Is Gimpel Really A Fool

“Gimpel The Fool” is a story written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. This story is about a simple man named Gimpel. He is measured by many to be a fool because he is naive and easily taking advantage of; constantly falling for tricks layed out by the townspeople. Gimpel is also easily persuaded by the townspeople; they end up persuading him into marrying Elka, who is known as a whore.

The author’s point of view is what he is trying to get across to the readers. In this story, Singer is showing that good triumphs over evil. The author shows Gimpel’s good side, by showing how caring and kind he is to people no matter what way he is treated by them. Gimpel just believes if he goes with the flow of things it would be a lot easier than dealing with the townspeople. “However, I resolved that I would always believe what I was told. What’s the good of not believing? Today it’s your wife you don’t believe; tomorrow it’s God Himself you won’t tak

Throughout this story the author shows irony through the townspeople and Elka. Everything that Gimpel will do is shown as being wrong. When he is right they belittle him and talk to him as if he were wrong, Gimpel would say “Ah you’re kidding!”(301). That means trouble for him; the townspeople came back and say, “ What do you mean! You want to call everyone a liar?”(301). Gimpel has no way of winning with the townspeople. It is just better and easier for him to go along with what they have to say so he would not have to have an argument. Gimpel also told himself that nothing is really impossible.

Elka treats Gimpel inadequately, taking a good mans life and giving him nothing but heartache, she does this by having children that are not even his and denying it every time a question is brought up about it. Gimpel knows the child is not his, but allows himself to be convinced into thinking that some babies are born premature, and at this time his. Elka’s id is that she sleeps around with other men, which is unacceptable after your married.

When reading this story I chose to use the psychological approach. I chose this approach because of the different type of personalities we are able to see throughout the story. Gimpel’s personality type is known as an introvert. He is not very sociable. When he is with people they always just treat him as a fool rather than a person, this is why Gimpel chose not to be sociable. Gimpel would be more sociable with people if they had treated him with more respect. All the townspeople including Elka and the Rabbi were extroverts: they all were outspoken people who really didn’t back down from a conversation.

Gimpel’s character lives in a small town called Frampol where everyone knows everyone, which does not favor on his side. Gimpel to me is a great man just a little naive, but in actuality everyone can be. The way he describes things and speaks to us you can tell that these are not words of a fool. The words we hear spoken from a fool are the townspeople who make fun of him everyday, because instead of treating him like a fool they should respect him more since he is the most successful man in his town.

As I read “Gimpel the fool” I thought to myself is Gimpel really the fool or is everyone else? To me I personally think he was not, he is smart by not arguing with people because arguing only causes turmoil, he was just making things easier on himself.

Elka also has an ego; she would put on a front like she had loved Gimpel when

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