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.
An Analysis of Gimpel The Fool Gimpel the Fool is a story written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. ... Gimpel The Fool is a story about a simple man named Gimpel. ... He says, "I am Gimpel the fool" (Kennedy 68). ... He is not Gimpel, he is Gimpel the fool. ... Gimpel The Fool is written in the first person. ...
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). ... 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. ... These few lines clearly show that Gimpel does not accept himself as a "fool", but it is how people prefer him as. ... Gimpel shows that character as being a "fool", but he knows that there is no other way to prove he is not. ... They are the fool" (97)....
In the story of Gimpel the Fool, a very strong case could easily be made that he was no fool at all. ... Gimpel was much more of a wise man than a fool. ... They use Gimpel instead and call him a fool. The whole time, their definition of fool is wrongly placed towards Gimpel, and all the while, they are the ones who are acting foolishly. ... In reality it was those who were making fun of Gimpel who were the true fools. ...
Gimpel the Fool As we look at many different stories, each story has its own different craft elements, some being more important than others. ... As we see in Gimpel the Fool, "You can go home then. ... "I am Gimpel the fool. ... 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. ...
Gimpel the Fool, as he is called by the people of the Jewish town of Frampol, is constantly ridiculed and poked practical jokes at. Gimpel himself does not believe himself to be a fool, however. ... The rabbi advises Gimpel that it is better to be a fool than evil, for innocence is always the better quality. ... Before Gimpel can say anything, she tricks Gimpel by sending him away and hiding the apprentice. Naive Gimpel then dismisses it as possibly his imagination. ...
Critical Essay: Gimpel the Fool "Gimpel the Fool", by Isaac Bashevis Singer, is an excellent short story with elements like style, characterization, and theme to make the Jewish tale a delight to read for young and old. ... 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. ... He says to himself, "Gimpel isn't going to be a fool all his life. There's a limit even to the foolishness of a fool like Gimpel...
Who's the fool? Gimpel was not a fool, but instead a man who believed fully and wholeheartedly in others. ... While Gimpel was still in school, he was given the nickname "Gimpel the fool-. ... There's a limit even to the foolishness of a fool like Gimpel."" ... Gimpel the fool went into the world as a fool no longer. ...
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. ... Gimpel was given the name fool early during his life while he was still in school. ... Gimpel was a fool despite his self-denial. ... Gimpel lived his life as a fool though he considered himself not to be one. ... He thought he found love in the end, but even love was able to fool Gimpel. ...
