Overcoming Adversity In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

When people are struck with hardships in life, the way they react reveals their true character. Having a certain mindset can greatly influence how they handle problems, differentiating one person from another. Many can feel discouraged and feel like giving up when they hit a rough patch. In other cases, the will to be in a position better than where they are at the moment gives them the motivation to succeed. Adversity can have a positive effect on the development of an individual's character, providing them with the drive to overcome their current situation.

Adversity is something we will all face. It’ll affect everyone ranging, from myself to characters in a book. Even though going through something so challenging, so painful, and so life changing can be hard, how you chose to handle it affects whether or not you overcome it. Adversity can either break a person or make them stronger; it’s up to their will to fight.

Napoleon Hill once stated, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” From George Washington to Nelson Mandela, greatness is cultivated from adversity during turbulent times. Horace’s assertion is correct in view of the fact that adversity causes people to act, reveals vulnerabilities, and forces people to adapt.

Adversity can come in many different forms, whether it’s losing your pencil to losing a limb. Adversity is the difficulties or misfortunes a person may experience in their lifetime. You always see these stories of people overcoming a traumatic experience in their life and turning it into an opportunity for something great. How do individuals overcome adversity? Based on the four individuals this essay will mention, Maya Angelou, Amy Purdy, Stuart Scott, and Emma Carey, there are three main ways people overcome adversity.

Adversity has a way of bringing up challenges unexpectedly, most people shrink away from it and get consumed, but when they push through it people come out stronger than they were before.

Reuven says to Danny, “you look like a Hasid but you don’t sound like one. … You sound almost as if you don’t believe in God” (Potok 81). Here, Reuven is bringing light to the fact that Danny is not as truly Hasidic on the inside as he appears on the outside. It is also obvious that Danny will not be keeping his tzitzit forever when Danny reads Graetz’s volume that chastised Hasidism aloud to Reuven and then calls him a great scholar; “But Graetz was a great scholar .... He was one of the greatest Jewish scholars of the century” (Potok 154). Danny is saying that even though Graetz wrote about the dark parts of Hasidism, he was still able to overlook that and admit he was a great scholar. Another example that proves that Danny will leave Hasidism when he goes to Columbia can be found when Danny begins to read the works of people such as Darwin and Freud. A true Hasid would never read something that contradicted their religion such as that and most certainly, never enjoy it. The fact that Reuven notices the traces of apikorsim in Danny early on, Danny names Graetz a great scholar and that he not only reads but enjoys the works of Darwin and Freud are all evidence that when Danny leaves for Columbia, he will also be leaving

To the reader it seems at first that Danny is an arrogant, uptight son of a rabbi. We learn as the novel progresses more about Danny and that he is a less than perfect

Reuven and Danny’s friendship continues to grow deeper. They are both introduced to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences. “Yes, You know what a friend is Reuven?--- two people ---with two bodies and one soul.” (David Malter 110). Reuven also goes to Danny’s synagogue where he watches in amazement as Danny and his father go back and forth arguing about the finer points and interpretation of the Talmud. Danny has a photographic memory and a very deep understanding of the Talmud and per the tradition of his Hasidic Jewish sect is expected to take his father’s footsteps and become a

… “Why don’t you ask Appleman? I said quietly. “I think I will,” Danny said. “I think I’ll do just that. Why not? What have I got to lose? It can’t make me any more miserable than I am now” (Potok 211). Reuven helps Danny make decisions about his future encouraging him to follow his heart and become a psychologist. It would mean deviating from the expected career of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a Rabbi. This would be frowned upon. Danny’s father states, “For six generations now we have led our people. I will not live forever. Daniel will one day take my place ---” (Potok 166). Danny lives his dream in silence until his father finally realizes that Danny wants to attend college and pursue a career outside of the faith.. ”And my son, my Daniel, he will - he will go another way. I saw Danny’s mouth fall open…’I know Reb Saunders murmured’…” (Potok 282). If it wasn’t for Reuven’s kindness, encouragement, and compassion for Danny, then Danny would have followed in his father’s footsteps and lived a life of misery in silence. Reuven’s character demonstrated a level of maturity by his actions. This newfound maturity continued to grow.

Chaim Potok’s The Chosen is the story of a lasting friendship that blossoms between two Jewish boys, Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter, during and after World War II. On a deeper level, much of the plot focuses on the character of their fathers–Reb Saunders and David Malter–whose beliefs and ideals are rooted in two separate worlds. Reb Saunders is a zealous Hasidic rabbi who wants to impart his knowledge of his religion upon Danny and expects his son to follow in his footsteps. David is a professor and single father who comes from a liberal Jewish background. As the friendship between Reuven and Danny grows, both fathers try to reconcile their views with their sons and with their own

Adversity is like a buffet, you have so many choices they are available like Roman Horace says. It’s a huge part in our everyday life. It’s something that can’t go by without being knowledge it has a huge effect that will be noticed in so way or form.

Two Jewish, teenage boys living parallel lives in New York City meet each other and realize the challenges that are faced during a friendship, especially when their religious beliefs are very contradictory. In The Chosen by Chaim Potok, the narrator, Reuven Malter, is a Modern Orthodox Jew and Danny Saunders, the other protagonist who is a Hasidic Jew, become friends after a tragic incident at a local baseball game. After reading The Chosen, I realized how much knowledge about the Jewish faith I gained, as well as, how much of my knowledge of the Jewish faith was clarified. My knowledge of their faith was expanded in many ways for example, how much hatred and discrimination the Jews have suffered from for over a thousand years and the different

Isaac wants Danny to be who he wants, not what his father wants him to

Individuals lack the knowledge of the essence of life for what it is until they've really tasted adversity and enduring hardship. We are put through numerous hardships throughout everyday life, and we figure out how to comprehend and adapt to these issues en route. We find that life isn't just about discovering one's self, however about making and gaining from our encounters and foundation. Yann Martel's Life of Pi portrays to us that unfavorable circumstances help shape a man's personality and assume a huge part in one's life by deciding one's potential to adapt and form new abilities, forming one's convictions and qualities, and characterizing the significance and importance of one's self. Adversity has the impact of inspiring capacities which, in blasting conditions, would have lain lethargic.

The first time Danny and Reuven met, Danny brutally hit Reuven in the eye in a competitive softball game, and had a significant, unforgettable bond ever since. After forgiveness they became extremely close friend and met in the library to study and talk about their hopes and dreams. With their shared love of knowledge, they study the Talmud and their library books together, they shared their hopes and dreams to each other openly and honestly. “…A psychologist…It helps you understand what a person is really like inside. I’ve read some books on it.” (74). Danny stood vulnerable in beginning of the friendship to share his ideas and career dreams to Reuven. Then after time and effort he loved his college classes, even if he said he disliked his experimental psychology for quite some time. In conclusion, Reuven’s and Danny’s relationship thrived on their honest sincerity towards each other.