Chosen Danny And Reuven: An Analysis

Choices are like flowers. There are so many, but only a few are good enough to be picked. In the Chosen Danny and Reuven experience this within their friendship. They make the hard choice not to talk to each other for fear of consequences. They would have chosen the other ‘flower,’ which would have been to ignore Reb Saunders's wishes. Free choice allows children to fully experience life. The ability to make choices grants freedom, allows one to learn from mistakes and leads to happiness. The ability to choose provides freedom. Danny feels trapped within his situation, “He looked at Reuven [me], his eyes sad. “His [my] wife has been chosen for him [me].” (268). Because Reb Saunders made a decision about Danny’s future for him, he feels
(Insert quote from Reb Saunders's explanation of the science). Because Reb Saunders's chose to raise his son in science, his son now learned how to have compassion. Even if this is not the ideal way of raising a child, it allows Danny to experience pain and suffering so he could relate to others in pain. This is one of the most crucial choices in the book, made by Reb Saunders. This one decision is also the most crucial to Danny’s life. Not only does he now have compassion he understands that some choices are hard to make. Because of this Danny decides to raise his children in science as well. Another fundamental learning experience is when Mr. Malter gets a heart attack. Reuven chooses not to go and see his father as often as he could because it might weaken his father more. (Insert quote from when Reuven is home alone). Because of Reuven’s choice to allow his father to recover faster, he learns how to deal with science and be on his own. Reuven and Mr. Malter studied together, and without his father there, Reuven must study on his own. He learns how to work problems out for himself. (Insert quote when Reuven explained his process). When his father finally comes home, he Reuven has learned to appreciate his father’s presence. Both boys learn how to make their own choices, and understand more about life, because of the science with their
But the knowledge of independent choices is what leads to happiness. Danny is the best example of this from the book. Danny’s character starts off looking like a normal Hasidic Jew to the reader and Reuven. However, as the two’s friendship grows, Danny’s limited freedom becomes apparent. Reuven sees that Danny’s father has imposed harsh silence upon him. He notices that Danny isn't happy with this lifestyle. In one example, Danny and Reuven are discussing experimental psychology. When Reuven brings up the thought of becoming a tzaddik, Danny “looked away and didn’t say anything.” (225). This conveys to the reader that there is some pain put into the thought of tzaddik. Because Danny is being forced into a position he doesn't want to be, he feels trapped and burdened by the thought of his future. He does have a happy ending, though. “His beard and earlocks were gone, and his face looked pale. But there was a light in his eyes that was almost blinding.” (290). When Danny finally is allowed to choose the life he wants to live, he is