Character Analysis: The Chosen By Chaim Potok

1101 Words3 Pages

In the novel “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok, the story talks about a strong relationship between two friends. In the novel Potok also shows that the change in motives was what the main characters used to build up and make new connections. Reuven Malter, also known as a protagonist in the story, experiences many motives that led to changes, and how it affected him as the novel comes to an end. Making friends and communicating was a huge deal for Reuven and Danny. Each of them had to learn how to do those things to see how it would impact their future. The author shows a motive for each of the characters, and that the quote Ben Jonson said “True happiness consists not in multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice”, can be consider as the theme for the book. In the novel the author Chaim Potok, explains how Reuven’s point of view, weaknesses, and how different types of motives, changed him. Reuven Malter experiences changes and views towards other people in the novel. By being raise as an orthodox Jew, Reuven has to face many issues with Hasid people as well as how to get along with them. In this case his weakness was communication. David Malter, which is his father, teaches him about opening up to others and to be willing to build up a …show more content…

David Malter, his father, teaches Reuven, stuff that are based on their religion. When Reuven did not accept Danny at first, Reuven’s father took him and taught him what was right. His father then corrects his son, Reuven, and tells him, “When a person comes and talks to you, you should be patient and listen” (Potok 64). Being taught Jewish beliefs meant for Reuven to have a really close relationship with Danny Saunders. Not only does Reuven’s father care about his son, but also Danny. David Malter knew what was going on in Danny’s life and worried about his future. He figured this all out because Reuven kept on mentioning it to

Show More
Related

  • Character Analysis: The Liles Of The Field

    256 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Lilies of the Field by William E. Barrett, Homer and Mother Maria both display straightforward, hardworking, and stubborn character traits. Firstly, Homer and Mother Maria both display a straightforward personality by being brutally honest about their opinions. For example, when Mother Maria asks Homer to build a chapel, Homer speaks his mind by telling her he does not want to build it. Mother Maria shows her straightforward behavior during Homer’s stay at the convent. One morning, when Homer sleeps in late, Mother to becomes extremely upset and is not afraid to show how she feels about him. Secondly, both Homer and Mother Maria display a hardworking spirit. Homer is a hardworking man because after finally agreeing to build the chapel,

    Read More

  • The Chosen By Chaim Potok Character Analysis

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    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 hand holding the phone began to tremble and I had to push the phone against my face to keep it steady.” (173) These two sentences completely show how Reuven really wanted Billy to get his eye sight back and when he learned

    Read More

  • Relationships in Potok's The Chosen

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    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. He raised Danny in silence, hoping to teach him to listen to silence, to learn compassion, and to develop a soul to go with his mind. Unless it had to do with religious studies, Reb never had an actual conversation with Danny after the age of 3. Reb wanted Danny to find things out for himself. On the other hand, Reuven’s father, Mr. Malters, felt it very important that he had good and frequent communication between himself and his son. The two would sometimes talk for hours about life, different religions, friends and anything else Reuven would want to ...

    Read More

  • Silence In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    A silence exists between Reuven and Danny’s fathers as they never actually speak to each other, instead Reuven acts as the middleman between them. Reb Saunder’s gut reaction upon hearing David Malter’s speech on Zionism is to split Danny and Reuven like an atom, and a nuclear reaction occurs. Reuven wants to get into fights and scream at the anti-Zionists, and after his father’s heart attack Reuven has no one. “For the first few days the total silence inside the hospital was impossible for me to take….my schoolwork began to suffer.” (243) In his lonely apartment he labors studying the Talmud hoping one day that Rav Garshenson will call upon him in class to exhibit his knowledge and break the silence. Even Reuven’s father is silent when asked about the reasoning between the silence between Reb and Danny. Showing his dislike towards Reb, Reuven gives Reb the silent treatment by repeatedly declining invitations come over on the Shabbat. Silence is an unimaginable concept to Reuven, but it becomes a reality when only his thoughts accompany him due to the absence of his father and best

    Read More

  • Chaim Potok's The Chosen

    1590 Words  | 4 Pages

    David Malter was part of the Jewish sect that took on a more modern approach. He is very understanding, and he cares very deeply for his son Reuven. Reuven and his father's relationship would be considered healthy by most people. They love each other very much, and they have a very open communication with each other.

    Read More

  • The Chosen

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    During those five days, Danny came to visit Reuven and told him he was sorry. Reuven accepted his apology and they began to talk about different things. 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 by means of silence. They never talked except when they studied the Torah together. Reuvens’s father was a Zionist and Danny’s father was an anti-Zionist so neither was fond of the other but allowed Danny and Reuven to still be friends. Because Danny’s father was a rabbi, it was Danny’s inherited trait to also one day become a rabbi and take his father’s place. Danny, how ever, wanted to be a psychologist not a rabbi. Reuven did not have to be a rabbi but wanted to be one.

    Read More

  • Chaim Potok's The Chosen

    1165 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the book The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, Reuven Malter is shaped by everyone around him. During this interaction his character becomes more developed and engaging. Through the interactions, it becomes apparent that Reuven’s father is always teaching his child how to improve himself. The conversations between Reuven and his father help prepare Reuven develop the mentality and the personal qualities, such as wisdom, compassion, and tolerance, necessary to become a rabbi.

    Read More

  • The Chosen

    913 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reuven and Danny are friends when they enter Hirsch College. While they are at college, many of the students and faculty members have different stances on Zionism. During this time, David Malter organizes a pro-Zionist rally at Madison Square Garden that turns out to be very successful and over joys Reuven. However, when Reuven returns to school, he finds out that Danny is not allowed to be friends and talk with him anymore because of the rally. Reuven is extremely upset and furious. He calls Reb Saunders a "fanatic" and cries about Danny. Danny and Reuven do not talk for the whole semester and Reuven feels horrible about the situation. He thinks that silence is "cancerous, [and] was death" (221). By the next semester, Reuven promises to forget Danny and his silence; but he can't, even if he's mad. Later, Reuven and Danny start communicating in silence. David Malter told Reuven in the beginning of the novel that "two people who are true friends are like two bodies with one soul." (74) This shows the reader that Danny and Reuven still had to communicate with each other, even in silence, because they were bonded with a "true" friendship.

    Read More

  • David Malter's The Chosen

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    His interest of the world that is considered outside of Danny’s mind comes in small waves at first in the things he does when spending time with Reuven. The time periods events of the war and holocaust is eye opening knowledge that helps broaden this world that was once so small for Danny. His dreams bring him to want to expand. Through this growth from such exposer, Danny comes to his father with his plan for the future by the end of the book. Reb Saunders words of acceptance of this are slow and solemn, creating an emotional moment between father and son, with Reuven witnessing it. He accepts Danny’s wish but asks for Danny to keep the beliefs he was raised with and share his knowledge in the world he plans to enter. It is found that Reb Saunders wants his sons soul to have freedom to find his way while still having God in his life as he was taught. His hope for his sons soul has allowed him to accept Dannys path in life and even apologizing to Reuven about his fathers thoughts. “…my anger…at your father’s Zionism.”(289) He said when reflecting on the death of his brother and of 6 million Jews. So by the end, not only Danny has been given an open mind to the modern age, but his father as

    Read More

  • A Raisin in the Sun Character Analysis

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry has many interesting characters. In my opinion, the most fascinating character is Ruth because of her many emotions and captivating personality. She goes through extreme emotions in the play such as happiness, sadness, anger, stress, and confusion. Ruth is very independent, firm, kind, witty, and loving.

    Read More

  • Modern Versus Traditional Views in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen

    578 Words  | 2 Pages

    The way in which Reb Saunders and David Malter raise their children reflect the conflict between tradition and modernity in this story. David Malter raises Reuven with a modern approach. He encourages Reuven to learn about the modern world as well as hold on to his religion. Reb Saunders to shelter Danny from modern ideas. With the exception of teaching Danny about the Talmud, he raises Danny in silence. He has his own reasons for raising Danny this way. “I did not want to drive him away from God, but I did not want him to grow up a mind without a soul” (Page 266). Reb Saunders raises his son through a tradition that has been in his family for a long time. However, he accomplishes his goal. His method of raising his son is dramatically different from David Malter’s modern practice. The results are also different. Danny has gone through much more pain and suffering than Reuven, and he chooses to carry on this practice if he must. Modernity and tradition present in the different ideas of these men influences the lives and ideas of their children as well.

    Read More

  • The Chosen Review

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both Rueven and Danny have spiritual giants for fathers. While Rueven’s father is not as well respected or as well known as Reb Saunders, he is every bit as caring and spiritual. Mr. Malter has raised Rueven in the Jewish fashion and has taught him to love God. The love that Mr. Malter shows Rueven is evident when Rueven is at the hospital. When Rueven finally wakes up, his father is so excited that he rushes over without even preparing himself. “His sparse gray hair lay uncombed on his head. That was unusual for my father. I never remembered him leaving the house without carefully combing his hair.” In addition, Mr. Malter developed a cough and got sick, probably attributed to excessive worrying over Rueven. Reb Saunders also loves his son, but has a hard time showing it. Since, Danny and his father never speak unless they are studying; it is a very strained and painful relationship for Danny. Reb Saunders is known all over the Jewish community for being a strong spiritual advisor to all the Hassid and Danny is expected to take his place. Reb Saunders position as rabbi is something of a family dynasty and it has gone on for many generations. Danny has been groomed to become the next rabbi since he was a child. All of this seems too much for Danny and it seems that he just wants to escape his destiny and live a normal life.

    Read More

  • Chris Mccandless Failure

    432 Words  | 1 Pages

    Before going to Alaska, Chris McCandless had failed to communicate with his family while on his journey; I believe this was Chris’s biggest mistake. Chris spent time with people in different parts of the nation while hitchhiking, most of them whom figured out that McCandless kept a part of him “hidden”. In chapter three, it was stated that Chris stayed with a man named Wayne Westerberg in South Dakota. Although Westerberg was not seen too often throughout the story, nevertheless he was an important character. Introducing himself as Alex, McCandless was in Westerberg’s company for quite some time: sometimes for a few days, other times for several weeks. Westerberg first realized the truth about Chris when he discovered his tax papers, which stated that “McCandless’s real name was Chris, not Alex.” Wayne further on claims that it was obvious that “something wasn’t right between him and his family” (Krakauer 18). Further in the book, Westerberg concluded with the fact that Chris had not spoken to his family “for all that time, treating them like dirt” (Krakauer 64). Westerberg concluded with the fact that during the time he spent with Chris, McCandless neither mentioned his

    Read More

  • Father Son Relationships In The Chosen By Chaim Potok

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel, Reb has isolated himself from modern society. Even during the Holocaust, his fanatic theology leads him to do nothing. Instead of following David Malter’s activism, he waits for the Messiah. In an ever changing world you have to adapt, this man does not. I believe that you can maintain tradition but you have to be acceptant to others and your surroundings. The novel implies that it is important for people to engage in the outside world. Also, Potok shows that religion can be a source of conflict amongst family and friends. Even though they are both Orthodox Jews, the author is shown their distinct differences. Numerous parallel characters within the novel are affected, one of the distinct ones are between Reuven and Danny. I was shocked when Reb Saunders prohibits his son Daniel from communicating with Reuven. I think that his father over reacted, and used his personal hatred towards Zionism as a selfish motive. Even through the struggle, these two adolescent boys are finally united. At the end of the book, I finally understood that it is hard to balance your faith while being open to a modernist

    Read More

  • Difference Between Reuven Malter And Danny Saunders

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beginning with their appearances, Reuven appears to be a normal person. He dresses casually and wears simple shirts and shorts/pants. He does not always wear he yarmulke unless he is in the Saunders 's household. He is clean shaven and appears to simply be a normal teen. Danny, being a Hassidic,

    Read More

More about Character Analysis: The Chosen By Chaim Potok

Open Document