"Eye Know"
...t that develops throughout the book is that Reb Saunders and David Malter cause conflicts for their sons because they are ignorant about other ideas aside form their own. However, the fathers have a very powerful role throughout the novel and they impact their sons’ relationship and have the power to ruin the friendship between Danny and Reuven. (Evans 58). Reb Saunders gives his son specific orders that “Danny [is] not to see [Reuven], talk to [Reuven], listen to [Reuven], be […] within four feet of [Reuven]” (Potok 230). Reb’s ignorance and figurative blindness is the reason why he forces Danny to end his friendship with Reuven. Reb does not even consult with Danny or Reuven on the topic of their friendship, and just takes matters into his own hands. Reb and David have different political views on Israel and because of their differences, Reb “never would […] let his son be the friend of the son of a man who [is] advocating the establishment of a secular Jewish state run by Jewish goyim” (Potok 230). Reb possesses the “my way or the highway” attitude, and he will not tolerate anything that he does not understand or agree with. Reb’s blindness also causes his relationship with his son to undergo conflict. Reb only knows the ways of his childhood and the decisions of his father, so now Reb feels as if that is the only way to raise Danny. His decisions cause his relationship with Danny to be very unstable and uncomfortable and that is the reason that “the center of the novel is always the conflict between Danny and his father” (Hicks 257). Also, since Reb is very passionate about his extremist ideas and will not accept anything foreign to him, “his relationship with Danny becomes more and more difficult” (Hicks 256). Danny is extremely bright and curious about the world outside his own. However, Reb believes that seclusion from the outside world would be best for Danny. Their disagreement causes their relationship to face hardships. Reb’s father influences Reb into making a lot of choices in how he raises Danny. Since Reb follows in his father’s footsteps and chooses to raise Danny in silence, he is responsible for “one of the central problems in The Chosen [which] is communication- or lack of it” (Bluefarb 60). Danny and Reb never talk about anything aside from the Talmud, which causes them to have a cold and distant relationship. Figurative blindness also causes conflicts between different sects of Judaism. The different groups do not associate with one another and these “silences symbolize the inability of the sects within Orthodox Judaism to communicate with one another” (Napierkowski 51). Even though all the groups are Jewish and believe in basically the same law and traditions, it does not matter to these people. Due to minor differences, the sects do not even converse with one another, which causes hostility and disagreement. Also, because of the people’s ignorance and blindness within the Jewish religion, a conflict that occurs is “the split between two visions of God and man’s relationship to him” (Bluefarb 59). The different sects argue over which vision of God is correct, when both are equally correct in their opinions. They do not realize that there is no right or wrong when it comes to God, and they end up involving themselves in unnecessary arguments. By facing the conflicts, the characters open their eyes and see their previous blindness and realize that the world is different than they think in so many ways. Reb Saunders really undergoes a change by opening up to the world and recognizing that his ways and ideas are not always correct. Reb now sees that Reuven and David’s entrance into his life and into his son’s life, changes him for the better. He appreciates them tremendously and feels as if “Reuven […] and [his] father [are] a blessing to [him]” (Potok 280). Since Reb opens his eyes for the first time, he sees that his relationship with Danny is empty and asks Danny to “forgive [him]…for everything” (Potok 281). Reb now realizes that there are healthier and more loving ways to raise a son. Due to the removal of the figurative blindness in the characters, cultural differences resolve. Now that the boys open their eyes, “Danny and Reuven resolve many of the conflicts they feel between the secular world and Orthodox Judaism” (Alton 54). They now know that it is acceptable for their cultures to be different, and now they know that they can still be friends despite their differences. Given that that their cultural differences are behind them, Danny and Reuven “become spiritual and intellectual brothers” (Shapiro 367). The boys connect on so many different levels and their love for one another is definitely “brotherly love.” Now that the symbolic blindness no longer exists, the boys recognize that they need each other no matter what the circumstances. The boys lack something within themselves when they are not together because they “are symbolically two halves of a single personality, each half searching for its complement” (Bluefarb 60-61). Danny especially realizes how much he needs Reuven in his life in order ...