The Reuven Character Analysis

The Need for Friendship

Everyone needs a best friend as readers will see in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. A friend is someone who has your back no matter what happens, and not having one by your side will be hard. Reuven, the main character in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, starts the book without a true friend. As the story progresses he meets Danny Saunders, the son of the Hasidic Rabbi Reb Saunders. Reuven is an Apikorosim Jew. As readers might have guessed Reuven and Danny’s Different Jewish Sects do not lend themselves to amicability. So said, it is very surprising when they become good friends. Throughout the book readers will see Reuven injured by Danny, witness them make amends, observe them forced apart by differences in religion but
Reuven’s father starts speaking in public about Israel asserting the Jews need for a homeland. Most Jews agree with Reuven’s father with the exception of the Hasidic Jews, Danny’s sect. As a rabbi, Danny’s father bans him from speaking with Reuven. Unfortunately, Reuven does not find out about the ban until school on Monday when he asks Danny if he is alright. Danny replies by telling Reuven, “there was an explosion at dinner last night…Danny was not to see me, talk to me, listen to me, be found within four feet of me. My father and I had been excommunicated from the Saunders family.” p (231) Reuven does not realize how much he needs his best friend until he loses him. Not having him around negatively other facets of his life like his
Reb Saunders gives up and lifts his ban on Danny. Amazingly, Reuven and Danny pick up their friendship were it left off. They go back to talking about their school and books they have been reading. However, Reuven still harbors some bitterness toward Reb Saunders for separating him from his best friend. Reb Saunders know this, but still invites Reuven to his home. At first Reuven feels opposed to the visit, but his father encourages reconciliation. When Reuven goes over to the Saunders, Reb apologizes to Reuven for separating him from his best friend saying “Reuven, I-I ask you to forgive me… my anger…at your father’s Zionism. I read his speech… I found my own meaning for my… brother’…for the death of the six million … I did not find a Jewish state that does not follow God and his Torah it was too much… too much.” p(288) . Since his relationship with Danny is so strong he decides to forgive Reb for separating him from his best