The Role Of Honesty In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

Why do friendships die? Many friendships consist of people without the essential ingredients necessary for a healthy relationship. Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, a story about two Jewish boys who become friends in 1940’s America, follows one of these boys named Rueven Malter. He exhibits the essential factors for a lasting closeness which includes 3 main parts. Honesty improves friendships and any relation by getting rid of all hidden and past grievances. Exhibiting patience also creates great affection between people. Individuals with empathy forge connections that last through hard times. Rueven has honesty, patience, and empathy which makes him a worthy friend. He displays honesty through his words and expressions. When confronted by situations which confuse him, he speaks his thoughts truthfully and his face does not hid his contemplations. Rueven visits his friend, Danny, at his house and Danny’s father gets Rueven to tell him what Danny does in the library every day. “From that moment [Danny] entered the room and saw my face, I knew he was aware that something had happened during his absence” (168). After telling Danny’s father almost

He uses his patience when others explain concepts that he does not understand. “And now, Rueven you will begin to have the answer to your question. I am sorry I am taking so long” (109). Rueven asks his father about Danny, when he first meets him, so he answers Rueven question but first digs into Danny’s family history for historical reference. Later Danny explains to his friend what he reads I Frued, his phycology book, and even though Rueven does not grasp it at first, he patiently works through it until he can fathom it. Even though Danny explains very different concepts that Rueven has not learned, he works through it, and eventually begins to figure it out. Without patience, people get frustrated. Ruev’s patience with everyone helps him as a