"Gimpel the Fool- is a short story by Issac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991).This is a story of laughter and sadness. The story revolves around a central character - Gimpel, considered fool by the village folks and hence tormented by their dirty jokes. On the other hand Gimpel's perception about himself, folks and family is beautifully depicted by the author. Gimpel is a gullible man who responds to a lifetime of betrayal, heckling, and deception with childlike acceptance and complete faith. Though aware of his own suffering, he is never cynical or resentful; no matter what befalls him, he retains a steadfast belief in human goodness. Gimpel is a boy having a reputation of being a fool since his early age. People are always playing tricks on him. Although Gimpel appears to be a fool, he is really a wise man. He shows he is a wise man by loving the children that are not his, by being a believer in his religion and by not taking advice from the Devil. He seems to have courage to accept a socially downgraded woman, Elka, and wants to give her a respectable life.
The village folks tried every possible trick to make appear Gimpel a fool and eventually to ridicule him. Their worst joke to Gimpel is,"Gimpel, your father and mother have stood up from the grave. They are looking for you"(96), is indeed a very cruel joke to an orphan. The reason why Gimpel believes what people told him is that all of these stories are kind of real to him. He wants to see these things happen and does not care if they don't as he still have nothing to lose(97).Gimpel has a control on his temper and is caring enough to see everybody he knows is happy. He doesn't have any malice for anyone and has a very positive attitude towards life. Gimple is wise enough to know who to approach in case of doubt or when in need of advice. He is given self assurance by rabbi who tells him,"" You are not a fool. They are the fools. For he who causes his neighbor to feel shame loses Paradise himself- (97).
The story "Gimpel the Fool" by Isaac Bashevis Singer is about a particular society that takes advantage of a young man by calling him names like "fool, imbecile donkey dope" (Singer, Pg 96). They also make fun of him by telling him lies. The story gives the reader insight about reality, that i...
