Parallels Between Characters In The Chosen By Chaim Potok
Chaim Potok in his novel, The Chosen, uses parallels between characters to compliment one another by sharing knowledge and contrasting one another. There are two particular characters that are especially prominent. Reuven and Danny are both raised as American Jews and are the same age, at times they build and learn off of one another as they grow up together. Danny’s photographic memory makes memorizing things easy, but at times he struggles with other subjects. Potok writes, “Two blatt? I stared at him. That was four pages of Talmud a day. If I did one page a day, I was delighted” (Potok 73). Some things Reuven finds easy that Danny struggles with and they use this to teach each other throughout their childhood. Reuven says, “I told him [Danny’s
father] Danny’s misery over Professor Appleman and experimental psychology” (Potok 214). Danny’s father is a very strict man who never talks to his son unless it is about Talmud. These characters contrast one another in order to reveal certain traits about themselves. This use of author’s craft gives the reader a very particular insight into the book. It is important for readers to realize these parallels between characters because not only will it enhance their understanding of the book, but also make it more interesting. The strengths and weaknesses of these characters allows them to help each other and grow through one another throughout the story, just like when Reuven and Danny help teach one another. Attributes of the characters that would otherwise be hidden to readers are now clearly seen when they focus on the similarities and parallels between the characters. All in all, Chaim Potok’s use of parallels through his story The Chosen help illuminate certain attributes of characters and allows them to teach one another in new ways.
father] Danny’s misery over Professor Appleman and experimental psychology” (Potok 214). Danny’s father is a very strict man who never talks to his son unless it is about Talmud. These characters contrast one another in order to reveal certain traits about themselves. This use of author’s craft gives the reader a very particular insight into the book. It is important for readers to realize these parallels between characters because not only will it enhance their understanding of the book, but also make it more interesting. The strengths and weaknesses of these characters allows them to help each other and grow through one another throughout the story, just like when Reuven and Danny help teach one another. Attributes of the characters that would otherwise be hidden to readers are now clearly seen when they focus on the similarities and parallels between the characters. All in all, Chaim Potok’s use of parallels through his story The Chosen help illuminate certain attributes of characters and allows them to teach one another in new ways.