The Chosen by Chaim Potok describes an unexpected friendship between two people. Daniel “Danny” Saunders and Reuven Malter were playing baseball against each other when Danny’s pitch hit Reuven in the eye. It shattered Reuven’s glasses and left him with a piece of glass in his eye. While Reuven was in the hospital, Danny went to visit him and that’s where their friendship began. Because they are friends, Reuven helps Danny from quitting on his dreams of becoming a psychologist. With a little bit of help, one can do what makes them happy.
In The Chosen, Danny has to decide whether he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a rabbi or become a psychologist. The rabbi position is passed down from father to son, generation after generation. Danny realizes that he has to take the position because the people of his synagogue are counting on him. “‘It’s like a dynasty. If the son doesn’t take the father’s place, the dynasty falls apart. The people expect me to be their rabbi.’” (Potok 78). Because Danny wants to follow his dreams but he also doesn’t want to let anyone down, he wants to give his …show more content…
By giving his brother the rabbi position, Danny followed his heart and made his dreams come true. Danny’s decision, however, came with consequences. For instance, Danny had to get his father’s permission for his decision to become a psychologist. Without his father’s permission, Danny would be exiled from the community. He had to convince his father that becoming a psychologist was the right thing to do. Danny had psychology books and acceptance letters from universities at his house. Danny’s father, Reb Saunders, found out about Danny becoming a psychologist. Reb mentioned, “‘...I know he wishes to become a psychologist. I do not see his books? I did not see the letters from the universities?...Of course I know. For a long time I have known.’” (Potok
In The Chosen, Danny has to decide whether he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a rabbi or become a psychologist. The rabbi position is passed down from father to son, generation after generation. Danny realizes that he has to take the position because the people of his synagogue are counting on him. “‘It’s like a dynasty. If the son doesn’t take the father’s place, the dynasty falls apart. The people expect me to be their rabbi.’” (Potok 78). Because Danny wants to follow his dreams but he also doesn’t want to let anyone down, he wants to give his …show more content…
By giving his brother the rabbi position, Danny followed his heart and made his dreams come true. Danny’s decision, however, came with consequences. For instance, Danny had to get his father’s permission for his decision to become a psychologist. Without his father’s permission, Danny would be exiled from the community. He had to convince his father that becoming a psychologist was the right thing to do. Danny had psychology books and acceptance letters from universities at his house. Danny’s father, Reb Saunders, found out about Danny becoming a psychologist. Reb mentioned, “‘...I know he wishes to become a psychologist. I do not see his books? I did not see the letters from the universities?...Of course I know. For a long time I have known.’” (Potok