...The Chosen by Chaim Potok is a story of two boys named Reuven Malter, a traditional Orthodox Jew, and Danny Saunders, a Hasidic Jew. Danny and Reuven play against each other in a heated softball game. When Danny is up to bat, he hits the softball straight at Reuven, breaking his glasses and sending him to the hospital. Danny visits Reuven in the hospital and their friendship takes off. Some people think that this would never have actually happened and people like Danny and Reuven would never become friends. However, this plot is believable. Just because Danny and Reuven have different views on life and religion does not mean that they cannot be friends. The growth of this, believable, plot is what makes the story so interesting and fun to read. Although The Chosen didn’t have any unexpected twists, it did have twists. Reb Saunders and Mr. Malter have very different views on Zionism. After Mr. Malter gives a big speech on the topic, Reb Saunders forbids Danny from speaking to Reuven. This twist is upsetting because Reuven and Danny need each other’s help, especially in college. It would be terrible to see your best friend every day, but not be able to talk to them. Waiting for Reuven and Danny to speak again may have been...
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...Chaim Potok’s novel The Chosen features Daniel, or Danny Saunders as one of the two main characters. Throughout the novel, everything that happens to Danny changes his character. Danny’s goal to become a psychologist drives everything he does. He has an “agreement with [his] father. [He studies his] quota of Talmud every day, and [Reb Saunders] doesn’t care what [he does] the rest of the time” (68). Daniel also faces the obstacle of being the son of an important Hasidic rabbi that would disapprove of his son’s goal to become a psychologist. His father, Reb Saunders, affects what he does the most. Danny’s behavior at the baseball game was all based around the fact that he told his father that Reuven’s team was “the best team around, and that [they] had a duty to beat [those] apikorsim at what [they] were best at” (71). Danny’s goals, obstacles, and acquaintances make up his character in the novel....
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...Secrets Sever Ask yourself the simple question, why do people keep secrets? Usually, it occurs because of a desire for others to remain unaware of the issue at hand. If secrets do leak out, the outcome involves an array of consequences; people become hurt and offended which can scar relationships. In Chaim Potok’s novel, The Chosen, three different characters acted behind one anothers’ backs, which led to trouble concerning their relationships. Danny Saunders, (Reuven’s friend) David Malter, (Reuven’s father) and Reb Saunders, (Danny’s father) involved themselves in a sticky situation. As a result of their actions, these three individuals ultimately broke a fundamental bond, that of one another’s trust. In an attempt to continue his reading studies, Danny made secret trips to the local library. While there, he took the book suggestions from a friendly man, and soon began picking out books on his own. However, Danny knew if he told his father of all he had read, his dad would be greatly disappointed. At one point, Danny revealed this to Reuven:” I read in the library so my father won’t know. He’s very strict about what I read” (p79). Consequently, whenever he ventured to the library, he constantly felt on his guard and paranoid for fear...
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