Gimpel the fool

Gimpel the Fool | Introduction

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''Gimpel the Fool,'' which first appeared in English translation in a 1953 edition of the Partisan Review, is considered one of Isaac Bashevis Singer's most notable and representative works of short fiction. Singer wrote the story, as he did most of his early works, in Yiddish, and its Jewish themes of the individual's search for faith and guidance in a cruel world are explored in a parable form with exaggerated details common to folktales. Noted Jewish-American writer Saul Bellow translated the story into English, as he did many of Singer's early works, thus introducing him to a wide audience for the first time, even though Singer had been writing for many years. The character of Gimpel has been praised by critics as an example of the "schlemiel"— a foolish, unlucky man—common to Jewish lore, whose follies are delineated in order to present a moral lesson. Set in the imaginary village of Frampol, the story centers on Gimpel, a baker, who is continuously heckled and tricked by those around him. Since its publication, critical reaction to "Gimpel the Fool'' has been positive, with most reviewers praising its blend of tradition, spiritualism, and realism.

Gimpel the Fool Summary

"Gimpel the Fool," opens with Gimpel, the narrator, announcing that he is called a fool but does not think of himself as one. Others see him as a fool, he says, because he is "easy to take in," He is not a fighter, he reasons, so he tries to ignore them. Even so, he admits that "they take advantage of me," thus demonstrating he understands how others see him and is not as foolish as he seems. Gimpel is an orphan being raised by a grandfather who is "already bent to the grave," so the townspeople turn him over to a baker. In such a public occupation, nearly all the villagers have had the opportunity to fool him at least once.

When Rietze the Candle-dipper tells him his parents have risen from the grave and are looking for him, Gimpel knows full well this cannot be, but he goes outside to look just in case: "What did I stand to lose just by looking?'' This incident creates such an uproar that he vows not to believe anything else, but that does not work either. He is confused and turns to the rabbi for advice. The rabbi tells Gimpel, "It is written, better to be a fool all your days than for one hour to be evil. You are not a fool. They are the fools. For he who causes his neighbor to feel shame loses Paradise himself."

Gimpel considers leaving town, but the people will not hear of it. Instead, they decide to fix him up with a wife. He sees several flaws in Elka, his prospective bride, but the townspeople tell him his perceptions are wrong. Elka's "bastard" son is really her little brother, and her limp is "deliberate, from coyness."... »


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In Isaac Bashevis Singer s Gimpel the Fool , Gimpel is treated with no respect from his peers or the society of Frampol where he lives. Gimpel s life has been riddled with tricks and lies from the townspeople for as long as he can remember. No one respects Gimpel or has any sympathy for him and his misfortunes. Gimpel allows himself to be the schlemiel of the town because of his unwillingness to stand up for himself and the truth (Sobeloff 1). Gimpel eventually causes himself so much misery by allowing himself to be the butt of all of the jokes in Frampol that he can no longer stand his own life.
Gimpel believes whatever he hears, and that causes people to continue to belittle him. His friends and peers have deceived Gimpel since he was a boy in school (Singer 131). Gimpel s peers would tell him things such as the Rabbi s wife was pregnant or that his mother and father had risen from the grave and were looking for him (Singer 131-132). Gimpel believed all of the lies because he did not know what else to do (Singer 131). Elka also told her share of lies to Gimpel, which he also reluctantly believed. Elka convinced him that the child that she had only four months after there wedding was his son. She also told Gimpel that she was faithful to him when she really was not. Gimpel may have believed all of the lies and deceptions because he thought it would be easier to go along with them than to try to stand up against the whole town and all of their cunningness (Sobeloff 2). Gimpel even says that if he ever would say, Ah, you re kidding! that it caused trouble and that people got angry (Singer 131).
Because of his gullibility and cowardly behavior, Gimpel became the joke of the town of Frampol. Whenever there is a joke to be made it is always aimed towards Gimpel. Gimpel s friends picked on him in school and continue by convincing him to marry Elka. Gimpel did not want to marry Elka and thought that she was a whore , but
he did because he thought it would give him some respect and give him a chance to be the master (Singer 132). They tell him things to make a fool of him such as he must kiss the wall of the rabbinical court after every visit, or that the messiah has come (Singer 132). The people of Frampol get pleasure and laughs out of Gimpel s misery and embarrassment. Gimpel s wife also takes him for a fool. Elka tells Gimpel that the boy she had prior to marrying him is her brother. Gimpel has a suspicion that this is not true but he stays quiet. She also tells him that she is faithful to him when in fact, she is cheating on him behind his back. Gimpel even catches her in bed with another man one night when he comes home from the bakery, but he still says nothing to her. As long as Gimpel never stands up for himself he is an easy target for the town to play pranks on and he begins to realize it (Singer 135).
Gimpel s brings his own misery upon himself by failing to stand up for what he believes. Gimpel almost seems like he needs to believe what people tell him in order to survive (Fraustino 1). Gimpel does not even realize what truth is and how you can tell it apart from everything else (Fraustino 1). Whenever Gimpel does think that something is not true he refuses to say anything and instead keeps his mouth shut and causes himself another humiliating moment or problem in his life.

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