"All the darkness in the world couldn't extinguish the light of one little candle."Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay These words taken from the tombstone of a Jewish holocaust victim perfectly define Chaim Potok's use of light as symbol of knowledge and truth in a world of tradition. Potok uses Reuven's observations of light to give the reader clues to Danny's awakenings to truth and knowledge of the outside world in The Chosen. Danny's environment particularly shows the lack of acceptance towards society and the feelings of his family, friends and himself towards the outside world. The light also helps demonstrate the growth and maturity that Danny gains over the course of the novel. Finally, it also shows his constant struggle with the importance of religion versus knowledge in his life. Danny has a brilliant mind, and finding a way to integrate his family's supreme emphasis on their Hasidic religion with his voracious thirst for knowledge is a battle he fights throughout the book. Whether or not he wins this battle is entirely up to the reader's judgment, but Potok expresses his opinion using the constant theme of light. Light comes into play mainly as Potok describes the characters' surroundings. He shows how isolated Danny's life is by comparing it to Reuven Malter's completely opposite lifestyle. Reuven enjoys an open and conscious childhood, while Danny is raised under the silent lips of his stern father. The Malter house is described as having three large windows through which sunlight penetrates. This light is linked to the fact that David Malter, Reuven's father, greatly emphasizes the importance of modern ideas in his son's life. David Malter is always studying, trying to find new and better ways of doing things. He disagrees with strict obedience to the sometimes vague laws of the Talmud. Instead, he uses his own logic to discover and become an example of the true meaning of this Holy Scripture and its commandments. This explains the constant visualization of light that the authors use when referring to Reuven and David. This light symbolizes the opening of the Malter to the knowledge and philosophies of the outside world. Following the trend, the Malter Synagogue has similar characteristics. Unlike others, Malter's synagogue is flooded with sunlight, once again proving Reuven's exposure, even through his Orthodox religion, to modern society. In comparison, Danny's street is shaded by protective sycamore trees, which allow very little light to pass through. The windows of his synagogue are carefully covered with black velvet, deliberately blocking light from entering. Instead of natural light, “bare bulbs on dark wires flood the synagogue with harsh light.” The absence of light in Danny's environment directly contradicts the Malters' openness and acceptance and proves the Saunders' sheltered and isolated lifestyle. The ideas of the world are hidden from Danny as literally as the black velvet covering the windows. Danny is raised in strict tradition and blind obedience. For Danny, light is not necessary. He is expected to follow directly in his father's footsteps, finding his own path seems impossible. Danny's father, Reb Saunders, strongly believes in following the culture of his ancestors and using the same methods to raise his son. The Saunders live by the rigid rules of the Talmud, refuse to make exceptions and remain perfectly.