The story takes place at the Devon School, a boarding school which the two attend, during World War 1. From the beginning of the story, the two characters are presented as having a seemingly perfect friendship, undeterred by their individual personalities being polar opposites. On the one hand, Gene is intellectual, introverted, brooding, and paranoid around others. The story is told from his (sometimes biased) point of view. Finny is the outgoing, energetic athlete who loves the spontaneity of life, and is constantly in the company of others. As the story progresses, Gene’s thoughts unveil the deep-seated tension that exists, and causes many of the incidents and events around which the story centers. An analysis of the thoughts and interactions between the two reveals the contrast between their personalities, and the exemplification of Freud’s theories becomes
A great deal of people would say we are all just products of our environment― for two adolescent boys from Baltimore this couldn't be any truer. In the autobiographical memoir, The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore, unbeknownst, two fatherless African American boys with an identical name and living in the same neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, ended up on two entirely different paths of life. One evolves to be a Rhodes Scholar, honored and respected combat veteran, and business leader. The other is spending the rest of his life in a federal prison for committing a murder. However, in their separate lives, they both started out as young boys that grew up in single mom households in the rough streets of Baltimore. As teenagers,
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” The author of this quote, Michelangelo, explains how many can achieve a goal almost effortlessly, but few actually try to achieve something that requires toilsome work. Such work that is not always successful, but when it is, the result is superior compared to an insufficient effort. The extraordinary man who wrote this quote achieved greatness by striving for excellence. Michelangelo Buonarroti is easily understood by others, even though he has surpassed the average expectations. In the novel “The Chosen” written by Chaim Potok, a main character named Mr.Malter claims that “great men are difficult to understand.” Mr.
In Chaim Potok’s book, The Chosen, blindness is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. The first example of blindness is Danny and Reuven live within five blocks from each other for fifteen years and have no idea that the other person exists. Because the boys have such a different culture, they live in their own world and are blind to each other. When they meet at the baseball field they judge each other based on rumors they have heard or by the actions of the team. Reuven thinks of them as the “whole snooty bunch of Hasidim” (Chosen 62).
In the novel The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, readers are introduced to Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders and the relationships between the teenaged boys and their fathers. David Malter, Reuven’s father, is a teacher and a voice of reason to Reuven throughout the novel. Reuven and David have a very close relationship that involves them talking often and questioning what the other is doing throughout their lives. Reb Saunders, Danny’s father, is a rabbi for Danny’s group of Hasidic Jews in their neighbourhood and is raising Danny to be the next rabbi for their people. Danny and Reb Saunders speak only while they are studying the holy books together and Reb Saunders has not spoken directly to Danny since he was four years old. Reb Saunders and David both have a different way of communicating to their son, they both have the same common goal to pass
Throughout history there have been many examples of the constant battle between good and evil. In the Chrysalids by John Wyndham this occurs post apocalyptic war. This book was about a group of kids fighting for the rights for Blasphemies, against a community afraid to accept anything except the “true image”. In the chrysalids two characters represented hope for the future and one represented following the evil doings of the past. David and uncle Axel represented hope for the future, whereas Joseph Strorm represented the evil doings of the past. David always looked at life optimistically, trying to do what was best for the future. Uncle Axel always guide and supported the idea of acceptance. Joseph Strorm was evil and tried to relive the past.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” This command, given by Jesus’ in Mark 12:31, tells everybody love others just as much as themselves. David Malter, a very Christ-like character from The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, puts this command into practice. He exemplifies many of Jesus’ most valuable character-traits. Although Mr. Malter does not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, he still follows many of his commands without even knowing it. He cares for and loves his son more than anything. He willingly sacrifices his health for Zionism a cause he has a passion for. He also takes the time to disciple his own son. David Malter is an extremely Christ-like man because of his loving nature, the way he makes sacrifices and his willingness to disciple his son.
This quote introduces one of the many themes that are shown throughout the entire novel-the contrast between people and their diverse ideas. In their antagonistic relationship, Danny is portrayed as a formidable opponent and a possible rival for Reuven. Even during their first meeting with one another, almost immediately, Reuven notices the obvious differences between him and Danny. For starters, Reuven is Orthodox whereas Danny is part of a different sect of Judaism, known as Hasidism. Despite their contrasting appearances and beliefs, the two boys are also similar in many ways; they both play an important role in their softball teams including the genuine devotion they both have towards their own religion. Furthermore, although the two boys
The second important event in the friendship of Reuven and Danny is when Reuven eats a Shabbat meal with Danny. Reuven goes to the Hasidic synagogue because Reb Saunders wants to meet him. Reuven discovers that Reb never talks to Danny except when they are studying Talmud. Danny says to Reuven “…I told him we were friends” (p. 115). However, Danny says that Reb Saunders needs to approve of his friends, especially if it is not a Hasid. While Reuven is in the Hasidic synagogues, he sees how the Hasidic men treat Danny and Reb Saunders like their God. Reb Saunders Reuven about gematriya as a way of proving if he is worthy to become Danny’s friend. Reuven feels like he passed the test by pointing out a mistake in one of the gematriyot. The Hasidic
Danny Saunders presents an emotional enigma. On a surface level, his attributes appear clear, but as one examines deeper, his emotions take on a blurry existence. Reuven especially never seems to discern what Danny is feeling and why. This makes it an extraordinarily difficult task to assess the basic mold of Danny’s personality. When distilling him down, it is near impossible to go any deeper than the obvious points. Danny Saunders possesses a brilliant mind, and often feels passionately about his beliefs, but he is constantly searching for the solution to the pain in his life and the lives of others.
The FBI defines serial killing as "a series of three or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always, by one offender acting alone". The “separate events” part is what makes serial killing different than spree killing and mass killing. Another thing that makes serial killers stand out is that they often demonstrate specific patterns that can be easily identified by police investigators. It was often debated that those patterns are products of either their genetics, or their environment. We now know that both are important to the development of all people, so now people argue which one is more important, especially when it comes to serial killers.
In his book The Promise Chaim Potok leads the reader on a heartbreaking journey full of spiritual conflict and decision. As a sequel to The Chosen, The Promise picks up with Reuven Malter, the main character and a Jewish man now in his mid-twenties, attending Hirsch University, a Jewish seminary in Brooklyn, New York. Reuven keeps his friendship with Danny Saunders, whom he met on a baseball field during his teenage years and later went to college with, even though they now go their separate ways as Reuven becomes a rabbi, and Danny practices psychology. During the summer Reuven dates Rachel Gordon, the niece of Abraham Gordon, a man excommunicated from the Jewish society, and meets Abraham’s son, Michael, a stubborn teen with a mental issue. Also, over the same summer Reuven’s father, David Malter, wrote a controversial book about the Talmud. These people along with Reuven’s ranting teacher, Rav Kalman, form the intricate web of conflicts and friendships in The Promise.
The definition of intelligence is “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.” Chaim Potok has created many incredibly intelligent characters in his novel The Chosen. These characters have many trials they must overcome. Some must overcome sickness, or possible overcome losing a dear friend, even one may be helpless to what his father wants. Nevertheless, they overcome these obstacles. There are three specific characters that demonstration brilliant intelligence; David Malter, Reuven, and Danny.
In Nazi Germany being kind and diverse was a death wish. One was only supposed to associate with those who were following the orders of Hitler and the rest of the Nazis. The book takes place in Nazi Germany during World War II, with the Hubermann family receiving a new addition to the family, Liesel Meminger. Liesel had lost her brother during the journey to the Hubermanns which caused her to obtain constant nightmares. The only person that seemed to understand her at the time was Hans Hubermann. Hans was a man who did not approve of the genocide that was taking over Germany. He had nothing against Jews and thought them equal to himself. Doing the right thing was what he strived for, little did he know that would be his downfall. Hans went
The three criteria for the a developing characters in a story are on the consistent behavior, there motivation and the quality being lifelike. The characteristic for consistent behavior is that the characters attitude and behavior are consistent throughout the story and remain the same, however if the behavior does change it would be justified why it would be. Another characteristic is the motivation for the character, why they act/do stuff a certain way aswell to what they believe in. Lastly is whether this character could be plausible in realife, the character with hold traits that can exist with someone in this world. In the short story“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” by Richard Wright, a young minded boy named David showed all three characteristics