Singer Gimpel The Fool

The story Gimpel the Fool by Isaac Beshevis Singer is a tale of a man whom the townspeople consider a fool. They pick on him, tease him, and generally mistreat him. They call him many names and play dirty tricks on him. However, the story does have a symbolic meaning to it. It is a lesson that people must not let outside influences dictate their mood, well-being, feelings, or actions. People must also be confident in themselves and do what they feel is the right thing to do in their heart.
Gimpel is actually much more intelligent then the townspeople believe him to be. He has a strong moral compass and although he can easily defend himself against the people who torment him on a day to day basis he simply turns the other cheek and walks away. Gimpel even went as far to have said, "I was no weakling. If I slapped someone he'd see all the way to Cracow. But I'm not a slugger by nature. I think to myself: let it pass" (Singer 405). He doesn't allow the constant bullying to affect him and by not letting the bullies get to him, he has won. If people lets someone get into their head then they let that person dictate their mood, happiness, and can even let that person control their actions.
Gimpel leads a righteous life and is very obedient

to his faith. When the Rabbi gives Gimpel advice he follows his instructions. One day, while seeking the Rabbi's advice regarding his wife the Rabbi tells Gimpel, "Let her go, the harlot" said he,"and the brood of bastards with her" (Singer 409). So he then told his rabbi that he must have hallucinated the entire event. Even though his wife Elka was disloyal to him, Gimpel put his illegitimate children before his own feelings, making him extraordinarily loyal. He showed substantial integrity and loyalty throughout the entire story.
Eventually, Gimpel does tire from all the name calling, tricking and being lied to throughout the years. When he finds his wife in bed with his assistant from his bakery, he reaches his boiling point. The devil appears to him in a dream and tells him to get even with all the townspeople for all the shenanigans. While making the bread the next day, he should urinate in the dough. However, before he gets a chance to serve the bread, his conscious gets the best of him and he decides it's better to not serve it. Instead, he buries it in the ground behind the bakery.
Gimpel decides that rather than let the people get the best of him and cause him to do immoral activities that he would just rather leave town.

This is what makes Gimpel a smart man. He would rather remove himself from a situation where he would act out of his nature than do something that he would later regret. Gimpel may have been considered a fool by the townspeople but they overlooked his graciousness. It doesn't make someone a fool because he trusts someone and takes them at face value. It makes the person that is disloyal or mischievous a fool for breaking his trust. Everyone eventually has to face their maker and be judged for their actions on this earth. Gimpel can rest assured that his actions were moral and

goodhearted.