In Chaim Potok’s The Chosen, Danny Saunders questions the value of raising children in silence. Ironically, due to the fact that Danny’s father has imposed silence upon their relationship, Danny comes to realize how valuable talking can be to his personal growth. By the end of the story, he no longer believes in his father’s strict Hasidic views.
The silence between Danny and Reb Saunders forces Danny to find other people to talk to. These people expose him to new ideas, ideas that his father wouldn’t talk to him about. One of the first people that Danny meets is Reuven Malter. The second time Danny visits Reuven in the hospital, he says, “I didn’t so much mind you being angry, what I thought was rotten was the way you wouldn’t let me talk” …show more content…
As Danny learns more about Sigmund Freud and his ideas, he realizes that he is more interested in making sense of people’s thoughts than studying religion. Part of Freudian theory involves understanding one’s own thoughts. As a result, Danny explains to Reuven, “Whenever I do or see something I don’t understand, I like to think about it until I understand it” (66). Danny tries very hard to make sense of his thoughts, and talking about them helps him in contrast to being silent. He finds psychoanalysis particularly interesting because it involves talking. The way that Danny is so open to Freudian theory sets him apart from Reuven. Reuven says, “Freud contradicted everything I had ever learned. What I found particularly upsetting was the fact that Danny didn’t seem to have rejected what Freud taught” (195). Danny is open-minded and enjoys reading and studying Freud’s ideas, especially because they contrast with the ideas that his father introduces him to. He realizes that he can learn from these new ideas and that he would prefer to talk with people about their thought processes and feelings over continuing his father’s dynasty. Through talking about other people’s thought processes and feelings, Danny better understands himself,
The silence between Danny and Reb Saunders forces Danny to find other people to talk to. These people expose him to new ideas, ideas that his father wouldn’t talk to him about. One of the first people that Danny meets is Reuven Malter. The second time Danny visits Reuven in the hospital, he says, “I didn’t so much mind you being angry, what I thought was rotten was the way you wouldn’t let me talk” …show more content…
As Danny learns more about Sigmund Freud and his ideas, he realizes that he is more interested in making sense of people’s thoughts than studying religion. Part of Freudian theory involves understanding one’s own thoughts. As a result, Danny explains to Reuven, “Whenever I do or see something I don’t understand, I like to think about it until I understand it” (66). Danny tries very hard to make sense of his thoughts, and talking about them helps him in contrast to being silent. He finds psychoanalysis particularly interesting because it involves talking. The way that Danny is so open to Freudian theory sets him apart from Reuven. Reuven says, “Freud contradicted everything I had ever learned. What I found particularly upsetting was the fact that Danny didn’t seem to have rejected what Freud taught” (195). Danny is open-minded and enjoys reading and studying Freud’s ideas, especially because they contrast with the ideas that his father introduces him to. He realizes that he can learn from these new ideas and that he would prefer to talk with people about their thought processes and feelings over continuing his father’s dynasty. Through talking about other people’s thought processes and feelings, Danny better understands himself,