Silence In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

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Silence Silence can be like the wind. You can feel it when it’s present and at times it goes by unnoticed. In Chaim Potok’s novel, The Chosen, silence is explored in characters and how it affects them. The character relationships used to show this symbol are between Reuven and David Malter, Danny and Reuven, and Reb Saunders and Danny. In The Chosen, silence can play the role of a teacher, a barrier, and a way of communication. First, Reuven and Mr. Malter experience a silence in their relationship. When Mr. Malter refuses to explain to Reuven why Reb Saunders has raised Danny in silence, he imposes a silence with Reuven. While they usually have open communication, this creates a block between them. Towards the end of the novel, Mr. Malter says, “A father can bring up a child any way he wishes. . . What a price to pay for a soul.” (Potok, 244) Even though Mr. Malter doesn’t agree with Reb Saunders’ form of parenting, he understands it.…show more content…
Reb Saunders raises Danny this way partly because it’s how he was raised, and it’s the only way he knew how. Also, because Danny is being trained to become a rabbi, Reb Saunders needed to teach his son compassion for others. Reb Saunders says this, “One learns of the pain of others by suffering one’s own pain . . . by finding one’s own soul.” (Potok, 265) By forcing Danny to use his other senses of perception, he makes Danny mature and find his soul. Silence, once a barrier between them, is now a form of communication and teaching. In conclusion, silence can be a teacher, a barrier, and a form of communication. Although silence can seem cruel and empty, it can allow a person’s humanity and empathy to grow. This is shown through the relationships of Reuven and Mr. Malter, Danny and Reuven, and Reb Saunders and Danny. Each form of silence is different in each relationship, but no matter what form it comes in, silence exists everywhere and can mean as much as

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