Character Analysis: The Chosen By Chaim Potok

In the novel “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok, the story talks about a strong relationship between two friends. In the novel Potok also shows that the change in motives was what the main characters used to build up and make new connections. Reuven Malter, also known as a protagonist in the story, experiences many motives that led to changes, and how it affected him as the novel comes to an end. Making friends and communicating was a huge deal for Reuven and Danny. Each of them had to learn how to do those things to see how it would impact their future. The author shows a motive for each of the characters, and that the quote Ben Jonson said “True happiness consists not in multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice”, can be consider as the theme for the book.
In the novel the author Chaim Potok, explains how Reuven’s point of view, weaknesses, and how different types of motives, changed him. Reuven Malter experiences changes and views towards other people in the novel. By being raise as an orthodox Jew, Reuven has to face many issues with Hasid people as well as how to get along with them. In this case his weakness was communication. David Malter, which is his father, teaches him about opening up to others and to be willing to build up a

friendship with others as well. As the story continues Reuven later then learns that to get along with Hasid people he must understand their ideas. As time advance Reuven then mastered the skill to understand. His father then taught his son a lesson about the right choices to make so that he can figure out the right and wrong.
In the novel, Danny Saunders, another protagonist, spends his whole life growing up with his father as a Hasid. Danny’s life was filled with silence since his father and he never talked until Reuven came into his. Danny and Reuven shared a very close bond with each other. Danny talks and explains to Reuven about the silent relationship he and his father have, and try’s to help him. As the story continues, Danny soon began to see that he wanted to be someone different in life, but his Father wanted him to keep going and follow their family tradition’s way. This made Danny silent and uncomfortable throughout his relationship with his father and says, “I’m afraid of anything I tell him. God, I’m afraid” (Potok 276). Although their relationship was silence, Reuven was able to help with Danny’s problem. Danny began to feel more confident in himself and was able to move on forward with the help of Reuven. Although his father did not know that his dream was to study psychology, Danny planned on to not to tell him but to make his own decisions and to keep on moving forward. If it were not for Reuven, Danny wouldn’t be able to follow his dreams and overcome his fear of him and his father’s silent relationship.
As time passed on Reuven didn’t have any trust at all for Danny after what had happen at the game “I’m all mixed up about you” (Potok 81). Soon each character then understood each other on what had happen and decided to help each other once again. Danny then kept on telling Reuven about him and his father’s silent relationship and how it was very difficult for him; “I’d hate to have my father not talk to me” (Potok 116). Lucky for Danny, his one and only friend, Reuven, was able to talk to Danny’s father and told him what Danny wanted to be. The relationship of both Danny and Reuven is very strong that both had the idea to find that knowledgement of themselves and their future.
In the novel Chaim Potok shows a strong bonding relationship between Reuven and his father.

David Malter, his father, teaches Reuven, stuff that are based on their religion. When Reuven did not accept Danny at first, Reuven’s father took him and taught him what was right. His father then corrects his son, Reuven, and tells him, “When a person comes and talks to you, you should be patient and listen” (Potok 64). Being taught Jewish beliefs meant for Reuven to have a really close relationship with Danny Saunders. Not only does Reuven’s father care about his son, but also Danny. David Malter knew what was going on in Danny’s life and worried about his future. He figured this all out because Reuven kept on mentioning it to

him.
The Author, Chaim Potok, also shows how the way the protagonist, Reuven, is reveal to the silent communication. The problem of Reb Saunders relationship with his son, Danny, is that Danny opens up a bond with Reuven. It’s not easy for a father like Reb, and his son, Danny, to communicate with each other about their feelings and to see what was happing in their lives. Reb talks to Danny and Danny talks to Reuven. In this case Danny tells Reuven because he wants to know what his father meant. He also tells him his plans for the future. The fear that Danny has for his father is that, he won’t accept his decision of becoming a psychologist. In that case he didn’t plan to tell him what he wanted to study. Although His father already has planned a future for him, Reb Saunders tells Reuven, “And I had to make certain his soul would be the soul of a tzaddik no matter what he did with his life” (Chaim Potok Paragraph 6). While Reuven helped both father and son understand each other by using communication, the author also show that communicating does not have to be face to face. Both Danny and Reb then started to share a bonding thanks to Reuven.

Communication was their biggest fear, for both Reuven and Danny. The friendship of both Reuven and Danny had was just enough for them to push themselves to overcome their fear. With the help of David Malter, Reuven was able to communicate and soon became friends with Danny. As they bonded Reuven was soon able to give confidence to Danny so he can figure out what he wanted to do in life, as well as communicating with his dad. In this case the quote, “True happiness consists not in multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice” can be stated as the theme for the novel because happiness doesn’t need to be found in a group of friends, but instead in those who are close to you.