Many Jewish (Hasidic?) traditions appear in The Chosen by Chaim Potok. All throughout the book, they play a big role in what Danny and Reuven, the main characters, must go through. Often, Danny is the one who has the traditions almost forced on him. However, because Reuven became Danny’s closest friend, much of it affects him too, at least to some extent. Danny specifically struggles throughout the book, as much of his life has been picked for him by his family according to their traditions. In The Chosen by Chaim Potok, religious traditions have a great influence throughout the story, especially to Danny, through the “dynasty”, the arranged marriages, and the silence between Danny and his father.
Danny knows what it is like to feel trapped. He knows he needs to carry on his father’s work, but he does not want to. However, everyone expects that he will, because it has always gone that way. As Danny said, “‘I have no choice,’ he said again. ‘It’s like a dynasty. If the son doesn’t take the father’s place, the dynasty falls apart… I’m a little trapped’” (82). Danny (he?) does not want to break this “dynasty,” but at the same time he is determined to get free of his trapped position. By making Danny feel imprisoned and hopeless, the tradition of having …show more content…
When Danny talked about why he felt he needed to get free, Reuven’s father asked him “‘There is a girl involved?’” (273), Danny said yes, showing that this to had turned into another problem with the life he had to live. This arranged marriage, among many other things, Danny feels his family expects him to agree with. Danny’s family picked his job, wife, and life for him, and he does not like any of them. This just adds to the way he feels trapped, making him more determined than ever to get free of the trap he has been in for all his life. As it is, this tradition also impacts the book greatly, although not in such a noticeable way as some of the
Danny knows what it is like to feel trapped. He knows he needs to carry on his father’s work, but he does not want to. However, everyone expects that he will, because it has always gone that way. As Danny said, “‘I have no choice,’ he said again. ‘It’s like a dynasty. If the son doesn’t take the father’s place, the dynasty falls apart… I’m a little trapped’” (82). Danny (he?) does not want to break this “dynasty,” but at the same time he is determined to get free of his trapped position. By making Danny feel imprisoned and hopeless, the tradition of having …show more content…
When Danny talked about why he felt he needed to get free, Reuven’s father asked him “‘There is a girl involved?’” (273), Danny said yes, showing that this to had turned into another problem with the life he had to live. This arranged marriage, among many other things, Danny feels his family expects him to agree with. Danny’s family picked his job, wife, and life for him, and he does not like any of them. This just adds to the way he feels trapped, making him more determined than ever to get free of the trap he has been in for all his life. As it is, this tradition also impacts the book greatly, although not in such a noticeable way as some of the