Sympathy In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

In a world full of trial and affliction, where one will experience the sentiments of sorrow, anger, worry and confusion, having a companion who has the capability of imparting understanding would render great support to a person in distress. In the book The Chosen, Chaim Potok uses the characters of Reuven, Mr Malter and Reb Saunders to portray the attributes of sympathy and understanding. Throughout the storyline, these three characters display their kindness and compassion towards people by listening and empathizing with them, and sometimes offering their opinion and help. Often, these acts of benevolence can spur other individuals on to persevere, just as how Reuven’s support and encouragement helped Danny Saunders to persevere in his education and family life. Sympathy can often counterbalance the woe an individual experiences. In The Chosen by Chaim Potok, Reuven, Mr Malter and Reb Saunders extend sympathy and understanding towards others. Many times The Chosen, Chaim Potok shows how Reuven often …show more content…
When Reuven first meets Reb Saunders, Reb Saunders greets him warmly and says: “ I worry myself about my son’s friends, especially if such a friend is the son of David Malter. Ah, what your father writes! Criticism. Scientific criticism. Ah! So when he tells me you are now his friend, I worry myself. The son of David Malter should be my Daniel’s friend? But your father is an observer of the Commandments, and you have his head, and so I am happy you are friends.” (143). In this phrase, Reb Saunders expresses his concern about Danny making friends from outside the Hasidic fold. However, he empathizes with both Danny and Reuven because he sees that they have forged a close relationship, and allows them to be friends. He shows his concern for both Danny and Reuven by indirectly pointing out that the process of choosing friends should be done