodox Judaism. The definition of Reb Saunders in The Chosen is crucial to signify how different Danny and Reuven are. Danny lives in a strict household, whilst Reuven lives in a more fluid house. In the rebbe position, Reb requires a strong stance as…

Words 524 - Pages 3

Reuven In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

But not only does suffering build character, as through pain, a person’s true character manifest itself. Reuven Malter out of Chaim Potok’s good book The Chosen provides a good example of a person’s character showing in pain. At the beginning of Potok’s book an opposing player in a softball game, Danny Saunders, purposefully hits Reuven in the left eye with a softball. As a result, Reuven has to spend a few days in the hospital and experiences a great amount of pain. However, in his greatest…

Words 744 - Pages 3

Reb Saunders Brother In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

In Chaim Potok's novel The Chosen, one of the main characters, Danny, is a brilliant scholar who is faced with a troubling situation at home, due to his aspiration to study and become a psychologist, and what his father wants: for Danny to become a rabbi. Solomon Maimon and Reb Saunders' brother were both Jewish scholars whose short lives brought loss and pain due to their cold, calculating minds. The two were also different in that Reb Saunders' brother was a teacher, who had an impatient nature…

Words 469 - Pages 2

The Balance Of A Father In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

balance between giving freedom and providing guidance to their children. In Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, David Malter succeeds in doing so. He has a modern, flexible stance on Jewish religion and has trained up his son Reuven as such. For a living he writes articles on the Talmud, usually doing so in his windowless study by candlelight. The Talmud encompasses a large part of Jewish life, and Mr. Malter spends time helping Reuven study the Talmud and gently guiding him in the way he ought to act. Mr. Malter…

Words 763 - Pages 4