The Chosen

by

Chaim Potok

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Professor Nathan Appleman Character Analysis

Danny’s psychology teacher at Hirsch College, Appleman teaches his students the value of experimental psychology, which must be backed up by data and tests. Danny hates this at first, but after he talks with Appleman comes to realize that he is a kind and smart man. Danny learns about the value of modern scientific reasoning, which greatly differs from his traditional upbringing and original affinity to Freud, through Appleman.

Professor Nathan Appleman Quotes in The Chosen

The The Chosen quotes below are all either spoken by Professor Nathan Appleman or refer to Professor Nathan Appleman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
).
Chapter 13 Quotes

Poor Danny, I thought. Professor Appleman, with his experimental psychology, is torturing your mind. And your father, with his bizarre silence – which I still couldn’t understand, no matter how often I thought about it – is torturing your soul.”

Related Symbols: Silence
Page Number: 222
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Chosen PDF

Professor Nathan Appleman Character Timeline in The Chosen

The timeline below shows where the character Professor Nathan Appleman appears in The Chosen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 13
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
...to his dismay at Hirsch this means experimental psychology. The chair of the department, Professor Appleman, dislikes psychoanalysis and Freud. Danny thinks that the test they are doing with rats and... (full context)
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
Appleman thinks that the followers of Freud are dogmatic. Danny thinks that Freud is a genius,... (full context)
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...how a science of psychology would need proof from laboratory findings. Reuven pities Danny because Appleman’s experimental psychology is torturing his mind while his father’s silence is torturing his soul. (full context)
Judaism and Tradition Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
Danny follows Reuven's advice and speaks with Appleman, and tells Reuven that he know realizes that he is a “very fine person.” Appleman... (full context)
Chapter 16
Choosing and Being Chosen Theme Icon
Fathers, Sons, and Rebellion Theme Icon
Friendship Theme Icon
...that he will work with people. He will need a doctorate to do this and Appleman has suggested that he attend Columbia. Danny has decided to apply, but he has not... (full context)