Chapter 2 Summary

Although Gimpel's new wife, Elka, refuses to admit him to her bed, she bears a child less than four months after the marriage, and again he is the butt of jokes in the community. She insists that the child is premature and assures him that the child is his. He accepts this reasoning, confirming once and for all what a fool he really is, but he loves the little boy, and his love is returned. He works hard to support his family. He also demonstrates his extraordinary capacity for living life to the fullest when he comes to love Elka, who is a tower of strength, even though she is sometimes wounding in her treatment of him. He brings her all sorts of treats from the bakery, and under his care she gains weight; he considers her handsome.

Life with Elka and her...