Gimpel: Truly the Fool? Isaac

Gimpel: Truly the Fool?

Isaac Bashevis Singer's short story "Gimpel the Fool" is one of his most famous and enduring. It manages to encompass the titular narrator's entire life in the town of Frumpol -- and eventually beyond -- which is a testament both to human endurance and to compassion. Gimpel is called a fool because, as he says, he is "easy to take in." People are constantly telling him outrageous stories, and Gimpel believes them. Even when he knows or is fairly certain that he is being fooled, Gimpel allows himself to go along with whatever he is told, consciously affirming his decision to believe whatever he hears. Though this makes him a fool in the eyes of others, however, his actual level of wisdom is not so clear-cut. Gimpel's ability to remain satisfied despite the most lamentable conditions, and to be truly happy with his lot in life the majority of the time, marks him as a uniquely wise man.

Gimpel's passive and easily contented attitude are observable in the very first paragraph of the tale. He describes one of the many instances of an exploitation of his gullibility that he experienced, and notes that though he was definitely no weakling and could have taken on anyone in a fight, he preferred to "let it pass." Gimpel might be gullible, but this is not his truly defining feature-it is his easy-going nature that really makes Gimpel who he is. Despite the teasing he endures, and the fact that he missed a day of school due to the other children's lies (not to mention the handful of goat droppings they told him were raisins), Gimpel is not really moved to anger, but remains peaceful and decides it is best just to let it go. This might seem foolish to many, who see a wrong and would like to see it corrected, but for Gimpel this is a needless and useless waste of energy and good spirits.

Just as "easy-going" is Gimpel's defining characteristic, his marriage to Elka is his defining relationship. Throughout their twenty years together, Elka cheats on Gimpel numerous times, with many different men -- including his own trusted apprentice. Gimpel allows himself to be convinced that this is not really occurring, however, just as he allows himself to believe that the young son she had prior to their marriage was actually her brother (he eventually refers to the character simply as "her brother"). Through it all, however, Gimpel manages to have a family of children that he loves completely and in unadulterated totality, even after Elka tells him that they are not his (one of the few instances in the tale in which Gimpel acts with disbelief). While most men in his situation would have become bitter, left their families, and grown both angry and jaded -- and with good reason -- Gimpel's decision to check reason at the door in favor of belief and acceptance allows him to be happy and to love his family deeply and everlastingly, without hesitation or any sense of regret. Even his brief lapse of judgment and desire for revenge eventually passes without major incident, and Gimpel is able to retain his peace.