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Rosten, in his book The Joys of Yiddish, defines the shlemiel as a foolish person or simpleton, a hard-luck type and a born loser. Yet he notes that a shlemiel can also be someone who is brilliant and learned and even successful. The shlep, on the other hand, drags himself around and plays the role of a drip or a poor performer. He seems capable of not doing a thing as he shleps himself about through life.
Often the masochist can use the schlemiel or shlep posture and role as a neurotic cover for his masochism. The author treated two such patients who had the same goals and similar emotional problems. They were both highly talented and well-trained in the practice and art of oil painting, and both presented as a symptom that they were unable to paint.
Patient A chose the shlemiel variety of masochistic posturing. The complaint that he brought in to treatment was that he could not paint. He endlessly agonized over the selection of art materials and would wait for the right mood and time to begin his work. Finally, when everything was “just right” and his mood was good, he discovered that he could not think of anything to paint. He reacted to this inhibition by immobilizing himself, crying and