The Chosen Essay -- English Literature Essays

The ChosenInflective and Forward PersonalitiesIn Chaim Potoks The Chosen, two contrasting characters be introducedReuven Malter and Danny Saunders. They are opposites. While Reuven is forwardspeaking his mind, Danny Saunders shows a stark contrastan inflective soul, listening to silence, and growing from it. These characters set the stage for a unrelenting relationship to form, to be strengthened, and to be stressed. Dannys fathers name is grayback Saunders. The tzaddik of a small community within close proximity of Reuvens home, he was born in Russia and later brought his congregation to America. When Danny is speaking to Reuven, he tells him the story of this occurrence. They bribed their way though Russia, Austria, France, Belgium, and England. Five months later, they arrived in New York City. This was the original catalyst for the relationship between Reuven and Danny. If Reb hadnt brought his congregation to America, ever, Danny and Reuven would not have met in anything close to the same circumstances.When introducing the reader to the novel, Reuven explains why the inter-parish softball leagues were formed by the Jewish parochial schools aft(prenominal) World War II.Americas entry into the Second World War and the desire this bred on the part of some English teachers in the Jewish parochial schools to show the gentile world that yeshiva students were as physically fit, despite in that respect long hours of study, as any other American student. They went nigh probing this by organizing the Jewish parochial schools in and around our area into competitive leagues, and once every two weeks the schools would compete against one another in a variety of sports.This was the second factor in the friendship. It would be unlikely for the matter of a soft-ball league to be considered on the part of Reb Saunders if he had not seen any particular reason. On Dannys second visit to the hospital, Danny and Reuven talk about matters of common interest. While on the t opic of the baseball game, Reuven asks how he learned to hit a ball. I practiced, he said. You dont know how many hours I spent learning how to field and hit a baseball. After this statement is avowed, Danny makes the comment to Reuven that he could have ducked the ball. Reuven responds with I remembered the fraction of a second when I had brought my glove up in front of my... ...arefully of what you result say. Think what your fathers questions will be. Think what he will be most concerned aboutWhen David persistently asks Danny questions as Danny half-answers, anxiety is created as the significance of the questions is revealed. All of these factors put stress on the relationship, initially, and in the end strengthened it. The first mentioned, was the difference between Danny and Reuvens religions. Although they were both Jewish, the novel shows that there were perceptible differences. The next mentioned was Reuvens inability to understand listening to silence. Although Reuven ma y not have seen significance, Danny found silence to be very important, stock-still related to wisdom. The final stressor mentioned was Davids methodological questioning of Danny at the end of the novel. It created tension in an already stressful situation, although helpful. Danny and Reuvens friendship built passim The Chosen had the roots to last a lifetime. It was apparent that Danny originally needed a friend and Reuven turned out to be the right one. Also, their fathers recognized this lasting friendship. So, each would most likely encourage it in the future.