Summary Of The Chosen By Chaim Potok

The novel The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, shows the journey of two friends in a Brooklyn Hasidic community during and after the events of World War II. Danny is the son of Reb Saunders, the rebbe of a Hasidic congregation while Reuven is the son of Mr. Malter, an Orthodox Jew who has both scientific and religious views of the world. Reuven is raised by his father through honesty and respect, but Danny is brought up through silence and lack of connection. As Danny grows up, Reb Saunders refuses to talk to him, except during Talmud class, hoping that the silence will take care of Danny as the Reb would. Although this is the only form of silence Potok emphasizes, many of the characters relationships are also tested by silence. Although silence is

Malter starts to understand more about Reuven through the silence of their relationship. This silence occurs when Mr. Malter has his second heart attack and is hospitalized. As Mr. Malter is bedridden, he and his son learn to understand each other even more. When Mr. Malter was stuck in h hospital, Reuven “spent as much of the early parts of every evening as I could visiting my father in the hospital. He was weak and could barely talk and kept asking me if I was taking care of myself (243).” Reuven and Mr. Malter still have a very strong connection. Even though this is in the point of view of Reuven, it still shows how strong the bond is between the two, especially after the injury occurs. It even shows that after this they still do talk to each other. Even Mr. Malter is struggling just to ask if Reuven is doing fine. They both don’t know that they love each other until they lose each other. With Mr. Malter’s small amount of energy, he still cares strongly for Reuven. Even after Mr. Malter has the heart attack, Reuven and Mr. Malter stay connected and in touch. They both care for each other so much that Reuven takes his off time to constantly visit his father, even if it is about asking how are you or asking when will you come home. The bond between them, even with the imaginary dark silence in the household is very clear as they still talk very much, even more than they usually do. Reuven finally knows how to take care of himself without his father and they both

It shaped who he was. He starts to understand the true intention of this silence that his father placed between the both of them. Reb Saunders bring Reuven and Danny in one day to tell them the true meaning of the silence. Reb Saunders originally placed the silence on Danny to raise him, but instead it strengthened their bond. When he explains everything, Reuven is very confused, but Danny understands everything that his father is telling him. During the conversation, “‘Daniel,’ he said brokenly. ‘Forgive me...for everything...I have done. A--a wiser father...may have done differently. I am not...wise.’ (288)” Reb Saunders understands now what Danny has been through, what Danny has had to go through during his life. They understand much more about each other due to the silence and the uplifting. Through the silence, Reb Saunders starts to understand the pain he has caused to not only Danny, but everyone else that this silence has affected, hence his weak stature. Danny cries at this moment, because not only does he now understand his father, after twenty two years, but also because of the strong bond that they have now created through the silences, which wasn’t even intentional. Danny’s his quest for knowledge has ended, with the aid of his father. His father finally understands why Danny wants to be a psychologist. They both learned that a father-son relationship is a very