Literary Analysis Essay Research Paper Authors use

Literary Analysis Essay, Research Paper

Authors use writing as a form of disseminating their knowledge and experiences to the world. Chaim Potok is a master of this, and has shown it in each of his eight amazing novels. In his novels, Potok often made the idea of challenging conformity a central issue for the characters. Danny s decision to become a Psychologist in The Chosen is a single example of this issue with conformity. From the diametric opposition of Danny and Reuven s characters, Potok shows how delicate the balance of the worlds of secular and Ultra-Orthodox Judaism can be. Potok s purpose of writing this novel is to show not only this balance of beliefs, but also the conflicts that can arise within a single religion.

Potok was born in the Bronx, New York in February of 1929. He was the son of two polish immigrants and grew up in an Orthodox Hassidic family. His family and friends within the sect discouraged him from going beyond the boundaries of Judaism. The discouragement of leaving orthodox practices only led to rebellion. His rebellion lied within his becoming a conservative Jewish person. Secular Jews practice the religion, but do not base their lives around Judaism. Potok was intrigued by this idea, and after he read Portrait of a Young Man , and another novel by Evelyn Waugh, he decided that he wanted to have a life outside of religion. He had numerous experiences leading to his more conservative beliefs. The first experience was his enrollment in the Korean War. He had served as a chaplain in 1956-57(Gale 44). While enrolled in the service, he realized that there was much more outside of the world of ultra-orthodox Judaism. This pushed him towards much more secular beliefs. This idea is apparent in The Chosen in the life of Danny Saunders and Reuven as well (Classic notes).

Potok s College life was not entirely based upon Religion. He did attend Yeshiva University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. After that, he moved to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. At the Seminary he was ordained a conservative Rabbi. He moved on to become a teacher at several Jewish Colleges. The most prominent of these was the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and University of Pennsylvania as well. After his college experiences, he moved on to the Korean War. From his experience in the service, he had to overcome the conflict of loyalty to Parental Values and the Desire to Study outside the Prescribed Texts. This is another essential idea that was placed within The Chosen and other of his acclaimed works(Interview c).

Potok wrote a total of eight novels. Each is told based upon historical knowledge and Potok s experiences in his life. They are all told in the first person Narrative. Many scholars and critics believe that in his works, Potok is actually describing his own life, and he is truly the main characters in many of his novels. In numerous interviews, Potok has denied this, but admits that they are shaped around experiences and beliefs.

Potok s first and most recognized book is The Chosen. Written in 1967, The novel deals with many themes that American Jews had to overcome in the times around the Holocaust. Potok was inspired to write by a book by Evelyn Waugh and A portrait of a Young man. Ironically, both of these were books about Catholicism. After reading these Novels, Potok said to himself If books that are about completely different religions and beliefs can be so intriguing, then there must be more to life than the world of Ultra-Orthodox Judaism. After this epiphany, Potok went on to become one of the most prominent and successful writers of the twentieth century.

Potok s novel is the story of the friendship between the Hassidic Jew, Danny Saunders and the more conservative Jewish teenager, Reuven Malter. The novel takes place in Brooklyn towards end of the Second World War. It deals with the struggle between secular and Orthodox Judaism, and how these two boys help each other realize what they truly want to do with their lives. There are a number of central themes in the novel. Potok deals with father-son relationships as a major idea in the book. He describes in detail Danny and Reuven s relationship with their fathers. Another theme Potok inserts into the novel is the meaning of silence. Danny s father raised him in silence, and this is a reoccurring motif throughout the plot. These themes are all related and tied together as Potok forms a vivid image of Jewish life in the mind of the reader (classic notes).

The conflicts between the secular and the orthodox were represented by the Malter family and the Saunders Family. The Malter family represented the secular views of Judaism, while the Saunders represented the ultra-orthodox views. The conflicts arise in the ideas around World War II, Zionism, the Holocaust, and Danny s issues with conformity. One turning point in the story occurs when the characters learn of the holocaust. Reuven must go stay at Danny s for the summer because his father has a heart attack. One day, while staying with the Saunders, Reuven mentions to Danny s father that some were talking about creating a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. Reb becomes enraged, and in his anger states that the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will not be built by Jewish Goyim while I live! He becomes extremely close to throwing Reuven out of the house, and it shows how much tension arose among the