Character Analysis: The Chosen By Chaim Potok

Reuven Malter, the narrator in Chaim Potoks novel, The Chosen, tells a story about his friendship with Danny. Reuven tells us that there are many differences between the two boys. Their fathers think differently. Reuven’s father, David Malter, is an orthodox Jew who is less strict in the Jewish tradition. Danny’s father Reb Saunders, however, is a stricter Hasidic Jew. Despite some obstacles and even though the fathers have different opinions, Reuven and Danny still managed to stay friends.
David Malters views are very different from Reb Saunders for example, David Malter is a Zionist. He told Reuven, “Reb Saunders sits and waits for the messiah, he said I am tired of waiting. Now it is the time to bring the Messiah, not wait for him.”(Potok 220) Reb Saunders believes that there will be a messiah but David Malter does not. This shows that the two dads think differently. This makes the friendship with Reuven and Danny more complex and difficult. David Malter does not want to wait for the messiah but to bring the Messiah ourselves, both fathers have very different thoughts.

Reuven thought to himself, ”silence was ugly, it was black, it leered, it was cancerous, it was death. I hated it, and I hated Reb Saunders for forcing it upon me and his son.”(Potok 235) Reb Saunders forbid Danny to talk to Reuven which makes the friendship with the boys difficult. Reb Saunders is also the problem why the boys are having a hard time being friends. Danny told Reuven, “he doesn’t talk much, either. Oh, he talks plenty when we’re studying the Talmud together. But otherwise he doesn’t talk much. He told me once he wiches everyone could talk in silence.” (Potok 72) Mr. Malter and Mr. Saunders think very