Gimpel the Fool: Golde vs. Elka In Gimpel the Fool, the character of Gimpel’s wife, Elka is portrayed as a manipulative, insensitive, adulteress. In Tevye the Dairyman, the character of Tevye’s wife, Golde, is portrayed as a loving mother and devoted, although sarcastic, wife. Both Golde and Elka are harsh women due to their lives. Why does one’s harshness lead her in the direction of love and the other one’s into deceit? Even at the time of their first meeting, Elka made it clear to Gimpel that he was not the man of the house. Elka was the boss. Elka made the conditions for the wedding and dowry. “Eit