"Important Events that Occur in Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter's Friendship, in the novel The Chosen, by Chaim Potok." Mr. Digout ELA B30 Amanda W

Essay by amanda_wA-, June 2005

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In the novel, The Chosen, written by Chaim Potok, the reader learns about some important events in Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter's friendship. One of the most important situations is where Reuven gets hit in his eye with a baseball which Danny has thrown. Another important aspect of their friendship is where Reb Saunders accepts his son's friendship with Reuven. Another significant event is Reb Saunders explaining why he raises Danny in silence. Finally, the last event is when the Saunder's family tells Reuven he is not allowed to have anything to do with the Saunders' family.

The first important event in Danny and Reuven's friendship starts off at the beginning of the book when the two boys, Danny and Reuven, are playing baseball with their schoolmates and Danny Saunders is standing on the same base as Reuven. Reuven tries to talk to Danny but he calls him an apikorsim.

This completely confuses and upsets Reuven because he is extremely offended because the word had meant "originally, a Jew educated in Judaism who denied basic tenets of his faith" (The Chosen, pg. 28). The baseball game comes to an end when Reuven is pitching a ball to Danny and comes back at Reuven and it hits him in the eye and shatters his glasses. Reuven says, "I felt a sharp pain in my left eye when I blinked" (The Chosen, pg. 33). Reuven is severely injured from the ball, and is hospitalized for some time. During Danny's first visit to the hospital, Reuven is very upset and gives Danny orders to go home. Danny wants Reuven to listen to his apology because he is miserable about what happens. Mr. Malter finds out how rude Reuven is being towards Danny's apology and tells Reuven that "You...