The 1945 Yiddish short story, "Gimpel the Fool" is by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Translated in English by Saul Bellow in 1953, it is the English version that is best known. Gimpel is a simple bread maker that is considered the simpleton of the town, and most of the townspeople make him the butt of their jokes.The story unfolds with Gimpel as the narrator. He is a Jewish baker in eastern Europe at the
. turn of the 20th century. He starts by stating that he does not think of himself as a fool even though that's what he is called by others. He further says that the townspeople see him as a fool as he is "easy to take in". He knows that people take advantage of him and he is not a fighter, so the taunting and practical jokes increase. As an orphan, he was raised by a grandfather who was already "bent toward the grave". Gimpel was placed with a baker to learn the craft, a very public occupation that opened-up many opportunities for teasing and ridicule.The candle-dipper tells Gimpel that his parents have risen from the grave and are looking for him. Knowing that it isn't true, Gimpel goes looking for them just to make certain. The commotion caused by the incident leads Gimpel to vow that he would not believe anything else that he is told, although this doesn't last for long. Confused, he turns to a rabbi that 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."Just when Gimpel is ready to leave town, the townspeople fix him up with a wife, Elka, who cheats on him. Surrounded by lies, Gimpel knows that people do make fun of him and what goes on around him. Gimpel had made the choice to see the good in the world and not focus on the evil, making him the wisest man of all. More reference links: http://www.enotes.com/gimpel-fool http://salvoblue.homestead.com/gimpel.html
