Isaac Bashevis Singer created a really remarkable character. His Gimpel the Fool is a great illustration of people’s cruelty and injustice. However, Gimpel is also a symbol of great faith, responsibility, forgiveness, rightfulness and wisdom. It goes without saying that this character has been analyzed by many scholars. Some may argue that Gimpel’s nickname can be justified as he believed everyone.
However, this feature of his character should not be explained by credulity. He is rather a believer. Gimpel is not a fool; he is simply ready for everything to happen. When it comes to the twentieth century, this feature can be called as foresight since really amazing ideas came true. Obviously, Gimpel should be regarded as a rightful man who is kind to everyone. As far as I am concerned, Gimpel is a wise man who has enough strength to accept people’s cruelty and remain kind and responsive.
Gimpel Is a Great Believer
In the first place, it is important to note that Gimpel is a rightful man who follows religious conventions. It is possible to take a closer look at one of his features, i.e. his credulity, which is a sign of his great faith. When Gimpel reflects upon his childhood, he mentions that everyone made a fool of him.
However, Gimpel also claims that he did not have choice. First, Gimpel mentions that everything can be possible as “it is written in the Wisdom of the Fathers” (Singer n.p.). Admittedly, this fact characterizes the man as the one who has great faith in his heart. Gimpel has to endure all those jokes since he is a rightful man who respects and follows religious conventions.
Gimpel’s belief that the world is full of marvelous things characterizes him as a man of vision. Remarkably, Gimpel is sure that everything is possible and he acknowledges that the world is, indeed, full of ‘impossible’ things. Gimpel has always believed that many things can happen. When he was young, he believed that everything is possible because this was one of principles of his religion. However, when he leaves the city, he sees that the world is really amazing and loads of ‘impossible’ things soon become a norm.
Of course, the twentieth century was full of discoveries and great innovations. People literally reached the stars. This is what Gimpel acknowledges when he leaves the city. Besides, Gimpel also mentions that it is difficult not to believe if the entire city says something is true. Gimpel says that nearly everyone has tried to deceive him. He has been surrounded by people who have taken advantage of him.
Gimpel Remains Positive
Notably, Gimpel remains positive no matter what, which is the greatest proof that he is a rightful man who never hurts other people. Admittedly, it is possible to state that Gimpel tries to look at the bright side. Gimpel reasonably assumes that the entire city cannot be wrong, all people cannot lie.
Gimpel does not want to believe that people are so deceitful and mean. Gimpel is always looking for something good in everyone and everything. He is eager to believe in something positive about a person rather than focus on negative features of people.
Gimpel also sacrifices his reputation for his family’s sake and remains responsible to his children and his wife. Gimpel loves his wife Elka in spite of the fact people are talking different things about her. He refuses to believe all those bad things. Even when he catches his wife with another man, he is eager to believe that it is his imagination.
One of the most remarkable features of his character is his responsibility. Gimpel takes care about his (or rather his wife’s) children. He does love those little creatures that are not guilty in their mother’s actions. Gimpel understands that. Gimpel has a heart of gold. This helps him remain positive in various situations.
Gimpel Is Successful
Gimpel’s success also characterizes him as a man of wisdom. Of course, it is simply impossible to call a man fool if he succeeds in some business. Admittedly, a fool cannot be associated with such notions as success and wealth. However, Gimpel becomes a rich man. His hard work and his positive attitude towards people win people’s respect. A fool can never run business successfully. More so, a fool can hardly be successful even in fulfilling simple tasks. Nonetheless, Gimpel becomes a very wealthy man.
Finally, Gimpel’s denial of his wealth and prosperity characterizes him as a man of vision, the man who strives for something more than money. Gimpel’s departure from the city can be regarded as a fool action by some people, but in reality it characterizes him as a wise man. Gimpel understands that he can never find the truth in the city full of deception. He abandons his home city and starts his journey.
He is not sorry for his money. Only wise people understand that money cannot help people find the truth and understand the real meaning of the human life. Gimpel is right and he learns loads of wonderful things about the world.
Gimpel Is a Wise Man
On balance, it is possible to state that Gimpel is not a fool, but he is a wise and rightful man. He always looks at the bright side. He is eager to see good in people. He does not focus on negative things and all those cruelties he had to endure. Gimpel manages to become successful in his city, but he understands that this success cannot help him reveal the secrets of the world. Therefore, Gimpel does a wise thing: he lives the city to open up new horizons.
Works Cited
Singer, Isaac Bashevis. Gimpel the Fool. salvoblue.homestead.com. Out of the Blue, n.d. Web.