When Joseph Mitchell first met Joe Gould, he had no idea how involved the “lost soul” bohemian would become in his own life. To Mitchell, Gould at first is a curiosity, a well-known fixture on the streets of the city that would make a good piece to write on. Mitchell is dedicated to his work, and at this point his work is Gould. He eagerly and patiently listens to all of Gould’s long-winded monologues, puts up with his eccentricities, and even consistently donates for the “Joe Gould Fund”. As Gould becomes more and more present in his life, Mitchell begins to tire of Gould and tries to extricate himself from their relationship.
Mitchell never minced words about Gould or his feelings towards Gould. He held many conflicted feelings towards the bohemian. Since Gould talked to him incessantly, Mitchell knew him extremely well, allowing him to see all of Gould’s positives and negatives. Ultimately, Mitchell cared for Gould and was able to sympathize with him. When he discovered the “secret” of the Oral History he was able to forgive Gould and even relate to him.