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Reuven Malter In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

629 Words3 Pages

Abraham Lincoln said, “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” A person’s character defines them. In Chaim Potok’s book The Chosen, the reader gains an understanding of the character qualities of Reuven Malter. Reuven proves himself a kindhearted young man through his behavior towards Danny Saunders as well as many others. Throughout the book, Reuven displays forgiveness, intelligence, and determination through adversity. Firstly, Reuven shows forgiveness to others in the book. A wise man once said, “Forgiveness defines a man of good character.” During a softball game, Danny Saunders, a boy on the other team, purposely hits the ball towards Reuven’s head. Reuven did not have time to react, and thus the hit caused a serious injury to his left eye and hospitalization for about a week. After staying in the hospital a couple days, Reuven received a surprise visit from Danny who tries apologizing. The furious Reuven demands that Danny leaves without hearing his apology. However, Reuven thinks about the circumstances and accepts Danny’s apology the next day. “Yesterday I had hated him: now we were calling each other by our first names” (67). While …show more content…

His actions towards Danny and Reb Saunders highlight his forgiving-nature. While the normal person would react with hatred, Reuven acted with understanding and grace. Likewise, many people admired Reuven for his intelligence. He worked hard by reading to acquire knowledge. Equally, Reuven’s determination drove him to success. Helen Keller once said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” The reader can understand the importance of good character. Many people admire and envy Reuven for his forgiving, intellectual, and determined

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In the novel The Chosen by Chaim Potok, there are three important events that significantly put turns on Danny and Reuven’s friendship. The first important event occurs when Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter first meet each other at the baseball game. While playing the heated game, Reuven gets hit in the eye with a baseball that Danny has hit. The second event that is important is that, Reb Saunders, Danny’s father, puts a ban on Danny’s friendship with Reuven. The ban consists of Danny not being able to speak, see, or be within three feet of Reuven.

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He is taught to be exactly like his father when he becomes an adult and he is extremely observant. I was raised like Reuven and completely agree with his father’s approach of raising Reuven. I completely disagree with Reb Saunders way of raising Danny because it was essentially a “radical” way of

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In the historical fiction novel, The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, people from all different backgrounds in judaism, decide how they will choose to live their lives. Reb Saunders, the Rebe, raises Danny in silence while David Malter, raises Reuven as an orthodox Jew. Each at some point question their part in their religion and the world, struggling to accept the life they have. After crossing paths at a baseball game, Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter seem to both evoke daunting opinions, clearly condescending each other. When Reuven injures his eye, ending up in a hospital both their fathers, David Malter and Reb Saunders try to bring them closer.

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Reuven was glad that Danny came to visit again despite their previous encounter. after sending Danny away, he was surprised at his own actions and had come to regret it at the end. His own father reminded him that the Talmud says that if a person is willing to apologize for his own wrongdoing, then you must at least try to understand and forgive him and that is exactly what Reuven intends to do after feeling angry and depressed with himself from what he had said to Danny. Throughout this chapter, an unlikely friendship between the two boys develop. They begin to talk and learn more about one another rather than dwelling in fateful day of the ballgame; in other words, they let bygones be bygones.

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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.

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Even though Danny hates it as well, he accepts it, but Reuven is furious at Reb Saunders for torturing his son even further. He believes that the silence is not only destroying his relationship with Danny, but also Danny’s soul. When Reuven speaks with Reb Saunders again on Saturdays, Saunders does not say anything about the two year ban between the two boys, which Reuven finds frustrating and weird. Reuven did however learn a lot about silence in these two years, as he never thought silence could be so full.

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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.

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This quote introduces one of the many themes that are shown throughout the entire novel-the contrast between people and their diverse ideas. In their antagonistic relationship, Danny is portrayed as a formidable opponent and a possible rival for Reuven. Even during their first meeting with one another, almost immediately, Reuven notices the obvious differences between him and Danny. For starters, Reuven is Orthodox whereas Danny is part of a different sect of Judaism, known as Hasidism. Despite their contrasting appearances and beliefs, the two boys are also similar in many ways; they both play an important role in their softball teams including the genuine devotion they both have towards their own religion.

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His baseball coach shows genuine concern for him during and after the game by continually asking him how he feels. Also, Billy and Mr. Savo, Reuven’s roommates at the hospital, quickly become warm and sociable with him. Danny, Reuven’s enemy during the baseball game, takes the initiative to begin a friendship with Reuven after a hospital visit. Even Reb Saunders, who dislikes his son to mix with “outsiders,” expresses his fondness of Reuven and approves his son’s friendship with him. He tells Reuven, “...I am happy you are friends.

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Genuine friendships are excellent things to have. It’s nice to have somebody to confide in when you don’t know where to turn. In The Chosen, Reuven states that he “didn’t mean to offend you [Danny] or anything, I just want to be honest.’ ‘I want you to be honest’ Danny said.” (Page 119)

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During the years that have passed by in the book, David, Reuven, and Reb have changed significantly or subtly and made wise choices. David Malter has always appeared as a sensible father and a venerable scholar, but his change came after he learned about the Holocaust.

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“Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant” (Horace). The idea that hard times elicit the development of certain aspects of a character, whether good or bad, is prevalent in literature, particularly The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Horace’s assertion is true in regard to the two texts in that they both contain characters who develop maturity and mercy, a new self-awareness, and cunning duplicity. The notion that adversity develops talents is shown in the characters of The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter who matured and developed an ability to forgive over the course of the plot.

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Within his book, Mitch Albom uses three characters, Ruby, the Captain, and Eddie, to teach the importance of three qualities: forgiveness, sacrifice, and acceptance. Ruby teaches about the importance of forgiveness which Eddie takes and applies to his life in heaven. The Captain teaches about sacrifices which helps Eddie to better understand the sacrifices that he made while still alive. Eddie, through his time in heaven, learns the importance of acceptance and uses this lesson to come to terms with the decisions that he made through his life. Traits from each of the individuals join together to help Eddie feel better about himself.

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