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The Chosen |
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Daniel (Danny) Saunders - He is the son of Rabbi Reb Saunders and the
protagonist of the novel. He is a brilliant boy who is confused by the
ideologies of his Hasidic religion. His friendship with Reuven helps him to
understand himself.
Reb Saunders - He is the Rabbi of the Hasidic sect of Jews living in
Williamsburg and the father of Danny. A deeply religious and God fearing man, he
has a great influence on the Jewish people in his sect; he wishes he had as much
influence on his oldest son.
Reuven Malter - He is the son of Professor David Malter, who brings up
Reuven to be strong and think for himself. He becomes Danny's friend and helps
him to understand his life, his values, and his religion. Influenced by his own
activist father, Reuven
disapproves of Rabbi Saunders' philosophies, which seems orthodox to him.
David Malter - He is Reuven's father, who is a teacher at the "yeshiva"
(school) where Reuven studies. In many ways, he is the exact opposite of Reb
Saunders, for he is liberal and understanding and takes the time to explain
everything to his son. He is actively
concerned about the Jewish fate in the world, especially in America.
Mr. Galanter - He is the sports coach at Reuven's school. Although he
is not a very religious Jew, he is a very good human being.
Mr. Savo - He is one of Reuven's hospital mates. He projects a jolly and
carefree exterior to hide his own ill-health.
Protagonist:
Danny Saunders, a young, intelligent Hasidic Jew, is the main protagonist of the
novel. Throughout the book, he suffers from his father's silence. He also longs
to become a psychologist, rather than to follow in his father's footsteps and
become a rabbi, as
expected. He becomes close friends with Reuven and his father. Both of them help
him on his journey to find himself.
Antagonist:
Danny's antagonist is really himself. The novel is a coming of age story in
which Danny must learn to accept his Hasidic family and his place in it. Because
Danny's father has raised him in silence, he feels rejected, resentful, and
confused for most of the novel.
Climax:
The climax of the story occurs in the last chapter. Using Reuven as a
go-between, Reb Saunders reveals that he knows of his son's desire to become a
psychologist rather than a rabbi, as expected of him by Hasidism. Although he is
disappointed in the decision, he
accepts it and will not try to stop him. Danny is speechless over the news and
openly weeps with joy and relief.
Outcome:
The story ends in comedy, for Danny knows who he is and what he wants in life.
Additionally, the silence barrier between Danny and his father has been
permanently broken, and Danny is granted permission to pursue his career as a
psychologist. It is obvious that his father has cared for him deeply through the
silence and directed
his son away from his rebellious tendencies.
1. The key theme of the novel is the importance of relationships. Throughout
the book, the close relationship of Danny and Reuven is displayed, but Danny
longs for more. He wants a warm and loving relationship with his father like the
one he sees between
Reuven and his father. When Reb Saunders breaks up the friendship between the
boys because of the Zionism issue, Danny is truly lost. At the first
opportunity, he re-establishes his friendship with Reuven; but he does not find
true happiness until
his father breaks his silence and accepts Danny as he is.
2. Another important theme throughout the novel is the difficulty of growing up, especially as a Jewish boy. Even though Danny and Reuven are the same age and live only two blocks apart, they do not know one another for sixteen years because of the differences between their Jewish sects. When they do finally meet, it is because of an intense rivalry between the sects at a baseball game. Surprisingly, the boys from very different backgrounds become close friends and help one another on the road towards manhood. But the trip is not easy. Danny suffers from the silence he receives from his father and struggles with not becoming a rabbi himself. Reuven endures the pain of his father's illness and his separation from Danny. Both boys suffer when they follow the war that is raging in Europe and hear about the Jews that are being persecuted and killed. It is obvious through the portrayal of Reuven and Danny that the maturing process is never easy, for life is filled with hurts and hardships that a person must learn to endure
3. A minor
theme that runs throughout the novel is the difficulty of man getting along with
his fellow man. In Europe, the Second World War wages and horrendous atrocities
are being committed against the Jews. Then when the war is over and there is a
Zionist
push to create the state of Israel, fighting, both mental and physical, breaks
out between the Jews over the issue. In the Holy Land, the Arabs and Jews fight
and kill each other over the issue.
Throughout most of the novel, the mood is tense and strained due to the silence between Danny and his father, the break-up of the friendship between Danny and Reuven over the issue of Zionism, and the war that rages as the background setting. The mood lightens at the end of the book when Rabbi Saunders breaks his silence and blesses his son's decision to be a psychologist rather than a rabbi.
