Gimpel The Fool Essay, Research Paper
The Pain in a Simple Man’s Life
Primary motives are described as needs that a person must meet in order to survive. The most widely recognized of these motives are the needs for food, water, sleep, air, and regulation of body temperature. However, one motive that is commonly overlooked by society is that of pain avoidance. The undesired pain may be stemmed from either physical or emotional situations or a combination of the two. If one is not prepared to eliminate the source of the pain, then he/she may choose to ignore the painful situation rather than allow him/herself to become upset. The character Gimpel in Isaac Singer’s short story entitled “Gimpel the Fool” centers his entire livelihood on one of his more basic primary motives, the desire to avoid personal pain.
Gimpel is a man who is subjected to human cruelty everyday of his life dealt by the people who surround him. The cruelty is not in the form of physical abuse, yet just as harsh. The people of the only town Gimpel has ever known treat him as if he was a child. And in many ways, Gimpel is a child, for a child is a person who is learning the ways of the world. Gimpel mirrors a child with his naivete and goodness. The people of the town played jokes on him throughout his childhood and his life as an adult. According to Gimpel, “they stuffed my hand full of goat turds” instead “of the raisins they give when a woman’s lying in” (Singer 411). Whereas most people would see aggression as a normal reaction to this sort of trickery, Gimpel chooses to let every trick and every comment go without a word being said. His philosophy is to “Let it pass. So they take advantage of me” (411). This type of action demonstrates that Gimpel chooses to remain silent in order to avoid the pain of a confrontation. The idea in Gimpel’s mind is that he would rather tolerate people’s laughter rather than people’s hatred directed towards him. He comments saying that, “If I ever dared to say, ’Ah, you’re kidding!’ there was trouble. People got angry” (412). With comments such as this, Gimpel shows his need for complete happiness in his life, even if the happiness is at his personal expense.
Gimpel avoids pain not only from the townspeople, but from his wife as well. His wife, Elka, is a very promiscuous woman by nature and she chooses to be unfaithful to Gimpel. However again, Gimpel chooses to evade the truth of the matter to keep from being hurt. One way he [Gimpel] shows the reader how he avoids emotional pain is when he caught Elka in bed with another man. At first, he could not accept what his wife was doing to their marriage and his reputation. However as the pain of being alone increased each day, Gimpel decides to forget the entire incident and forces himself to lie about what he saw. Gimpel says to himself, “Hallucinations do happen. And if that’s so, I’m doing her [his wife] an injustice,” proving that he twists the truth into something that he can accept (416). Gimpel’s mind works in a way that he allows himself to think that he is suffering from a kind of dementia to avoid the painful truth regarding his wife. He also avoids the embarrassment and humiliation of recognizing that the children are not his. Elka had birthed six children, none of which had been fathered by Gimpel. Gimpel knows that the children are not his, for he and his wife have never had sexual relations. Gimpel in talking about the time discrepancy between their wedding night and the birth of a child states, “In short, I waited. Not four months later she was in childbed” (413). Gimpel understands he has no biological children, but he loves her children as if they are his own. He cannot bear the hardships of reality, so he accepts whatever information is put before him and believes it to be the truth.
The reason behind Gimpel’s lifelong continuation of evading the painful truth is his belief in the afterlife. He believes very strongly in the concepts of heaven and hell, and tells himself that everything will be much better when he is able to reach that final destination. But actually, Gimpel avoids the pain in that aspect of his life as well. Throughout his entire life he has been deceived, so what keeps his belief from being a deception as well? At one point, Gimpel begins to question his beliefs. In a dream, a spirit tells him that there is no God, no judgment day in the afterlife and for a moment Gimpel releases the questioning side of his personality. He says, “What…is there then?” if there is no God (418). But Gimpel’s primary motive conquers his doubts and allows him once again to avoid the pain that can be afflicted by a harsh world. To reaffirm his motives and his belief in life, Gimpel states, “Whatever may be there, it will be real, without complication, without ridicule, without deception. God be praised: there even Gimpel cannot be deceived” (420).
Gimpel communicates his attitude towards his life and his ideas of meaningfulness to the readers by his tone. The reader can almost hear a pathetic tone in his voice and in his thoughts. He says things such as, “But I’m the type that bears it and says nothing” (415). When the reader hears statements such as these, the reader feels sympathy for Gimpel. With myself as the reader, I could feel the pain that Gimpel feels in his life and how he can make his avoidance of that pain the most meaningful desire in his life. In my accordance with many psychologists, “Some people feel they must be tough and not show any discomfort” (Coon 388). This characteristic of the pain avoidance primary motive is modeled by Gimpel in his efforts and demonstrates the idea of what makes his life worth living.
Life cannot exist without certain elements. Those elements are considered basic, and among those basic elements, there is one that is often overlooked. Pain avoidance is considered a primary motive, regardless of whether the pain stems from physical or emotional sources. If the pain cannot be eliminated, then often one chooses to avoid or ignore the pain. Gimpel is one of the people who choose to avoid his pain. Gimpel needs the people who surround him, irrelevant to the way he is treated. Whereas most would have sought revenge on the people, Gimpel made it his life’s goal to succeed in avoiding the pain and humiliation that is placed upon him. And in many opinions, as well as my own, Gimpel was an extraordinary character for accomplishing this feat. For according to one critic, “he [Gimpel] is eminently human, recognizing his continuing need for the affection that he managed to wrest from what would have been an intolerable situation for a more conventionally oriented person” (Hadda 294).
Coon, Dennis, ed. Essentials of Psychology: Exploration and Application. Stamford, CT: Wadsworth, 2000.
Hadda, Janet. “Gimpel the Full.” Prooftexts: A Journal of Jewish Literary History 10.1
(1990) : 283-294.
Singer, Isaac Bashevis. “Gimpel the Fool.” Literary Culture: Reading and Writing Literary Arguments. Eds. L. Bensel-Meyers, Susan Giesemann North, and Jeremy W. Webster. Needham Heights, MA: Simon and Schuster, 1999. 411-420.
Другие работы по теме:
St Anselm
’S Ontological Argument For The Experience Of God. Essay, Research Paper God’s existence may vary from philosopher to philosopher, but according to the late St. Anselm,
God Existence Essay Research Paper
In the beginning of Scholasticism, one of the biggest problems is the place of dialectic, because it was often inconsistent with theology. Anselm made a moderate point between
Gimples Foolishness Essay Research Paper Adam KayProfessor
Gimples Foolishness Essay, Research Paper Adam Kay Professor deall English 220 March 16, 2001 Gimpel’s Foolishness In many stories there are series of conflicts with an individual and his society. In “Gimpel the Fool,” written by Isaac Bashevis Singer, there is conflict between Gimpel and the society in which he lives in.
Satan Lives Essay Research Paper I am
Satan Lives Essay, Research Paper I am here to let you know that satan is real. I am writing you to tell you that hell is real. I want you to know that regardless of what you think or believe that hell and the devil are as real as the chair you are sitting in. I was attacked in my house by the devil, I was paralized with fear and could not move a single finger.
Analysis Of Characters From Different Novels Essay
, Research Paper Throughout literature, the value of a story may be determined through the merit of the characters within. The merit of characters may be judged on three criteria, the first being plausibility or how feasible a certain character is – a characteristic perfectly exemplified in the story “I’m a Fool” by Sherwood Anderson.
Gimpel The Fool Essay Research Paper Contrasts
Gimpel The Fool Essay, Research Paper Contrasts of the two main characters in Singer s Gimpel the Fool indicate that they are two totally different people. These contrasts reveal the different natures that both characters show throughout the story. Both Gimpel and his wife Elka are faced with the same situations, but the way they handle these situations can be easily contrasted.
King Lea The Role Of The Fool
Essay, Research Paper In the play King Lear, by William Shakespeare, there are many intriguing characters. Perhaps the most intriguing of them all is the fool. The fool seems to exist outside the play appearing and disappearing without warning. The fool is, however, a necessary character to the evolution of Lear’s character, since he is the personification of truth and reason.
Gatsby Essay Essay Research Paper In the
Gatsby Essay Essay, Research Paper In the book, The Great Gatsby, Francis Scott Fitzgerald?s continuous use of the Doctor T.J. Eckleburg sign symbolizes an inept God. He also shows us that even though God is watching; bad things still happen. The Great Gatsby showed a corrupt society under God?s eyes. When Nick followed Tom, to meet Tom?s mistress, the only thing that Nick really noticed was the sign starring at him as shown in this quotation. “I followed him over a low whitewashed railroad fence, and we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleburg?s persistent stare.” (24) Nick felt a little uneasy with this sign starring at them.
The Great Gatsby 10 Essay Research Paper
The Great Gatsby In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg represents god, the all seeing and all knowing god, which society, cannot fool.
Critical Analysis Of Gimpel The Fool Essay
, Research Paper GIMPEL THE FOOL Through clever characterization, underlying symbolism, and an in-depth point of view, the short story “Gimpel the Fool”, written by Isaac Bashevis Singer, clearly reinforces the age-old concept that repentance, along with good deeds, will ultimately be rewarded in time.
Gimpel The Fool Essay Research Paper In
Gimpel The Fool Essay, Research Paper 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.
Iron Pyrite Essay Research Paper Iron Pyrite
Iron Pyrite Essay, Research Paper Iron Pyrite Pyrite, also known as Fools Gold is the most common of the sulfide minerals. Pyrite is called Fool’s Gold because of it’s pale brass yellow color and
Gimpel The Fool And Death Of A
? Traveling Salesman? Essay, Research Paper Josh Stanley Mrs. McMicheal TR 8am Priority In the short stories ‘Gimpel the Fool” and “Death of a Traveling Salesman” we meet two characters that are vastly different and yet very similar. One is Gimpel, a na?ve Jew living in Russia that is the joke of the town, Frampol.
Revenge Defined Through Fiction Essay Research Paper
Revenge Defined Through Fiction Revenge. One of the definitions in Webster s Dictionary refers to it as a chance toget even, as by a return match after having lost the first one. Revenge can be found inhuman nature, but can be best and most vividly described when written. Many authors seemto find that adding revenge to a plot can lead the reader to believe something is true when inreality there can be an unexpected twist to the story just waiting to happen.
My Crush Essay Research Paper There once
My Crush Essay, Research Paper There once was a guy i really liked Ever since 6th grade. Last year was when he moved away; Goodbye to him I bade. I really truly liked this guy.
Play Overviews Essay Research Paper Actor
Play Overviews Essay, Research Paper Actor: Gavin Kane Character: Eddie Play: Fool for Love by Sam Shepard Super Objective: Eddie wants May to understand just how much he?s gone through to come and see
King Lear The Role Of The Fool
Essay, Research Paper King Lear: The Role of the Fool In Shakespeare?s, King Lear, the Fool plays three major roles. One of these roles is of an ?inner-conscience? of Lear. The Fool provides basic wisdom and reasoning for the King at much needed times. The Fool also works as amusement for Lear in times of sadness and is also one of the only people besides the Duke of Kent and Cordelia who are willing to stand up to the King.
Gimpel The Fool Essay Research Paper An
Gimpel The Fool Essay, Research Paper An Analysis of Gimpel The Fool Gimpel the Fool is a story written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Saul Bellow translated the story I read because the story was written in Yiddish. Gimpel The Fool is a story about a simple man named Gimpel. He is considered by many to be a fool because he is a very gullible man.
Gimpel The Fool Essay Research Paper Gimpel
Gimpel The Fool Essay, Research Paper Gimpel the Fool, as he is called by the people of the Jewish town of Frampol, is constantly ridiculed and poked practical jokes at. Gimpel himself does not believe himself to be a fool,
Gimple The Fool Essay Research Paper Is
Gimple The Fool Essay, Research Paper Is Gimpel a Fool? In Gimpel the Fool, the main character, Gimpel, developed into a very strong person mainly because of the way people treated him. He begins as a strong person, but grows stronger and stronger as his life continues. Everybody in Gimpel s town thinks he is a gullible fool, but they re the fools.
A Deeper Look At Gimple The Fool
Essay, Research Paper A deeper look at “Gimple the Fool” At one time or another, everyone, in their life, has looked down upon someone because that someone isn’t as rich, attractive, or even as intelligent as most people. People do this without any regard to the people’s feeling, and without ever imagining what it is like to be in that person’s shoes.
Gimpel The Fool Essay Research Paper Singer
Gimpel The Fool Essay, Research Paper Singer s Gimpel the Fool is written in first person point of view, and the narrator, Gimpel, is the main character in the story. In the opening paragraph in the story Singer shows how reliable of a narrator that Gimpel is. Gimpel shares many of the nicknames he has had given to him in school, including imbecile, donkey, flax-head, dope, glump, ninny, and fool.
Dont Judge A Book By It
’s Cover:A Twelfth Night Comparrison Of Feste And Sir Andrew Essay, Research Paper Don?t Judge A Book By It?s Cover Looks can be deceiving, and in the case of Sir Andrew and Feste the fool, the
The Fool In King Lear Essay Research
Paper The Fool is a tremendously substantial character in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear. Traditionally, fools were the equivalent of court jesters and were thought to be insane. They were customarily physically and sometimes even mentally impaired. Persons became fools as the result of an aristocratic individual’s compassion or boredom.
The Easy Road To The Final Four
Essay, Research Paper The Easy Road To the Final Four… So, you’re from Indianapolis but all the tickets to the Final Four games are sold out. You still want in. You go to the game looking for scalpers but they charge over $200 a ticket. You pay him. FOOL!!!! Don’t pay him! Here’s what ya do,
Ignorance Essay Research Paper IgnoranceIn Sophocle
Ignorance Essay, Research Paper Ignorance In Sophocle’s ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone, there is a woman who chooses to go with the feeling inside her heart and obey law of the Gods, rather than to obey civil law. Antigone’s bother Eteoles was given a proper burial after a war in their homeland of Thebes. She wants her brother, Polyneices, who was the enemy, also to be given a proper burial, but the king prohibits the burial.
Fool For Love By Sam Shepard Essay
, Research Paper Play overviewsPlay: Fool for Love by Sam ShepardSuper Objective:Eddie wants May to understand just how much he s gone through to come and seeher. He wants her realize his love for her even though he has done somethings that wouldcause her to doubt him. Eddie needs to be with May, she is a security for him and nomatter what he will keep coming back to her.
King Lear And The Fool Essay Research
Paper Sebastian Crichton King Lear and the Fool There is much to be said of Lear and The Fool. I believe that The Fool in King Lear serves as an unbiased advisor, providing Lear with many lessons that a more powerful being would not have attempted, due to fear of the king’s wrath. The Fool had the ability to be totally honest with Lear, fore he had no rank or status to be stripped of.
King Lear The Roles Of The Fool
Essay, Research Paper The Roles of the Fool in King Lear Fools in traditional royal households were seen as imbecils and jesters, nothing more. The older role of a royal fool, which Shakespeare adopted from the pagan setting of King Lear, was to correct minor faults and incongruencies in their masters. By detatching the Fool from a conventional fool’s role, Shakespeare allows for the crowd’s suspention of disbelief in the Fool’s ability to get away with the comments he makes to the King.
Gimple The Fool Essay Research Paper Although
Gimple The Fool Essay, Research Paper Although Gimpel did not die a fool he lived his life primarily as a fool. Singer?s use of "Gimpel the Fool" demonstrated two lower levels of the human scale. The first is the coward?s ability to justify to himself the reasoning behind his behavior. The second is the crowd?s ability to pick out the weakling and exploit him for their own amusement.
King Lear Essay Research Paper Many of
King Lear Essay, Research Paper Many of the passages of King Lear, particularly those between the characters of Lear, Kent, the Fool, and Cordelia, all share a common theme. The imagery of nothing, as well as that of blindness, echoes throughout the play. King Lear is in many ways about nothing. However, Kent, the Fool, and Cordelia make him more than nothing does by serving faithfully, speaking bluntly, and loving unconditionally.
King Lear Essay Research Paper King LearKing
King Lear Essay, Research Paper King Lear King Lear is the tale of a vain, prideful, and foolish old man who is blinded by his rage and too stubborn to mend his ways. The “self”