“Choose your friends wisely,” my mother told me as a child. One’s friends are a reflection of who one is. Therefore, I value honesty, loyalty, and compassion in my friendships. These qualities are valued in Chaim Potok’s novel The Chosen. He develops the unlikely friendship between Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, two teenage boys who live very different yet similar lives. Through their growth both individually and as friends, Potok conveys that honesty, loyalty, and compassion are qualities that should be valued in all relationships, especially friendships. Honesty proves one’s trustworthiness and dependability in a friendship. I really valued honesty in my friendship with a girl named Libby. Libby and I became friends with another girl named …show more content…
Similar to honesty, a big part of loyalty is trust. When I was a freshman in highschool, I was in a relationship with someone, but it was kept a secret because we did not want anyone to find out. I only told my closest friend, Julian, because I trusted him the most. However, the relationship got emotionally and psychologically abusive. I told Julian, but I did not want anyone else knowing because I feared that it was my fault and I would get in trouble. Julian stayed loyal to keeping my relationship a secret, but when he found out it was abusive, he told my counselor. I was against getting help at first but with Julian’s loyalty to me and my protection, he helped me get out of the relationship with the support of an adult. Although it was not to the extent of my situation, a similar situation can be seen in The Chosen. Reuven tells his father Danny’s secret when he is worried about him. When Danny’s brother becomes very ill, Mr. Malter notices that Reuven is greatly disturbed and confronts him about it. Worried about his best friend, Reuven explains how Danny is in a panic over his brother’s illness; without his brother, he will not be able to break away from his father and he will destroy the family dynasty. Upset, Mr. Malter asks Reuven why he did not tell him about Danny’s future sooner. Reuven justifies himself and says, “It was a secret between us, abba” (270). Although Reuven and his father have a very close relationship, Reuven and Danny’s friendship proves to be just as strong because he is willing to keep Danny’s secret from his father, who he trusts with anything. He only tells his father when he believes Danny may be in trouble and needs help. This demonstrates Reuven’s loyalty to Danny and how dedicated he is to protecting
Mistakes can seriously impact the people who make them; however, the effects are not always negative. In the book, Whirligig, by Paul Fleischman, a teenage boy named Brent is the new kid in town and he faces some major problems with his peers. After being pushed around, treated like a pawn, and utterly rejected, Brent tries to commit suicide by taking his hands off the wheel of his moving car. Although Brent’s attempt is not successful, his actions still have a tragic ending- Lea, a young, kind, beautiful girl, is unlucky enough to be in the car that Brent crashes into. The car accident results in Lea’s death, but also the start of Brent’s magical journey of redemption. Brent’s task is to travel to the four corners of the country, build and display whirligigs, and keep Lea’s spirit alive. Though Brent may not realize it, the trip does influence him in many different ways, one major change being Brent’s newfound ability to create strong relationships with a variety of people that he meets during the course of his adventure. Throughout Brent’s journey, Paul Fleischman uses the people that Brent interacts with to portray the idea that friendships can be formed regardless of personality type, race, and age.
Friendship is a necessity throughout life whether it is during elementary school or during adulthood. Some friendships may last a while and some may last for a year; it depends on the strength of the bond and trust between the two people. In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the main characters, Gene and Finny, did not have a pure friendship because it was driven by envy and jealousy, they did not feel the same way towards each other and they did not accurately understand each other.
In The Chosen, Potok describes the Jewish culture during the period of World War I. Beginning with the affluence of Polish Jews before the war, Potok established a circle of relationships. In the book, there are three main relationships. The first one is father-son, between Danny and his father, Reb Saunders and between Reuven and his father, David Malter. The relationship between Reuven and Danny is the second main relationship in The Chosen. The third main relationship is Hasidism verses Zionism.
This novel explores the life of a current-day teenage boy who is lonely at school and is an easy target for bullies. Many people can relate to both of these instances and will interest those people. Even people who don’t experience these can still take it in and act when someone else is seen being lonely or bullied. Values to stand up for yourself and ‘to treat others as you would want to be treated’ were all mentioned in the book and most of the Ishmael’s friends were performing these values by the end of the book and Ishmael could finally be at school with good friends and know that he doesn’t need to worry because his friends will protect him.
As the story evolves, Danny and Reuven become very good friends. This is a highlight for Danny, given that he has never had a close 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 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.
Danny and Reuven’s friendship built throughout The Chosen had the roots to last a lifetime. It was apparent that Danny originally needed a friend and Reuven turned out to be the right one. Also, their fathers recognized this lasting friendship. So, each would most likely encourage it in the future.
To conclude, in the book Paper Towns by John Green he tells the reader of Quentin and his friends. As the themes do not judge a book by its cover, real friends are forever, and always be yourself will drive the plot. The themes will teach the reader of life lessons like friendship, courage, and many other
Loyalty is distinct in many locations of The Chosen through the characters. It is seen through the Malters, Saunders, and their Jewish families. The love they all display for one another is admirable. Especially Danny's devotion to his father's teaching, when Danny is banned from seeing Reuven for a quite sizable amount of time. “He's a great man,” Danny said evenly, “He must have a reason.” (261). That is the type of understanding and respect people should attempt to portray for one another everywhere. Even through the times where life seems unjust and rough, people must put devotion and trust forward. Because, at the end of the day, your family can be all that's
Friends are a universal necessity in most people's minds. Friends provide support and help one another flourish in life. When the “going gets tough,” as some will say, friends will be there to help you get back up on your feet and keep going. In The Chosen Reuven and Danny were two very good friends. At first they were complete strangers that had this unnecessary hatred for each other. This pointless hatred came to be because of their different beliefs. Once they actually got to know each other they quickly became the closest of friends. They did not let their differences define them and who they should or should not be friends with.
In my life, I have only found true loyalty in a couple of people and the friendship I share with my best friend is very similar to that between Hannah and Queen Elizabeth. The trust we share is incredibly strong and although little fights occasionally rock our friendship, it remains on course all the same. I was very drawn to this book because of the exchanges between Hannah and her friends and the ups and downs she experiences with Daniel, which I can also relate to. Loyalty is a very powerful thing, and it is common for us to notice it’s presence or lack of presence in our daily lives, therefore making The Queen’s Fool a very relatable novel for
Loyalty in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Odyssey by Homer and Don Quixote by Cervantes
Morrison clearly distinguishes childhood from adult friendships by the solidarity that characterizes the first and the problems that make the second fail. Childhood friendships are more successful in Morrison’s novels than adulthood bonding because self-centeredness becomes a larger issue as children grow up.
Honesty is simply one being truthful. Some people may define honesty as telling the truth, but there is much more to an “honest” person. A person who is honest is not only truthful to themselves, they are truthful to other people and maintain an honest character. Honest people are usually trustworthy and dependable individuals as well. Honesty is the foundation of all relationships whether it be friendships, colleague relationships, or intimate relationships. Being an honest person is an important character trait to acquire. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, honesty is a noun that is defined as “fairness and straightforwardness of conduct” (“honesty”). Honesty can take many forms. Although many people
To be honest is to be believed in to create a bond that will grow and prosper. To be dishonest is to be led astray to harm others to where they might get in trouble, injured, or even worse death and all bonds, present or future, will be no longer. Honesty is a means to build one’s trust. In the end, honesty can help a person go a long way, while dishonesty will lead to nowhere as stated by some of the Proverbs.
Being honest and having a reputation of never lying makes people trust them more. People are more likely to come up to a person who tells the truth and ask them a question. They are more likely to get the right answer and not a lie. People who tell the truth are more respected and aren't looked down at for being a liar. People can be trusted more when they constantly tell the truth. When they ask if they can go out and do something, they are more likely to be able to because others trust them and they don't have to worry.