Similarities Between To Kill A Mockingbird And The Chosen

A great book is difficult to define. Some books contain endless action an exciting plot while others are more theological, but both make excellent reads. The Chosen by Chaim Potok, and Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird display this elegantly. Lee’s book starts with a trial and ends with a murder, but The Chosen, though less dramatic still possess the qualities of a great book. Both books deal with complex problems such as religion, race, justice, and friendship. In my opinion, The Chosen was a greater book because of its superior theme, plot, and connection between the reader and the characters.

The Chosen posses themes that relate closer to me. As a teenage boy, themes of friendship and religion interest me more than issues of justice and race. For instance, Danny and Reuven’s friendship relates to me more than that of Calpurnia and Scout. And the workings and conflict between two Jewish sects intrigues me more than how the black church sings differently, as in To Kill a Mockingbird. Both books have a theme of parenting, but Potok displays it more accurately for what it is; a wide range of possible methods and not just a right or wrong way. The themes in The Chosen relate closer to me, making more relevant.
At first glance, The Chosen is not as exciting as To Kill a Mockingbird.
It’s not as complicated nor as climatic. But more interesting ideas come out through it, such as the benefits and disadvantages of silence. The baseball game at the beginning makes an excellent hook, whereas To Kill a Mockingbird, starts out pretty slow. The hardships and blessings of Danny and Reuven’s friendship makes it an interesting book and a very good one. Though it may not look it, The Chosen’s plot is every bit as good as Lee’s
novel.

The final reason why The Chosen is a greater book is the stronger connection it makes with the reader. Since the main characters are similar in age to me, I identify myself more closely with them than with To Kill a Mockingbird’s main character, Scout. Potok also give the reader more of his characters’ thoughts, and thence builds their character better. As an example, he spends a whole chapter focusing solely on Reuven’s thoughts after he gets out of the Hospital. It’s more theological with less action, but at the end the reader feel more strongly for the main characters.

Both novels are very good books, and fun to read, but The Chosen has superior qualities. It possess themes that hold the reader fast, and its plot is excellent. It creates a connection between the reader and the characters that simply does not exist in To Kill a Mockingbird. People have different opinions on what makes a great book, but as for me, The Chosen was the greater.