Religion remains everywhere. Especially during 1944 in Brooklyn, New York, where two friends have the same religion, but different view points. Reuven Malter remains a Modern Orthodox Jew who has the free will to choose his career. Unlike Reuven, Danny follows his father into becoming a Hasidic Jew, although he does not wish to become a rabbi. The two boys experience one anthers beliefs and practices throughout the whole novel. Chaim Potok, the author of The Chosen, displays many themes of religious tradition through the different sects of Reuven, Danny, and Issac Saunders.
To start off, Reuven Malter lives in the modern world as an Orthodox Jew. David Malter, his father, has given Reuven the free will to choose his passion in life whether he wants to become a rabbi or a mathematician, unlike Danny. For example, the modern tradition enables Reuven to have the freedom to do certain things that the Hasidic Jews cannot. Reuven's sect represents a whole different world from Dannys. “About three or four such Hasidic sects populated the area in which Danny and I grew up, each with its own rabbi, its
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Even though Hasidic remains a subgroup under Orthodox Jews, it still contains many different traditions. For illustration, Danny wears his traditional Hasidic clothing along with his side curls. “They all wore the traditional undergarment beneath their shirts, and the tzitzit, the long fringes appended to the four corners of the garment, came 'out above their belts and swung against their pants as they walked” (8,9). Unlike Reuven, Danny has to wear certain clothing, and grow out his side curls as a tradition in the Hasidic community. In addition, Danny remains in line for taking his father's position to become a rabbi giving him no choice to choose his career freely. For this reason, Hasidic represent more of old school traditions where as Reuven lives in a newer practice of doing
Three main character that he shows compassion through in different ways are, Reuven, Mr. Malter and Reb Sanders. To begin with, Reuven shows great companion for other, even in his teenage years. He demonstrates throughout the book that he really cares for others and that he takes their burden upon himself. He shows how he actually suffers with others with their hardships and he never only thinks about himself. For example, when Reuven learns that his little friend Billy did not get his eye sight back, the book says, “I felt myself break out into cold sweat.
The third main relationship is Hasidism verses Zionism. The relationship between the two fathers and the two sons is a very important theme in this book. Because of their different backgrounds, Reb Saunders and David Malters approached raising a child from two totally different perspectives. Despite the obvious differences in the two men’s beliefs, both did what they thought was right for their sons. Reb Saunders was a Hasidic tzaddik and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps.
Both have matured due to the influential events by one another. They will forever have memories of why they are the way they are today due to one another. These pivotal moments changed the course of their friendships, and their lives. Reuven’s view of others and his understanding of relationships will now effect any thoughts he has along those
They became friends and kept seeing each other after Reuven got out of the hospital. One day, Reuven went over to Danny’s house to meet his father. Danny’s father was a rabbi and raised his son in silence. They never talked except when they studied the Torah together. Reuven’s father was a Zionist and Danny’s father was an anti-Zionist.
In The Chosen, Reuven is very easily influenced by the people around him as he goes through his adolescence. It is a time of learning and self-realization for him, and at this time, he turns to his father for guidance and wisdom. His father shows him the ways of understanding and compassion. He also prepares him for what lies ahead, whether his son chooses to be a rabbi or not. Through his father’s teachings, Reuven develops the personal traits essential for becoming a rabbi.
A book titled Taken, by Edward Bloor is a fascinating story of adventure and kidnapping that is set in the year 2035. In this futuristic book, kidnapping is a rather common practice. Children that are raised by very rich families were often the ones that are kidnapped, or "taken" because the parents could provide more ransom money. For this reason, all rich children would move in highly secured neighborhoods, and hire butlers that doubled as security guards. The children were then required to take classes on what to do if they are taken. In the story the protagonist, Charity Meyers wakes up in an ambulance and discovers that she has been taken. She follows all of her training and does exactly what she is told to do by her kidnappers. There are several kidnappers who are named Dr. Reyes, Dr. Lanyon, and another person who does not reveal himself until later in the book. Naturally, the reader is very angry at the kidnappers for doing such a horrible thing to a child. The author then takes the story to a place in which no one ever expected him to. Edward Bloor attempts to make the reader empathize with the antagonists. The ways in which he does this are very interesting. He uses three particular methods to achieve the goal of causing the reader to empathize with the "bad guys". These methods include having the antagonists reveal themselves as someone else, having the antagonists tell about all of the hardships that they have endured, and having the antagonists explain why they did something evil (such as kidnapping).
“Often fear of one evil leads us into a worse”(Despreaux). Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux is saying that fear consumes oneself and often times results in a worse fate. William Golding shares a similar viewpoint in his novel Lord of the Flies. A group of boys devastatingly land on a deserted island. Ralph and his friend Piggy form a group. Slowly, they become increasingly fearful. Then a boy named Jack rebels and forms his own tribe with a few boys such as Roger and Bill. Many things such as their environment, personalities and their own minds contribute to their change. Eventually, many of the boys revert to their inherently evil nature and become savage and only two boys remain civilized. The boys deal with many trials, including each other, and true colors show. In the end they are being rescued, but too much is lost. Their innocence is forever lost along with the lives Simon, a peaceful boy, and an intelligent boy, Piggy. Throughout the novel, Golding uses symbolism and characterization to show that savagery and evil are a direct effect of fear.
Robin Cochrane Mrs. Schroder AP Literature and Composition 3 January 2018 The Awakening 1999 Prompt In one’s lifetime, he or she may face an internal struggle. Perhaps the struggle lies in a difficult choice between right and wrong. Perhaps it lies in a decision between want and need.
Lord of the Flies is a novel written by William Golding in 1954 about a group of young British boys who have been stranded alone together on an island with no adults. During the novel the diverse group of boys struggle to create structure within a society that they constructed by themselves. Golding uses many unique literary devices including characterization, imagery, symbolism and many more. The three main characters, Ralph, Piggy, and Jack are each representative of the three main literary devices, ethos, logos, and pathos. Beyond the characterization the novel stands out because of Golding’s dramatic use of objective symbolism, throughout the novel he uses symbols like the conch, fire, and Piggy’s glasses to represent how power has evolved and to show how civilized or uncivilized the boys are acting. It is almost inarguable that the entire novel is one big allegory in itself, the way that Golding portrays the development of savagery among the boys is a clear representation of how society was changing during the time the novel was published. Golding is writing during
In The Way to Rainy Mountain, the author Scott Momaday uses the theme of a journey to drive this story. He begins his journey after the passing of his grandmother, the journey to reconnect and rediscover his own culture. He shares this moment on page 10, “I remember her most often in prayer. She made long, rambling prayers out of suffering and hope, having seen many things…the last time I saw her she prayed standing by the side of her bed at night, naked to the waist, the light of a kerosene lamp moving upon her dark skin…I do not speak Kiowa, and I never understood her prayers, but there was something inherently sad in the sound, some merest hesitation upon the syllables of sorrow”. The passing brought a realization upon him to have to keep the culture going. He can barely speak Kiowa, while his grandmother was one of the few members who were completely fluent. I believe this book is a call out to his tribe to take the same journey Momaday took.
Poverty and homelessness are often, intertwined with the idea of gross mentality. illness and innate evil. In urban areas all across the United States, just like that of Seattle. in Sherman Alexie’s New Yorker piece, What You Pawn I Will Redeem, the downtrodden. are stereotyped as vicious addicts who would rob a child of its last penny if it meant a bottle of whiskey.
Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders are both Jews, yet they are completely different both in appearance and with their beliefs. Reuven Malter is a Zionist who dresses modernly and enjoys modern inventions such as movies and the radio. Danny Saunders is the complete opposite of him, a Hassidic who dresses like his ancient ancestors of the faith and is extremely orthodox. Danny is not allowed to go to the movies and can only read of books approved by his father.
In the story the most important character is Lesley. Lesley is a spoiled, pretty, Jewish, fourteen year old living in Canada. As the story progresses we see Lesley change to a caring and mature person by overcoming the differences in her new life. Two other important characters are Nat Shelby and Mustapha. Lesley’s father, Nat Shelby is the person who decided the family needed to live in Israel. Mr. Shelby decides he doesn’t want his daughter growing up as a spoiled uncaring princess. Mustapha, other important character, is an Arab boy who Lesley watches abuse his donkey across the Jordan River. All the Jews are not supposed to hate Arabs, but Lesley however comes in contact with Mustapha by the river and talks to him as a person not as an enemy. Mustapha made Lesley a more understanding person towards different kinds of people. The character I would most admire is Lesley for her ability to adapt to a new home, country and way of life.
In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin, the reader is introduced to Omelas which at first glance appears to be a society without conflict. Omelas is the city everyone at one point or another dreams of living in; one that exists outside of poverty, disease, war, and depression. However throughout the story there are moments that draw the reader’s focus to the peculiarities and imperfections that underlie the cities grandeur. A major flaw that receives attention is the unknown person that is locked away underneath the city without the basic human necessities- proper food, hygiene supplies, and true companionship. All of these aspects combine to tell a story of how an individual’s suffering is not as important as the happiness of a whole society.
The author portrays religion as one of the main issues that contributes to his inner