Character Analysis Of The Moon By Chaim Potok

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At first glance, the main character in the short story “Moon[S1] ” by Chaim Potok, appears to be self centered and selfish. He is described as small with “angry eyes” (44)[S2] and he is often described as needing time to calm himself because he angers easily (47). He seems in many ways a stereotypical angry young teen. However, upon closer examination, Moon’s true character is revealed. As his name suggests, Moon has two sides – one that is a reflection of the immediate events and people around him, and another, much like the “dark side of the moon” that is private and hidden. Moon’s hidden but true character is seen in his interactions with another character, Ashraf, his response to the death of Ashraf, and in his actions at the memorial…show more content…
Early in the story Moon learns about the boy from Pakistan who will be a visitor in his house (48)[s4] . Moon is at first inquisitive and then irritated by fact that this boy will be sleeping in one of his brother’s vacant bedrooms (51)[s5] . Moon remembers his brothers when they lived at home, teaching him new skills, teasing him as the youngest and smallest in the family, and filling in the now quiet spaces of conversations with his parents (51).[s6] Moon doesn’t want this new person coming into his home and staying in his brothers’ rooms.[s7] He gets so angry at the thought of the visitor intruding, that he has to use an anger management technique that he was taught at school to calm himself (50). However, once the boy, Ashraf, arrives at Moon’s school, Moon finds himself somewhat interested in Ashraf and his unusual story. Moon carefully watches the new boy as he taps a rhythm with his fingers (55), Moon eavesdrops on Ashraf’s conversations at lunch in the cafeteria (56), and Moon agrees to cancel his afternoon “jam session” so that Ashraf will be able to rest peacefully in the house (56-57). In each of these encounters, Moon’s reactions are not reflective of the self-centered, selfish character that is introduced in the beginning of the

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