Thoughts and Views on Expectations in The Chosen and Great Expectations

When pursuing expectations, it often seems that what goes around comes around. Over the summer, my class read The Chosen by Chaim Potek and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. After completing the readings and participating in class discussions, we have a better conception of expectations, as well as our individual thoughts on the topic. In the end, happiness for one depends on one's actions in his or her pursuit of one's desires, especially when the outcome of a situation is not as originally expected. In The Chosen, Reb Saunders expects Danny to take his place as Rabbi and Tzaddik for their Hasidic community. Although Danny chooses to enter the field of psychology, Reb Saunders ends up happy. In a completely different scenario, inside the pages of Great Expectations, Pip expects to grow up to be a wealthy gentleman. When this dream is realized, Pip is less than satisfied. Although the two characters have completely different expectations at different times in different places, their actions are still reflected in the end.As personalities grow and change, opportunities come and go, and time passes by, expectations that one may have formulated are likely to be modified appropriately to outside issues that may arise. These issues may include any number of things, sometimes foreseeable, other times unpredictable. Specifically, Reb Saunders' expectations of Danny change as Danny matures in The Chosen. As Danny's father, Reb Saunders puts forward his full dedication and commitment in the raising of Danny, as to have Danny eventually carry on the family tradition by becoming the Rabbi and Tzaddik of their Hasidic community. As Danny grows up, Reb Saunders realizes that Danny is very much his own person, and he will most likely choose a profession other than what is expected. When Reb Saunders realizes that Mr. Malter is nurturing Danny's desire to learn beyond what Reb Saunders has expected, Reb Saunders does nothing to stop this. Out of love for his son, Reb Saunders allows Danny to do as he wishes, for he knows that Danny is capable of making good decisions. Reb Saunders' parenting does not go to waste either; he knows that with his unique parenting style, raising Danny in silence, Danny has the heart of a Tzaddik anyway. He is "a Tzaddik for the world", as Reb Saunders puts it. Although Danny doesn't fulfill Reb Saunders' original expectations, Reb Saunders realizes that it is most important for Danny to be happy. Due to the constant love and support of Danny, along with the effort put forth in properly raising him, Reb Saunders still feels a sense of fulfillment.When one's long awaited expectations are fulfilled, unlike Reb Saunders', one is not always content with the results. In Great Expectations, Pip, from a very young age, expects to grow up to become a wealthy gentleman. When this expectation is actually fulfilled, Pip finds that being a gentleman is not all that he had imagined. Pip was born into a very poor family, and he was motivated to someday grow up to be more than just another peasant. Instead of working to achieve a high social status by putting forth effort and dedication, he waits for someone to give him the money. When Pip is lucky enough for someone to actually give him a large fortune, he moves to London to become that gentleman. When Pip's brother-in-law Joe comes to visit, Pip treats him not as a member of his family, but as a peasant. Pip realizes that Joe had treated Pip with nothing but love Pip's entire existence, and Pip completely reevaluates his whole expectation situation. He finds that he had never worked toward anything with any true meaning. Unlike Reb Saunders, Pip's expectations are fulfilled. Also unlike Reb Saunders, however, Pip ends up empty and confused, instead of happy and content. Expectations like these can often lead to ironic twists of fate.If one works hard, dedicates one's self, and puts effort towards an expectation of one's self, then they will almost undeniably feel content in the end. If not, then the outcome will reflect so. This statement, of course, is just a generalization, but it is true about Reb Saunders in The Chosen and Pip in Great Expectations. "Expect the worst, hope for the best".