The Chosen †A Story Of Suffering

The Chosen – A Story Of Suffering Free Online Research Papers In the book, The Chosen, written by Chaim Potok, the theme of suffering is of great significance. This theme is illustrated throughout the book, with a variety of different events that take place. The theme of suffering is most well explained in the story, when a little blind boy named Billy has an unsuccessful eye surgery, when Danny’s father raises Danny in silence, when hundreds of Jews die in Europe, and when Reuvan’s dad has a heart attack. These four events, although some are more obvious than the others, illustrate suffering in a way, to which almost anyone can relate. Suffering is everywhere and therefore, the theme of suffering in The Chosen, is something worth understanding and interpreting. Danny’s father raising Danny in silence was on of the biggest issues in the book where the theme of suffering showed up. Danny was a Hasid, who at first, was hated by Reuvan, but then later became friends with him. As Reuvan got to know Danny more, he learned that Danny’s father raised him in silence. Reuvan thought that â€Å" Danny’s father, with his bizarre silencewhich Reuvan still couldn’t understand, no matter how often he thought about was torturing Danny’s soul† (Potok 263). Danny didn’t like the silence at all, even though he still loved his father. It was making him suffer because he wanted to be a psychologist, and break the tradition his father treasured greatly, of becoming a rabbi. There was no way for Danny to communicate to his father because of the awkward silence, which lay between them. He had to suffer by keeping all his wishes to himself, afraid of hurting his father. The anxiety and the fear, which Danny felt wh en he chose his own ways and followed his own will, was a great deal of suffering. He knew that he would have to tell his father someday that he wanted to be a psychologist instead of a rabbi, and this tortured him. Him refusing to be the next rabbi wouldn’t only hurt him, but also all the Hasid people who were looking up to him and his family. Danny would have to disappoint them all, and this was very hard for him. On top of his father’s bizarre silence, the fact that one day he would have to break his father’s heart made him worry and suffer even more. At the end of the book when Danny’s father, filled with pain and disappointment, finally agreed to let Danny do whatever he wants, Reuvan observed Danny, who was sitting next to his father. He saw that â€Å"Danny sat with his right hand over his eyes, his glasses pushed up on his forehead. Danny was crying silently, his shoulders quivering† (Potok 331). Danny had to let out all the pain he was car rying around all these years. He felt sorry when he realized that he just destroyed all his father’s work, of bringing him up in silence, to make him a good rabbi. He realized that his father wanted him to know how it felt to suffer and that was why he brought him up in silence. His father wanted to make out of him, a rabbi, who could take all his peoples’ suffering and carry it on his own shoulders. The silence Danny was raised in seemed cruel and painful, but after all, that was the whole point. The whole point in raising Danny in silence was for him to understand and get used to feeling pain, and look for answers in his own soul. Feeling pain, and suffering was also illustrated in this story through the unsuccessful eye surgery of a young boy. This little boy, Billy, was someone Reuvan had met when he went to the hospital because of an eye accident. Billy had the bed on the right side of Reuvan in the hospital, and that was how Reuvan got to know him. The little boy was blind in both eyes and was waiting for a surgery, which was supposed to give him his eyesight back. Weeks later after Reuvan left the hospital, he suddenly thought about Billy and remembered that his eye surgery had already taken place, and so he called Billy’s father. Billy’s eye surgery was not successful. This gave Reuvan a huge shock. While he was on the phone still, hearing the bad news, â€Å"He felt himself break out into a cold sweat. The hand holding the phone began to tremble and he had to push the phone against his face to keep it steady† (Potok 205) After experiencing how it felt to have no sight for a while in one eye, Reuvan felt the pain which Billy was probably going through right now. When Reuvan had surgery on one eye, he wasn’t supposed to read or do any of those things which he so enjoyed doing. After he heard about Billy’s eyes he realized how much Billy suffered. Reuvan suffered a great deal when he couldn’t read for a few weeks, but Billy had never had the chance to read .Billy had never even seen the world, or his own parents. Billy had always suffered. This is when Reuvan realized how lucky he was that his eye got better. Reuvan shared in Billy’s pain because he knew how it felt like to be blind, although not completely blind. Billy’s unsuccessful eye surgery helped open Reuvan’s eyes and he saw from Billy’s perspective, how it was like to suffer. When some Jewish people suffered, other Jews took part in their suffering as well. The Chosen took place in the time of war in Europe when so many Jews got killed. Millions of Jews were killed in the War and the rabbis and Jews in America were sharing in their suffering. Danny says this when Reuvan asks him why his dad just randomly cries every now and then, â€Å" ‘ Six million Jews have died†¦I think he’s thinking of them. He’s suffering for them’† ( Potok 237). Reb Saunders suffers for the Jews by crying for them. After all, it was his job. Because he was a Hasidic rabbi, his job was to carry his peoples’ burden. Six million Jews died, and so many were being persecuted. They were being thrown into concentration camps, and forced to work. The suffering in Europe at this time was just unbearable. Families were torn apart, and people were killed in gas chambers, and put into furnaces. This suffering of the Jewish people was a reason why Reb Saunders wanted Danny to be a Rabbi so bad. Danny could carry all the suffering if he was the rabbi. All the Jewish people were dying out, and now it was the responsibility of the Jews in America to â€Å"†¦replace the treasures they have lost† (Potok 228). They now needed more rabbis and leaders to lead the Jews in replacing what they lost. If the Jews in America didn’t do anything about it, then the Jews would die as a people, and this was a really big reason why it was so important for Danny to become a rabbi. The Jewish people were all dying off, and someone had to do something. This was suffering both for the Jews who were actually in Europe and for the Jews who now had the responsibility to replace all the Jews they lost and keep Jewish tradition alive. This Jewish suffering was a very big issue in The Chosen , that really underlined the theme of suffering in the overall book. Reuvans father having heart attacks underlined the theme of suffering as well. His dad â€Å"†¦collapsed at a Jewish National Fund meeting and was rushed to the Brooklyn Memorial Hospital by ambulance. He hovered tenuously between life and death for three days†( Potok 287). Earlier in the story, Reuvan’s father had a heart attack, and during the time he was in the hospital, Reuvan stayed at Danny’s, but this time, he and Danny weren’t even aloud to talk to each other because of Reb Saunders. This was a time of suffering for Reuvan because his dad just had his second heart attack and was in a critical situation for three days. He was alone at home for weeks before his dad got better, and he studied Talmud and did his work all by himself, without his dad. I lived in a nightmare of hallucinatory dread, and if it hadn’t been for Manya constantly reminding me with gentle kindness that I had to eat or I would get sick, I might well have starved. Now, that’s how bad his situation was. Reuvan was lonely and he was hallucinating, and what could be worse? His dad got better though, but still, he went through a lot with not being able to talk to Danny about it, and staying home all alone all the time. His father’s heart attack was really hard on Reuvan, and he suffered and worked hard on the Talmud without his dad being there to help. The Chosen was a book which teaches people to love each other and share in each others suffering. The book also gives a good insight into the Hasidic traditions and culture. From reading this book, one can understand how strict and how traditional the Hassid were. They still wore dark clothes and had ear locks, and the son of a rabbi traditionally had to be the next rabbi. Most importantly, it showed how silence can be very painful, and how people are not thankful for what they have until they lose it. It showed how people suffered for each other. Now days not very many people are willing to carry the burdens of others, even if it is the burden of one’s friend. The Chosen hopefully inspires people to help others. The theme of suffering was of great significance in this book, and from reading it, a lot of good thingy can be gained. Research Papers on The Chosen - A Story Of SufferingPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyMind TravelQuebec and CanadaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Honest Iagos Truth through DeceptionEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenWhere Wild and West MeetThe Masque of the Red Death Room meanings

World War II USS Essex CV-9

World War II USS Essex CV-9 USS Essex Overview Nation: United StatesType: Aircraft CarrierShipyard: Newport News Shipbuilding Drydock CompanyLaid Down: April 28, 1941Launched: July 31, 1942Commissioned: December 31, 1942Fate: Scrapped USS Essex Specifications Displacement: 27,100 tonsLength: 872 ft.Beam: 147 ft., 6 in.Draft: 28 ft., 5 in.Propulsion: 8 Ãâ€" boilers, 4 Ãâ€" Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 4 Ãâ€" shaftsSpeed: 33 knotsRange: 20,000 nautical miles at 15 knotsComplement: 2,600 men USS Essex Armament 4 Ãâ€" twin 5 inch 38 caliber guns4 Ãâ€" single 5 inch 38 caliber guns8 Ãâ€" quadruple 40 mm 56 caliber guns46 Ãâ€" single 20 mm 78 caliber guns Aircraft 90-100 aircraft Design Construction Designed in the 1920s and early 1930s, the US Navys Lexington- and Yorktown-class aircraft carriers were built to conform to the limitations set forth by the Washington Naval Treaty. This agreement placed restrictions on the tonnage of various types of warships as well as limited each signatory’s overall tonnage. These types of restrictions were affirmed through the 1930 London Naval Treaty. As global tensions increased, Japan and Italy left the agreement in 1936. With the collapse of the treaty system, the US Navy began developing a design for a new, larger class of aircraft carrier and one which incorporated the lessons learned from the Yorktown-class. The resulting design was longer and wider as well as incorporated a deck-edge elevator system. This had been used previously on USS Wasp. In addition to carrying a larger air group, the new class possessed a greatly enhanced anti-aircraft armament. With the passage of the Naval Expansion Act on May 17, 1938, the US Navy moved forward with the construction of two new carriers. The first, USS Hornet (CV-8), was built to the Yorktown-class standard while the second, USS Essex (CV-9), was to be constructed using the new design. While work quickly commenced on Hornet, Essex and two additional vessels of its class, were not formally ordered until July 3, 1940. Assigned to the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, construction of Essex commenced on April 28, 1941. With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II that December, work intensified on the new carrier. Launched on July 31, 1942, Essex completed fitting out and entered commission on December 31 with Captain Donald B. Duncan in command. Journey to the Pacific After spending the spring of 1943 conducting shakedown and training cruises, Essex departed for the Pacific in May. After a brief stop at Pearl Harbor, the carrier joined Task Force 16 for attacks against Marcus Island before becoming the flagship of Task Force 14. Striking Wake Island and Rabaul that fall, Essex sailed with Task Group 50.3 in November to aid in the invasion of Tarawa. Moving to the Marshalls, it supported Allied forces during the Battle of Kwajalein in January-February 1944. Later in February, Essex joined Rear Admiral Marc Mitschers Task Force 58. This formation mounted a series of hugely successful raids against the Japanese anchorage at Truk on February 17-18. Steaming north, Mitschers carriers then launched several attacks against Guam, Tinian, and Saipan in the Marianas. Completing this operation, Essex departed TF58 and sailed to San Francisco for an overhaul. Fast Carrier Task Force Embarking Air Group Fifteen, led by future US Navy top-scorer Commander David McCampbell, Essex conducted raids against Marcus and Wake Islands before rejoining TF58, also known as the Fast Carrier Task Force, for the invasion of the Marianas. Supporting American forces as they attacked Saipan in mid-June, the carriers aircraft took part in the pivotal Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19-20. With the conclusion of the campaign in the Marianas, Essex shifted south to aid in Allied operations against Peleliu in September. After weathering a typhoon in October, the carrier mounted attacks on the Okinawa and Formosa before steaming south to provide cover for the landings on Leyte in the Philippines. Operating off the Philippines in late October, Essex participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf which saw American aircraft sink four Japanese carriers. Final Campaigns of World War II After replenishing at Ulithi, Essex attacked Manila and other parts of Luzon in November. On November 25, the carrier sustained its first wartime damage when a kamikaze struck the port side of the flight deck. Making repairs, Essex remained at the front and its aircraft conducted strikes across Mindoro during December. In January 1945, the carrier supported Allied landings at Lingayen Gulf as well as launched a series of strikes against Japanese positions in the Philippine Sea including Okinawa, Formosa, Sakishima, and Hong Kong. In February, the Fast Carrier Task Force moved north and attacked the area around Tokyo before aiding in the invasion of Iwo Jima. In March, Essex sailed west and began operations to support the landings on Okinawa. The carrier remained on station near the island until late May. In the wars final weeks, Essex and other American carriers conducted strikes against the Japanese home islands. With the wars end on September 2, Essex received orders to sail for Br emerton, WA. Arriving, the carrier was deactivated and placed in reserve on January 9, 1947. Korean War After a brief time in reserve, Essex commenced a modernization program to better allow it to take the US Navys jet aircraft and improve its overall effectiveness. This saw the addition of a new flight deck and an altered island. Re-commissioned on January 16, 1951, Essex began shakedown maneuvers off Hawaii before steaming west to take part in the Korean War. Serving as the flagship of Carrier Division 1 and Task Force 77, the carrier debuted the McDonnell F2H Banshee. Conducting strikes and support missions for United Nations forces, Essexs aircraft attacked across the peninsula and as far north as the Yalu River. That September, the carrier sustained damaged when one its Banshees crashed into other aircraft on deck. Returning to service after brief repairs, Essex conducted a total of three tours during the conflict. With the end of the war, it remained in the region and took part in the Peace Patrol and evacuation of the Tachen Islands. Later Assignments Returning to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1955, Essex began a massive SCB-125 modernization program which included the installation of an angled flight deck, elevator relocations, and installation of a hurricane bow. Joining the US Pacific Fleet in March 1956, Essex largely operated in American waters until being shifted to the Atlantic. After NATO exercises in 1958, it redeployed to the Mediterranean with the US Sixth Fleet. That July, ​Essex supported the US Peace Force in Lebanon. Departing the Mediterranean in early 1960, the carrier steamed to Rhode Island where it underwent a conversion to an anti-submarine warfare support carrier. Through the remainder of the year, Essex conducted a variety of training missions as the flagship of Carrier Division 18 and Antisubmarine Carrier Group 3. The ship also took part in NATO and CENTO exercises which took it to the Indian Ocean. In April 1961, unmarked aircraft from Essex flew reconnaissance and escort missions over Cuba during the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Later that year, the carrier conducted a goodwill tour of Europe with port calls in the Netherlands, West Germany, and Scotland. Following a refit at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1962, Essex received orders to enforce the naval quarantine of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. On station for a month, the carrier aided in preventing additional Soviet materials from reaching the island. The next four years saw the carrier fulfill peacetime duties. This proved a quiet period until November 1966, when Essex collided with the submarine USS Nautilus. Though both vessels were damaged, they were able to safely make port. Two years later, Essex served as the recovery platform for Apollo 7. Steaming north of Puerto Rico, its helicopters recovered the capsule as well as astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham. Increasingly old, the US Navy elected to retire Essex in 1969. Decommissioned on June 30, it was removed from the Navy Vessel Register on June 1, 1973. Briefly held in mothballs, Essex was sold for scrap in 1975. Selected Sources DANFS: USS Essex (CV-9)USS Essex Association