SETTING #1

In The Chosen by Chaim Potok a setting that plays a major role in introducing the reader to the real personas of Rueven Malter and Danny Saunders is the hospital. This is the setting for three out of the first four chapters of the book after Rueven is struck in the head with a softball off the bat of Danny. After the ball game, Rueven is brought to the hospital because he probably has a concussion and a piece of from his glasses is caught in his eye. After he is examined he has surgery to remove the glass and is eventually brought upstairs to the eye ward. Rueven’s description of the ward is incomplete as most of his stay he has a bandage over one eye, and is required to lay in his bed. His first thoughts of the ward is that it is very cold and unpersonable. He describes it as having to long rows of beds with isles in between. The only real distinguishable feature he can see right away is a blast of sunlight coming from tall windows across from his bed. His cold view of the ward ends as he meets his two neighbors. To Rueven’s left is an older man, probably in his thirties. Rueven first views him playing cards. The man is definitely not shy as he struck up a conversation immediately he realizes that Rueven is conscious. This eccentric man is Mr. Savo, a mid-carder prize fighter. He is in the hospital because he had gotten banged up in a fight. Mr. Savo is quite an individual as he is always diving the orderly’s crazy. On Rueven’s right is a blind boy, named Billy. Billy cannot be older then 10 years old. He has been blind all his life. His innocence and purity surprises Rueven. Billy is going to have surgery, hopefully to make his eyes see, but no one is sure. The contrast between the young Billy and the chiseled Mr. Savo makes the backdrop of this stage of the story interesting as such events as D-Day and the invasion of Eastern Europe blast over the radio. They also prove to be very good listeners as they eavesdrop and later comment on Rueven’s conversations with Danny and Mr. Malter.