Brothers in Chaim Potok’s Novel “In the Beginning”
Chaim Potok’s novel explores the clash between Orthodox Jewish tradition and modern secular culture through the lives of two brothers, David and Alex. David embodies intellectual and spiritual conflict, while Alex represents emotional and aesthetic freedom. Despite their differences, both seek identity beyond inherited beliefs. Their relationship reflects a broader generational struggle within American Jewry, highlighting themes of personal growth, familial loyalty, and the tension between tradition and progress.
References
Sidky, S. (2021). Chaim Potok and the Holocaust. Studies in American Jewish Literature (1981), 40(1), 18-42.
Zirzotti, E. (2017). Between longing and rejection: Antonio Lobo antunes and Chaim Potok. Wenshan Review of Literature and Culture, 10(2), 93-109.
Reference
StudyCorgi. (2025, June 11). Brothers in Chaim Potok’s Novel “In the Beginning”. https://studycorgi.video/brothers-in-chaim-potoks-novel-in-the-beginning/