Thursday, March 12, 2009
THE CHOSEN - Ch.8 - The Question of Silence
So, in this chapter, everyone's character is developed and relationships become more complicated. Danny questions his faith, Reuven's honesty is put to the test, the gap between one father and son seems to have grown while another has intensified; but I think the real "discussion worthy" topic in this chapter is the question of "raising a child in silence." It seems that Reb and David both know what it is but are unwilling to talk about it, Danny doesn't understand it but accepts it, and Reuven neither understands nor accepts it as appropriate. What do you think it is and what purpose, based on what you know so far, do you think it is meant to serve?
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okay well first of all, this chapter was not that great to me for some reason. i just didnt have that much interest in it. everyone's relationship has become alot more serious. I dont know what the deal is. There is so much tension between everyone in this chapter that i cant wait to find out what happens later on in the book. So you want us to talk about how danny and his father dont talk at all and what it has to do with the story. "whats up with all the silence?" is what you said in class. so i shall answer it for you. Ill be honest and say that i have no idea why they never talk. I have a hunch that it has something to do with either Reb not being comfortable enough to talk with his son or if its some type of raising thing that he is doing. Like he wants danny to be a good rabbi and man when he grows up. How that is supposed to help him "grow up" im not really sure. Im hoping to find that out later on in the book. But i think it has something to do with both feeling akward with just being able to talk to him and also and thing of training him to be an adult and to be a good rabbi. No, i dont feel like what they are doing "not talking" is a good thing. every son deserves to have a father first of all, and if you do have a father, you better make the most of it. no father and son should go their whole life without talking. its just plain wrong. I do think that they both need to start talking to each other. They need to get over this not talking scene. its not good for both of them. You can see that Reb loves his son and worries about him but just cant talk to him. I feel like if he doesnt start talking to his son, hes gonna start regreting not talking to him. so they need to start talking. none of this talking through Reuven or anybody else. they need to start talking.
Well, I think that all the silence is that Reb Saunders is maybe afraid to talk to his son. I don’t know why he would be afraid but he just doesn’t talk to him unless they are talking about religion or studying Talmud. He knows about the library now, and I’m not sure how he found out about it. But why was he scared to ask his own son what he was reading??? I think that maybe his own son intimidates him. Maybe, I don’t know. I’m a little confused on this. I mean it was a good chapter, but I don’t know why he doesn’t talk to his son, and is afraid of asking him what he’s reading. Because he does know for sure now that he is going to the library, and not reading what he’s supposed to be reading. But I really do think that maybe he's not talking to him because it's like a religious thing, maybe that's the way he thinks it should be because that's the way they did it to him. i don't know. It was kind of weird that Reb asked Reuven about it, because first of all, he like scared him the other time he was there and well, it made Reuven feel uncomfortable. Now Reb is talking to him about something personal and serious. But something tells me, he's a little intimidated by his own son. maybe, i have no idea. I think that's why there is so much silence between the two. and i don't think that Danny is afraid or intimidated by him at all, because after all, he is reading something he shouldn't be reading, and he was doing it behind his back.
This chapter was interesting, I think it was more interesting than the last two. I’m not too sure about the raising a child in silence meaning, but I think its sort of a religious thing. David, Reuven’s dad mentions something about how he heard about it in Russia (raising a child in silence), but how he didn’t believe it. Its kinda like what Ashley said, I think that since Reb knows he has a gifted child, he doesn’t feel he could talk to him other than while they study. So it could be a religious and character trait. It so sad, for Danny, he gets tested just to get praise and attention from his father. He can’t even talk to him about baseball. Its all business of studying and religion. Where as Reuven who is also smart has a father who is a studious and serious man but not like Danny’s dad. Reuven can practically talk to his dad about anything and he in turn, gives him guidance. Gaining Danny as a friend is bringing Reuven and his dad closer together. Its kinda strange but in a good way. I don’t agree with raising a child in silence. They need guidance and to know that they are loved. Whether or not the child is smart or dumb he should be able to receive these things from his parents.
Yay I published it early!
:)
I think the purpose of raising Danny is silence is so that he can find answers for himself. Reb wants Danny to be independent a free thinker, someone who can think for himself and find answer deep inside him. I think it well help him grow tremendously. look at him now, his father doesn't tell him anything so he is free to do what he wants to a certain extent such as educating himself in the library. It sort of just clicked, i think the reason Reb is so harsh on Danny is because alot is expected of him and if he is to take his fathers place he has to be able to take that kind of heat and be able to answer questions for himself.
I definately have to say that this was a very interesting chapeter to read and we got to learn about the characters from it. Raising a child in silence, doesn't really make that much sense to me, but from what I read in this chapter I think it's true meaning is the relationship that Reb Saunders shows towards his son Danny. I mean come on the only time that Reb Saunders even talks to his son is when their studying or reading thier talmud together. Maybe Danny can't stand the relationship that he has with his father, so he goes to the library everyday to study or get more information about something that he would never be able to talk to his father about, because he knows that he would never aprove of it. I'm sure that Danny loves his father very much, but he probably can't seem to talk to him about the things that he likes, like baseball, and learning the German language, or anything else for that matter. But I have to agree with Jackie, that maybe Reb Saunders does not talk to Danny about much of anything becuase he expects alot from his son and wants him to succeed in life because he knows that he can to do it. And he knows that one day when he is gone and Danny is left to take his father's place on his own, he won't have anyone to help him, which will leave him to figure out all the hard answers on his own. But my opinion about raising a child in silence I would have to say I don't agree with. I mean you have to have some type of communication with your children, or else their never going to know what you are thinking. And some type of communication is a whole lot better than no communication at all. I couldn't inagine not talking to my parents except when we're studying or reading, that would be torture. I have to say that this has been one of my favorite chapters that I have read so far. Can't wait for the next chapter.
i just think that the silence us being used as a way to teach Danny not to depend to much on others. when he takes the place of his father, people will look up to him and he won't have anyone to go to for advice or help or whatever.. or maybe he just lacks skill in the father/son communication department.. :] if that's the case, i feel real bad for Danny.
oh! by the way, i hate the fact that reb asked reuven about Danny's library visits instead of confronting Danny..
silly me...the man is a weirdo [up to this point]..soulda seen it coming..
Alright, i might end up saying something someone already said because i havent read anyone elses answers. I really enjoyed this chapter a lot, i did like the others and learning about the history but i seemed to skim through those chapters while i really took my time and absorbed everything in this chapter. Now what do i have to say about, "raising a child in silence," i think i am on the same page as Reuven and dont exactly understand it. Reb confronted Reuven about it because he knew Reuven would end up telling Danny, like David said, he talked to Danny through Reuven. I think the purpose of raising his child in silence is so that he can learn on his own and not have to go to his dad every single time he has a question because soon in the future Danny will have to not just make decisions and answer questions for himself but for all of his followers as well. So, i think it serves as a way of teaching Danny that he will only have himself to rely on. Reb knows that his son is a genious and that he will learn everything by the books he reads. This just keeps getting better and better!
DEVIL'S HOUR!!!
Umm ok so i think i pretty much agree with everybody else that this whole raising a child in silence thing is pretty terrible. To not ever talk to your son about anything but your studies... i cant imagine. The only thing that makes any kind of sense for this situation would be that Reb Saunders believes that Danny will be better off if he goes and finds his own answers rather than having them given to him. im not sure. this doesn't explain the fact that they never ever talk about anything. thats just ridiculous. Reb Saunders is simply refusing his son the relationship with a father that he needs. Perhaps Reb thinks that, since Reuven is so brilliant, that he would be able to find more and better answers than he ever could. But this is still ridiculous. So i guess i really dont know what the purpose of the "raising a child in silence" is, mostly because all the reasons i can come up with dont justify it. Hopefully we will find out further in the book and Reb Saunders will have a good reason. adios
So yeah, I have an idea about why Reb is "raising his son in silence." I think it is to to get ready for when he takes over as the rabbi, and has to help all his people. I think Reb started Danny out at a very young age making him look into himself for answers, or relying on his own intuitions/knowledge to get him through his own problems. People are going to be relying on Danny to answer their questions/comments and he has to come up with the answer without going to anyone for help. I can kind of understand how this would be helpful for Danny as an adult, but he is just a kid and he needs his father! I cannot agree with how Reb has raised his son, but it's not like I can do anything about it.(They are fictional characters after all...) I am anxious to see if David will reveal what he heard in Russia- "Once in Russia I heard something...but I did not believe it."
I went back and thought about it...It could have something to do with their religious beliefs. I believe it was John who said that. Maybe it is some kind of prolonged right of passage for the rabbis to not talk to their father, or something. Maybe I'm just crazy...yeah I think that is a better explanation...
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