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Promote personal development
Critical essay on personal growth
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Promote personal development
Critical essay on personal growth
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Hidden Intellectualism,” by Gerald Graff, is an essay in which the former English professor discusses the misconceptions of the ideas of intellectualism amongst society. He primarily focuses on the way adolescents view intellectualism as a negative trait that only “nerds” strive for. He also elaborates on his experiences in revealing his own hidden intellectualism, while in college in a literature class, after growing up in the “anti-intellectual” 1950s. However, through a method that Graff and an eleventh grade high school teacher are developing, they hope to make students think and debate argumentatively as intellectuals would. They do this in an attempt to have the students see their true potentials as intellectuals themselves.
When they meet at the baseball field they judge each other based on rumors they have heard or by the actions of the team. Reuven thinks of them as the “whole snooty bunch of Hasidim” (Chosen 62). Reuven thought Danny was a malicious person because he knew that Danny purposely tried to hit him. But later when Reuven opened up to Danny and stopped being so judgmental, Reuven realized that Danny was kind and just needed a friend. When Reuven is hit with the baseball, there is a chance he might be blind.
Reuven found a new appreciation of his health since he could have gone blind. Another example of perception change from the novel is when Reuven realizes Danny isn't how he appeared to be. During the story, Mr. Malter says “Things are always as they seem to be, Reuven?”. He says this because Reuven told him that it seemed like Danny hit him deliberately.
Thus, throughout Chaim Potok’s novel The Chosen, Reuven Malter exhibits immense courage in every situation, compassion towards Danny and Billy, and respect in regards to his father. Even in the midst of many trying
One of the main themes through The Chosen is the use of eyes and sight. Beginning with the baseball game where Reuven loses his sight, this theme plays a large part throughout the book. The baseball game changes how Reuven sees his life in the literal fashion as seen when he says “I wish I was outside,” I said “I envy them being able to walk around like that. They don’t know how lucky they are.”
Reuven is stubborn and willing to hold on to his own opinions even when there are evidences showing that he is not right. As the story approaches its end, Reuven is still continuing to make rash choices based off of his feelings rather than learning more about the situation. When Danny tells Reuven that his father wants him to come over for Passover, Reuven has no intention to, and tells his father about the invitation. However, Reuven’s father is oddly upset when he learns Reuven has been refusing the invitations: “[Reb Saunders] has been asking all long”
In his book The Promise Chaim Potok leads the reader on a heartbreaking journey full of spiritual conflict and decision. As a sequel to The Chosen, The Promise picks up with Reuven Malter, the main character and a Jewish man now in his mid-twenties, attending Hirsch University, a Jewish seminary in Brooklyn, New York. Reuven keeps his friendship with Danny Saunders, whom he met on a baseball field during his teenage years and later went to college with, even though they now go their separate ways as Reuven becomes a rabbi, and Danny practices psychology. During the summer Reuven dates Rachel Gordon, the niece of Abraham Gordon, a man excommunicated from the Jewish society, and meets Abraham’s son, Michael, a stubborn teen with a mental issue. Also, over the same summer Reuven’s father, David Malter, wrote a controversial book about the Talmud.
Reb Saunders is not understood by many because of the way in which he raises his son, Danny. Danny grew up in complete silence from his father. Reb Saunders would only speak to his son about the Hasidic religion. For Danny’s childhood and much of his young adult life, he had no one to turn to for advice on life. This style of parenting was not understood by Mr.Malter, who viewed it as a cruel way to raise a child.
Mr.Malter was inferring to how Danny’s father brought him up in silence, not talking to Danny unless he was upset or talking about the talmud; this was apart of his father’s Hasidic views. Danny pays the price because his dad only cares that he study and follow the traditions, rituals, and customs of Hasidic Judaism in preparation to takeover as Tzaddik- or so we thought. Later in chapter 18 we learn that Reb brought Danny up the way he did so he could still have the soul of a tzaddik, but pursue any career he wanted.
Self respect is one of the most foremost essential traits to acquire in life. “It is then that you can extend yourself out to meet the needs of others”(evagregory.com). In Joseph Bruchac’s Code Talker, Ned Begay’s self respect is perhaps his most important attribute in that it allows him to stand up for himself, to pursue his goals, and to share his story. Firstly, Ned Begay’s ability to stand up for himself is a crucial aspect of his self respect.
When Reuven is describing the baseball game and its events (Ch.1), it is told in a vast amount of detail, all the way from witnessing the other team, to playing second base, and up to the point of him pitching to Danny and injuring his eye. An example of that detail would be when Reuven was describing Danny Saunders. Reuben described him as “Having a face cut from stone, deep-blue eyes, hair the color of sand, and being built like a bear” (Pg. 11-12). Using detail like this will help the reader to understand the story and identify with the
Friendship is a wonderful yet confusing thing. This concept is brilliantly displayed in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. In the book, the main character, Reuven, and Danny Saunders become friends through an interesting turn of events during a baseball game, the short version being that Danny ended up putting Reuven in the hospital with a baseball in the eye. After Reuven gets over some feelings of bitterness towards Danny, the two grow to be great friends. There are many difficulties when it comes to friendship, but the beauty of a good friendship is that good friends can power through them.
Some may think education is not important, but it can lead someone do doing the right thing, even if they are in a bad situation. When people are uneducated, they can lack empathy and integrity, which can have a big impact on the society around them. In situations where empathy or integrity is needed, it can be hard for people to express their thoughts or feelings to another person. When Bob Ewell attacked Jem and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Arthur (Boo) Radley came to the rescue by stabbing Bob Ewell. When Mr. Heck Tate got there he knew what had happened, but to save Boo´s reputation, he said, ¨ Bob Ewell fell on his knife.
Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” ( Roy T.Bennett).
Respect is an important life skill needed to coexist with others in our current society. Whether it’s in elementary school or high school, we’ve always been taught to treat each other with respect. Here at JFK, our motto is “respect is the key to success”. The word respect, in my opinion, means to treat each other equally despite their difference in opinions, race, gender, or any other aspect that could skew your opinion on who someone is. I agree with the school motto, however, it doesn’t hold true in our school and can definitely be improved upon.