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Gimpel The Fool

            
             Isaac Singer's Gimpel The Fool is the story of a Jewish man who is as nave as a child. Gimpel is portrayed as the town fool and is considered unworldly. For his ignorance he is underestimated and exploited by his peers, yet he always seems to prevail. He shows through his many situations that the meek do inherit the earth. His wife Elka is just the opposite. She is a woman of considerable experience in handling the affairs of life. A calculated woman with a sense of avarice, she is cunning, manipulative, and sinful. She is a Jew though and in the Jewish Orthodox faith there is no redemption; for a sin, there is hell. This faith is based on the Laws of Jehovah and the Pentateuch. This story questions the Law of Jehovah. We are told that the Lord gives no repentance, but in the end Elka comes to Gimpel in near angelic form. Isaac Singer breaks away from Judaism in this story and expresses ideas of Christianity, which show that he may have not held traditional Jewish values. .
             Gimpel is an orphan who has lived with his grandfather since an early age. Because of this he never learns the harshness of reality. Instead he learns to trust people and believe in their words. During adolescence he is apprenticed to the town baker. At the bakery he learns a valuable trade skill and grows into manhood. As he grows he learns that people tell him falsehoods, yet he continues to believe them. He thinks that anything is possible. He is taught by the word of the Father's that, "It is written, better to be a fool all your days than for one hour to be evil. He who causes his neighbors to feel shame loses paradise himself."" Then one day the towns' people come to Gimpel and tell him of a woman. They say that she is "virgin pure- but has a limp, though that it is a deliberate act of coyness. Gimpel knows that she is really sexually promiscuous. He proclaims, "You're wasting your time. I'll never marry that whore.


Essays Related to Gimpel The Fool

1. Gimpel The Fool

... during his journeys that he discovers that there really are no lies; whatever doesn't happen is dreamed at night. The story ends with Gimpel dying and going to a place where even he cannot be deceived. To find the true meaning of Gimpel The Fool I decided to analyze the plot, characters and point of view. Plot is a sequence of events; these events include exposition, complicating incident, rising action ... about his character. It says that although he does not believe it to be true, it has become part of his identity. He is not Gimpel, he is Gimpel the fool. Not much is told of any phy...

  • Word Count: 1309
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Gimpel the Fool

... their level. This is a norm for society and happens in every society. This is described in this story through the lies and jokes the people tell Gimpel. Gimpel is known as a "fool", but as the story builds up one can see he is a wise man: "I am Gimpel the fool I don't think myself a fool. On the contrary. But that's what they call me" (Singer, Pg 96). These few lines clearly show that ... Gimpel does not accept himself as a "fool", but it is how people prefer him as. Gimpel sees himself as a better and wiser man. According to the ... American Heritage Dictionary, a "fool" is one who ca...

  • Word Count: 1551
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Gimple the fool:thesis

Gimpel the Fool : thesis "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, ... not go to anyone else. Because he is the fool, everyone knew he does not get upset; and he forgives Elka and he drops the charges that he makes of ...

  • Word Count: 1569
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Gimpel The Fool

In the story of Gimpel the Fool, a very strong case could easily be made that he was no fool at all. However in reality he was quite the opposite. Gimpel was much more of a wise man than a fool. His actions and character throughout the story prove this time and time again. According to Webster's Dictionary, the definition of a fool is, "One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding." This means that ... . Each time, they miss their opportunity, and choose to lie. His so called friends never get the point that Gimpel simply wants to believe in them. They use Gimpel instead and call...

  • Word Count: 1111
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Gimpel the fool

... lies by other, as well as a visit by the ultimate evil has given Gimpel the insight to gain an eternal life with his wife in a land without lies or deceit. It began at an early age for Gimpel. While Gimpel was still in school, he was given the nickname "Gimpel the fool-. At an early age, the townsfolk of Frampol knew that Gimpel was an easy target, one who was easily ... deceived. Gimpel himself admits that he was easy prey, saying "I was easy to take in-. (Singer 96) While ... split his "hoard- between his children, and left Frampol. Gimpel the fool went into the world as a fool no lo...

  • Word Count: 1504
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Gimpel

English 1302 Character Analysis on "Gimpel the Fool" Gimpel lived most of his life being a fool, though he did not consider himself to be one. Throughout Gimpel's life he was fooled into believing things that were not real or getting pranks pulled on him. Gimpel was so gullible in believing things that even the rabbi's would do pranks on him. As the story progresses Gimpel comes across many lies that could ... , but when he comes back there is no one there and she denies the whole thing. He is constantly be played as a fool. Also when Elka is on her death bed and wants to come clean she tells...

  • Word Count: 835
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. gimpel the fool

... was looked down upon. "I am Gimpel the fool. I don't think myself as a fool. On the contrary. But that's what folks call me." In the very first sentence of this story, we are introduces to a man named Gimpel. He tells the readers that the townspeople call him Gimpel the fool; however, he doesn't think that he is a fool. The truth is Gimpel is a fool. A simple fool that is. He doesn't think himself as a fool but he is a man that ... is isolated from the world around him. He is a passionless townsfolk, that can't even understand why he is treated like ... ...

  • Word Count: 1195
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Critical Essay: Gimpel the Fool

... a couple marry. Characterization of Gimpel is an extremly important part in telling the story "Gimpel the Fool" successfully. The whole story, even from the title, is based on Gimpels character, which is a fool. We are told in the beggining just how much of a fool he is in Gimpel's own words, "I had seven names in all: imbecile, donkey, flax-head, dope, glump, ninny, and fool. The last name stuck." The reader cannot help but feel ... sympathy for Gimpel, because the main thing we learn ... ...

  • Word Count: 642
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

9. GIMPEL, NAIVE AND KIND

... fool. On the contrary. But that's what folks call me." Gimpel, the main character in "Gimpel the Fool" written by Isaac Bashevis Singer, narrates the story with precise honesty. Gimpel portrays a foolish man whom throughout his life, those who surround him, ridicule and deceive him. Information obtained by what he says and does, also by what others say about him, determine Gimpel's character and personality. Gimpel ... donkey, flax-head, dope, glump, ninny, and fool." In truth Gimpel contrary to fool, portrays just naivety and goodness. Gimpel's goodness shows when his classmates, "Stuff...

  • Word Count: 568
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

10. Gimpel

Through clever characterization, underlying symbolism, and an in-depth point of view, the short story "Gimpel the Fool", written by Isaac Bashevis Singer, clearly reinforces the age-old concept that repentance, along with good deeds, will ultimately be rewarded in time. Gimpel's whole-hearted yet gullible characterization weaves an important pattern in the story's meaning. The deeply embedded religious connotation and use of dynamic symbols both aid in allowing ... to be above that kind of behavior, which doesn't make Gimpel a fool at all. It makes the townspeople the fools. The main reason w...

  • Word Count: 729
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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