Student Essay on The Chosen

The Chosen

Summary:   The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, is a story about two Jewish boys who lived only five blocks from each other, but they never knew about one another until a certain baseball game. Both Danny Saunders' and Reuven Malter's loved their son, they just showed their love very differently.

T.J. Warner

Prof. Vogel

Literary Analysis

Dec. 8, 2004

The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, is a story about two Jewish boys who lived only five blocks from each other, but they never knew about one another until a certain baseball game. It was that baseball game that brought two different personalities together to form a lasting friendship, and that frienship would experience both ups and downs. Although both Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders were of the Jewish religion, both were raised very differently because of the influence of their fathers. David Malter and Reb Saunders approached raising a child, their Jewish faith, and the world in general from two very different perspectives. Despite the profound differences, both men tried very hard to do what they thought was right for their sons.

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.

David Malter sought for every opportunity to teach his son from the Talmud, the Jewish Holy book. At the beginning of the book, Reuven was in the hospital as a result of Danny Saunders intentionally hitting a fast line-drive that hit Reuven in the face. The ball first hit Reuven's eye glasses then ricocheted off his face. Reuven was rushed off to the hospital were he would spend a week there recovering. It was at the hospital were there friendship was planted, but it was planted in very rocky soil at first. Danny came to visit Reuven seeking his forgiveness. Reuven was telling his dad at the hospital that Danny Saunders had come to ask for his forgiveness, and Reuven boastful explained to his father that he ignored Danny's request. In response, Rueven's father taught him an important lesson by saying, "You did a foolish thing, Reuven. [Do] you remember what the Talmud says? If a person comes to apologize for having hurt you, you must listen and forgive him." (pg. 63) It was by this early experience and many more to come that Reuven's dad taught him an important doctrine of the Jewish Faith, and that is to forgive those who seek forgiveness.

As the story evolves, Danny and Reuven become very good friends which is a highlight for Danny since he has never really had a friend before Reuven. Danny has lived a very lonely life. He has not had any friends because he feels that no understands him. Reuven's father realizes Danny's loneliness, and he gives Reuven some fatherly advice. He comments, "Reb Saunders' son is a terribly torn and lonely boy. There is literally no one in the world he can talk to. He needs a friend." (pg. 110) David Malter continues by saying, "The accident with the baseball has bound him to you and he has already sensed in you someone he can talk to without fear. I am very proud of you for that." (pg. 110) Reuven's father expresses his confidence to his son very openly which is an important aspect in comparing with Danny and his father's relationship. As the friendship blossoms, Danny and Reuven talk freely about their feelings towards one another, and we learn why Danny has been so lonely and torn for most of his life.

Danny Saunders' father is the Tzaddik, the religious leader of the Hasidic sect in New York. The Hasidic Jew's are extremely conservative, especially Danny's father, to the Hasidic Jewry laws, family life, and culture. Reb Saunders believes that a Hasidic Jews must associate with there own kind. For this reason, Danny's father must met Reuven and approve of him before Danny can be friends with Reuven which is quite the opposite perspective of Reuven's dad. Danny explains to Reuven, "My father doesn't like us to mix with outsiders." (pg. 116) Upon hearing this, Reuven comments, "I hope you don't mind my saying this, but you father sounds like a tyrant." (pg. 116) It is here that we start to establish Danny and Reb Saunders' father-son relationship. Danny slightly agrees with Reuven and says, "He's a very strong-willed person. When he makes up his mind about something, that's it, finished...that's why he wants to meet you." (pg. 116) Upon meeting Reuven, Reb Saunders comments to Reuven, "I worry myself about my son's friends, especially if such a friend is the son of David Malter." (pg. 142) Reb assures Reuven that he is happy that they have become friends.

It is important to understand the feelings that Reb Saunders and David Malter have for each other. Through their relationship we gain a better understanding of their character, and their character reflects they why they treat their sons. As established in the paragraph before, Reb is very skeptical of David Malters. He feels that David Malter is too modern and does not follow the old Jewish ways. Reb feels that this perspective of Judaism is almost damning to ones soul. David Malter's feeling towards Reb Saunders is very different. Soon after arriving home from meeting Danny's dad, Reuven comments to his father, "Reb Saunders is a very complicated man, abba." (pg. 147) Reuven's dad defends Reb Saunders by explaining, "Reb Saunders is a great man, Reuven. Great men are always difficult to understand...it is not a simple task to be a leader of people. Reb Saunders is not a fraud." (pg 147)

In the Saunders' home, the study of the Talmud is very extensively with debated discussions between Reb and his son. Danny explains to Reuven early in their friendship that he and his father never talk except when they debate over the Talmud. If Danny has any kind of conversation with his father it is over a discussion of the Talmud, so when Danny tell Reuven that his father wants to meet him, Reuven asks, "I thought you said you father never talks to you"" (pg. 116) Danny responded by saying, "He doesn't. Except when we study Talmud." Danny continues, ."..he said to bring you over today. That is the longest sentence he's said to me in years." (pg. 116)

In the sixth chapter we find out that Danny is next in line to become the Tzaddik. This position is forced upon the son of the Tzaddik, which is why Reb Saunders is over zealous in making Danny study the Talmud so intensively. Danny explains to Reuven, "I'm my father's son, remember? I'm the inheritor of the dynasty. Number one on our catechism: Treat the son as you would the father, because one day the son will be the father." (pg. 122) The phase gives the reader an explanation why Reb Saunders' relationship with his son is so formal and strict.

Danny and his father's relationship is based on silence. Silence becomes a major theme through out the book. There is one instance in the book where Reb Saunders talks to Reuven alone while Danny is getting tea. Reb Saunders true feelings about his son surfaces as he tell Reuven that, "My son is the most precious possession. I have nothing in the world compared to my son." (pg. 166) Reb continues by expressing his obstacle to Reuven by saying, "I can no longer talk to my own son. The Master of the Universe gave me a brilliant son, a phenomenon. And I cannot speak to him." (pg. 167) Through these passages we can surely know really how much Reb Saunders loves his son, but he cannot express himself because silence has been part of their relationship since Danny was young. At the end of the book, Reb Saunders explains why is has raised Danny in silence by saying, "My father himself never talked to me, except when we studied together. He taught me with silence. He taught me to look into myself, to find my own strength, to walk around inside myself in company with my soul...the heart speaks through silence." (pg. 284)

As fathers, Reb Saunders and David Malters both loved their sons very much, however they demonstrated this love quite differently. Reb raised his son in complete silence, wanting him to learn compassion and to develop a soul to go with his great mind, talking to him only when studying the Torah. On the other hand, David Malters placed a great deal of emphasis on good and frequent communication between himself and his son. Reb wanted Danny to find things out for himself, while David Malters wanted Reuven to be able to come to him with questions. Reuven and his father would often talk for hours about various subjects. David Malters was his son's friend and could be depended on for emotional support such as when President Roosevelt died, or just after his dad's speech. Even though Reb Saunders and David Malters raised their sons in opposite ways, they did so out of love and deeply felt that they were doing the right thing.