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Values in "The Chosen" Essays

Decent Essays

Throughout my reading of the novel, The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, and I definitely did read it, I found three distinct values to be evident. Friendship, individuality and religion were very focused on and even shaped the lives of the two main characters. Each of these values have a big impact on my life not only since I have come to Augustana, but every day since I can remember.

To define friendship is not easy. It is so many things and so many feelings. It is kindness, compassion, honesty, trustworthiness, respect and dependability. It is being there for another person when they need you, whether to listen or to help guide them in the right direction. It is standing beside them when it is their time to shine and also when …show more content…

Throughout our lives we will need friends. Even when we fall in love and embrace ourselves in that companionship, we will still need friends to keep a part of our individuality.

Individuality is another value from the book that I believe plays an important role in everyday life. Both boys in the book wanted to pursue careers different than what their father wanted for them. They both wanted to lead their own lives, to be their own individuals. It is important to know who you are and what you want so you don't get lost in everyone else's expectations, and lose your sense of self. While some people are dieing to be exactly what "everyone else" is, they fail to realize how different "everyone else" really is. Each person has different dreams, aspirations, needs and wants. Every person has their own taste in clothing, food, music, cars, books and even other people. However, individuality is sometimes the very thing that defers us from seeking out friendship in other people. The way people look, talk dress and like as a way of expressing themselves, sometimes separates them from others. I've always tried to see through the cloth to see the inner workings of other people and I am often surprised to find that my first impression was so wrong. Individuality is very important as it sets one person apart from the next. It makes everyone unique and special.

The last value present is religion. Religion while very important to some plays a smaller

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