Reuven In The Promise, By Chaim Potok

People will sometimes think which would be the most effective method to use to right wrongs redemption or revenge? When righting a wrong, redemption is a more effective method than revenge. Redemption will usually result in less violence and there will be less problems to deal with. Revenge on the other hand, will usually result in more violence and it occasionally bites back on whoever was getting revenge on someone else or a group of people for some specific reason and sometimes things will tend to not go as planned.

In The Chosen, Potok describes the Jewish culture during the period of World War I. Beginning with the affluence of Polish Jews before the war, Potok established a circle of relationships. In the book, there are three main relationships. The first one is father-son, between Danny and his father, Reb Saunders and between Reuven and his father, David Malter. The relationship between Reuven and Danny is the second main relationship in The Chosen. The third main relationship is Hasidism verses Zionism.

In Chaim Potok’s “The Chosen”, Reb Saunders knowingly raises his son through emotional detachment in the form of his own silence towards Danny. Reb Saunders methods, although rather neglectful and harsh, serve Danny successful in the grand scheme of his own intellectual success and his tzaddik soul. Reb Saunders reflects on his own childhood and states “My father himself never talked to me, except when we studied together. He taught me with silence. He taught me to look into myself, to find my own strength, to walk around inside myself in company with my soul” (Potok 284), through this form of parenting, Reb Saunders learns to raise a strong fully willed child who recognizes others weaknesses with respect and mercy, without forgetting himself

Danny and Reuven’s relationship progresses from tension in the beginning to an intimate friendship because of a mutual trust that is established. Danny says, “Sometimes I’m not sure I know what God wants though…I’ve never said that to anyone before” (80). From early on Danny feels comfortable confiding in Reuven. He shares his innermost feelings with Reuven and they form a closely knit bond. Danny and Reuven have a conversation; Reuven asks Danny, “Are you going to like being a Rabbi?” (82). Danny replies, “No, but I have no choice, it’s like a dynasty, if the son doesn’t take the father’s place, the dynasty falls apart” (Ibid.). This piece of evidence once again displays a profound trust the boys have. This conversation is a turning point for the book because Danny admits he does not want to carry on his father’s rabbinic dynasty. The fact that Danny openly shares this shocking information with Reuven shows how strong the boys relationship is. After a personal conversation Reuven narrates as he observes Danny, “I saw him begin to play absent-mindedly with one of his earlocks. We were quiet for a long

The Long Years, written by Ray Bradbury, while being a short story, asks some large questions about humanity. Set in the year 2026 on the planet Mars, 20 years after the planet was suddenly evacuated to fight a war on Earth, a single family is left. During the sudden evacuation, the Hathaway family was on an archaeological dig in the hills and was unable to make the last ship. The Hathaway family has survived 20 years on the Martian world without anyone else, until a ship finally comes to save them. Dr. Hathaway, the father, goes with his son to greet the ship crew jumping with glee at the prospect of being saved. When the ship lands, Dr. Hathaway is excited to find that leading the crew is his acquaintance Captain Wilder. Captain Wilder tells Dr. Hathaway that the Earth war is over and they are an expedition to determine the possibilities of recolonization of Mars after the rebuilding of Earth is completed. Unfortunately, while this exchange occurs, it becomes apparent that the health of Dr. Hathaway is bad, he has a problem with his heart. The doctor is quickly evaluated and recovered from the excitement and stress on his heart, he discusses at length how he and his family has occupied their time. Dr. Hathaway has been busy while being stuck on Mars with projects ranging from building fuel cells to refurbishing entire cities. Once the crew arrives at the house, where Dr. Hathaway’s family lives, the crew grows suspicious that something is not quite right with the family. Dr. Hathaway is described as an aging figure, but his wife and children have apparently not aged a day in 20 years. Some of the crew even states that when they were children, they were colleagues with the Hathaway children and they should be in their early forties at least, but they are still teenagers. It is determined that everyone is the Hathaway family has perished except for the father, Dr. Hathaway, and in an attempt to not be alone, he created android replicants of his family. Dr. Hathaway is informed that the crew must leave and he is able to come, but without his android family, they must stay. The stress of the day pushes Dr. Hathaway’s heart to the limit and he passes away. Captain Wilder informs the family and it

Danny and Reuven represent deeply committed friends. Their live intertwine when historical circumstances , religious realities, and their father's differences in child rearing dramatically affect their respective senses of security and happiness.

Harlan Ellison uses strong imagery in his short story “‘Repent, Harlequin!’ said the Ticktockman” to better develop the characters and setting. The personalities of both the Harlequin and the Ticktockman are developed through Ellison’s imagery of their physical forms and of their personas. The dull setting of the short story is created through the author’s imagery of machinery, particularly clockwork, and Mondrian arrangements. Ellison’s use of imagery allows the reader to pull from this story deeper, more significant meaning than what appears on the surface.

First off, Reuven never failed to stay strong no matter what. During a softball game in the beginning of the book, he never paused to feel sorry for himself, but continuously played for his teammates as best as he could. The left lens of his glasses shattered, but he determined himself to capture the escaping ball for his team, despite his painful wrist, elbow, and now eye injury. After a surgery to free his eye from tempered glass, Reuven stayed in the hospital for quite some time. During his visit, his arch rival kept him company. Little did he know that broken glass would open his vision towards Danny and his friendship with him. The never-ending strength Reuven displays inspire his readers.

Reuven’s committed and friendly attitude, along with his bright mind, bring him close to Danny as both of them grow older. Reuven’s commitment first shows up in the first scene of the book, the softball game. Danny hits the ball straight toward Reuven, and instead of ducking it, he has the guts and the determination to attempt to catch it. He nearly gets blinded for his efforts, but his tenacity makes a point that Danny later comes to respect. Reuven also shows his commitment by his diligent, extracurricular study of symbolic logic.

The Chosen Written by Chaim Potok a book that many people can relate to, It makes you realize that there is so much to life that we all take for granted, As well as having religious aspects to it that really make you see a different way of life. The main characters Danny And Reuven have an odd relationship, and many obstacles that they go threw throughout the book. The themes that are emphasized greatly in this book would be Education and the way that the two boys handle their “Secular” and “Religious” Studies as well as the pressure from their fathers about their education. Another Theme that plays a big role in to this book is the different parenting styles from each father and the father son relationship that is so contrasting between the

According to Richard M. Cook, the final impression conveyed by the novel is one of tragic

When it comes to Danny and Reuven there friendship is nothing but surprising. Reuven even understands that there chance friendship is like none other, written in the book he thinks “Danny and I probably would never have met...had it not been for...the Jewish parochial schools to show the gentile world that yeshiva students were as physically fit...” (13). With their differing Jewish traditions a reunion like the one in the hospital is unbelievable. Even though they are different they continue on in their friendship, but still carry on respectfully in their customs. Some differences are the secularity of Reuven differing with Danny’s safe and strict rituals. They both are Jews and hold many of the same traditions, but struggle with some of their differences. Such as when Reuven held onto Zionist customs and Reuven was forced to take a break with their friendship. Even through a major obstacle of religious traditions the boys were able to stay united

fitting title for this work because the novel focuses on the choices that Danny and Reuven make

Soon after Reuven arrives at the hospital, Danny Saunders visits him. Danny, the boy who ‘accidently’ hit Reuven in the face with a baseball, came to visit him even though he did not know him. Danny knew Reuven would be mad at him because he could have potentially blinded him for life, but he came anyway. Although Reuven did lash out at him in the first visit, Reuven soon forgave him and they became fast friends. “I don’t hate you,’ I managed to say, because I thought it was time for me to say something even if what I said was a lie.” (62) Danny cared about Reuven and wanted him to recover quickly and fully, even though Reuven acted terribly towards him because he hurt

Leadership and management for many go hand in hand, and may be perceived as one in the same. In the book titled, The Servant (1998), James C. Hunter challenged this mainstream view, and literally turned this concept, which so many are coached on, upside-down. The notions of what characterizes a virtuous leader, as well as what it means to serve others, are the primary focal points of Hunter’s book. He did an eloquent job of revealing his theory concerning effective leadership by using an allegorical approach which, made the content easier to digest and much more personable. The Servant deeply resonated with me, and I gained significant value from the attitudes Hunter presented which, I can apply to my schooling, personal life, and future career paths. I was also able to discern what I felt to be applicable elements regarding the mark of a worthy leader, and arrived at my own theories.