Reuven Malters Development In The Chosen :: essays research papers

Malters Development in The ChosenOne of the most emotional scenes from Chaim Potoks The Chosen is whenReuven goes with Danny Saunders to talk to his father. Danny has a greatmind and wants to use it to say psychology, not become a Hasidictzaddik. The two go into Reb Saunders study to explain to him what isgoing to happen, and before Danny can bring it up, his father does. RebSaunders explains to the two friends that he already known that Reuvenis going to go for his smicha and Danny, who is in reap to become thenext tzaddik of his people, will not. This relates to the motif ofIndividuality and the theme of Dannys choice of going with thefamily dynasty or to what his heart leads him.The most developing character from the tonic is Reuven Malter. One ofthe ways that he developes in the novel is in hus understanding offriendship. His friendship with Dfanny Saunders is encouraged by hisfather, but he is wary of it at first off because Danny is a Hasid, andregards regular Orthodox Jews as apikorsim because of the teachings ofhis father. Reuven goes from not being able to have a civil conversationwith Danny to becoming his best friend with whom he spens all of hisfree metre, studies Talmud and goes to college. Reuven truly growsbecause he leans, as his father says, what it is to be a friend. Anotherway that Reuven grows is that he learns to appreciate different peopleand their ideas. He starts out hating Hasidim because its the piousthing to do, even though his father (who I see as the Atticus Finch ofthis novel) keeps telling him that its okay to dissent with ideas, buthating a person because of them is intolerable. Through his friendshipwith Danny, studies with Reb Saunders, brief crush on Dannys sister(who was never given a name), and time spent in the Hasidic community,he learns that Hasids are people too with their own ideas and beliefsthat are as valuable as his. He learns why they think, act, speak, and fit out the way that they do and comes to grips with the fact that hedoesnt have a monopoly on virtue. A third way in which Reuven grows,though the book doesnt really talk about it a great deal, is in hisappreciation of life, or chaim in Hebrew. He almost loses his vision,his father nearly works himself to death, six million Jews arebutchered in Europe, and Dannys brothers poor health threatens Dannys