The Chosen by Chaim Potok Essay - 523 Words

The Chosen by Chaim Potok The novel, The Chosen, written by Chaim Potok, is a very interesting novel that opens a readers mind to the religion of Judaism and the different trials Jews had to go through. Throughout this book, many thoughts and ideas can get the readers attention, but the most appealing idea is the decisions that Danny Sanders had to make. Danny struggles with culture expectations concerning his dress, the decision to follow the Hasidic family tradition, and keeping his Jewish faith. Despite the pressures and expectations, Danny must express that he has a mind of his own and he has to determine which road he wants to travel Many different religions consume the earth, and each religion has different belief†¦show more content†¦This causes Danny to be uneasy around others. Ultimately Danny has the choice to look and dress how he wants too. The way a person dresses does not determine his or her faith, and because Danny wants to become a psychologist, it is essential that he changes his appearance. After changing his appearance, Danny is changed physically and mentally. He is free from the stresses of dressing in unique attire and Danny is able to be himself, which enables him to be happier. Because the Hasidic culture requires if a rabbi have a son, he must become the next rabbi. Although Rabbi Sanders expects Danny to continue the rabbinic dynasty, Danny must decide for himself what exactly he wants to do. Danny has the pressures of becoming the next rabbi, but this idea repulses him. Danny has the right to choose what he wants to do with his life and no person or religion should be able to decide for him. Through out life many people have to face many decisions, and with these decisions consequences occur. With Danny, if he chooses to become a Rabbi, it will thrill his father, but Danny himself will be miserable. Danny will only be thrilled if he chooses to follow his dream of becoming a Psychologist, but this will dissapoint his father. Ultimately Danny had the choice to do what he wants, and Danny chooses to follow his dream, which willShow MoreRelatedThe Chosen By Chaim Potok1558 Words   |  7 Pagesof our lives. The dictionary defines suffering as †Å"The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.† This essay will examine suffering and how it shows up in different printed sources, as well as in my personal life. In the book, The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, suffering is seen from the beginning of the book and it continues to show up throughout the entire book. In the beginning, the theme of suffering shows up when Reuven’s eye gets injured while playing football. The injured was caused by oneRead MoreImportant Traditions Of The Chosen By Chaim Potok888 Words   |  4 PagesGrandma’s banana pudding, and ugly Christmas sweaters often remain close to the hearts of family members. Candles, decorations, food, and outfits, the list of customs never terminates! Two families, who practice traditions in the book, The Chosen by Chaim Potok, include the Malter family and the Saunders family. David and Reuven Malter enjoy habits of weekly services, prayer, and special articles of clothing in their lives as Orthodox Jews. Because the Saunders family practices the Jewish sect ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Chaim Potok s The Chosen, Verbal Communication, Or The Lack Thereof1429 Words   |  6 Pages of communication exist; however, all of them center around verbal communication. In Chaim Potok’s critically acclaimed novel, The Chosen, verbal communication, or the lack thereof, is a main theme. The lack of communication, silence, in The Chosen is used by Potok not only to show the suffering of his characters but also to symbolize the struggles of the Jewish people. Potok uses silence prominently in The Chosen to show isolation. Both of the protagonists in the book experience an isolating silence;Read MoreChaim Potok s Most Prolific Work952 Words   |  4 PagesThe Chosen was Chaim Potok’s most prolific work. Written in the 1960’s, this novel analyzes and discusses the numerous branches of Judaism through the eyes of a young man, Reuven. The book chronicles the main character, Reuven’s friend Danny’s life from a young age at yeshivas through high school, into college and to graduate school. The Chosen is a most fitting title for this work because the novel focuses on the choices that Danny and Reuven make throughout his life. Choices pertainingRead MoreBenjamin Lev s Struggle With Their Ultra Orthodox Religious Beliefs1242 Words   |  5 Pagessomething good, we are made to feel proud. Chaim Potok’s My Name Is Asher Lev explores the upbringing of a child into the strict, Hasidic Jewish way of life, and the attempts of Asher Lev to co-exist in his orthodox Jewish life and the secular Western forms of art and expressionism. Potok expertly documents Asher’s struggle as he develops in a conflicted world of religion and secularism, while also showing the Freudian nature of Asher’s upbringing. As such, I have chosen to explore the hypothesis that AsherRead MoreEssay on Comparison of Judaism and Islam1508 Words   |  7 Pagesthe descent of the Patriarchs of the Bible can be traced to an historical basis: â€Å"Abraham was probably born in the Sumerian City of Ur four thousand years ago a scholar invented a label for the descendents of Shem; he called them Semites.† (Chaim Potok, p.23) The story of Abraham and Sarah is the basis of the real distinction between the religions of the Semitic peoples; from their two sons are descended the patriarchy of the Hebrew and Arab peoples. The question of descent and the patriarchyRead MoreHasidic Jew and Orthodox Jew: Is Friendship Possible Between the Two?763 Words   |  4 Pages The Chosen, a novel written by Chaim Potok, is filled with a variety of themes that are brought together through each individual chapter. Chapter 7 in the book had a major impact in bringing forth the novel’s theme. For instance, in this chapter, the narrator, Reuven, starts by establishing the basic plot. He states, â€Å"The next day, I met Danny’s father† (Potok 112). Having this plot established is key in the chapter for it is the day that could make or break their friendship in a matter ofRead More Chaim Potoks The Chosen Essay example1164 Words   |  5 PagesChaim Potoks The Chosen 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 rabbiRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Ordinary Grace, By William Kent Krueger, And Destiny Of The Republic1790 Words   |  8 PagesOrdinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger, The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, and Destiny of The Republic, by Candice Millard, I saw a few prominent themes of how one should live. In these three books I learned about the author s voice through their writings. I saw how one should live their life. In these books the authors shared common themes through their writings. The authors showed how to live life with forgiveness and live life with faith. Krueger and Potok both showed me through their novels how to forgiveRead MoreCharacterism In The Chosen And Chaim Potoks The Catcher In The Rye1761 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"If I could not do these things, my life would have no value. Merely to live, merely to exist --- what sense is there to it?† (Potok 218). A person’s life measures up to be what they decide to do with it. Although, it may be hard for them to achieve what they want within a troubled society, it is still possible. In Chaim Potok’s The Chosen and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, both authors portray their purposes by demonstrating hardships of coming of age and growing up in conflicting societies