Right way Quote by Chaim Potok
““DW: Some critics have written that they don’t admire your so-called simple style. You have contended that your writing is a result of much rewriting and much revision and is deliberate. CP: The style is simplicity for the sake of complexity. Whoever feels that it is a “simple style” has to look into it and find the right way. Of course the style has become over the years much more complex and much more simple. Two fundamental things about the novel continue to intrigue me and I think this is our gift to ourselves as far as this form is concerned. One is the handling of character, people. No other form can handle people in significant depth over long periods of time. No other form can move back and forth, in and out, nothing can move the way the novel can in terms of the dimension of time. People and time are what I think the novel is really all about and I think they are limitless.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Chaim Potok with DW, date unknown
Potok explains that his deceptively simple style is intentional, as apparent simplicity hides layered meaning. He also identifies the novel’s unique strengths as deep character development and fluid movement across time.
In simple terms: Clear style can hide deep meaning. Novels explore people and time.
Key Takeaway
Write simply when it best reveals complexity.
Themes
writing style
complexity
novel as form
character
time
Mood
intellectual
thoughtful
defensive
Type
literary criticism
craft statement
interview excerpt
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- literary criticism
- novel writing
- reading deeply
Key Concepts
simplicity and complexity
narrative form
fictional character depth
literary craft
Questions to Reflect On
- How can simplicity serve complexity in your own work?
- What can the novel do that other forms cannot?
A Different Perspective
Some readers may never see the complexity, and simple prose can be mistaken for shallowness.
