Rip Van Winkle Essay -- Washington Irving

Rip Van Winkle In the late 1700's and early 1800's, literature began to show it was changing thanks to the newly formed democracy in America. As is the case with any young government, many different interest groups arose to attempt to mold the government according to their vision of democracy. Washington Irving, a native New Yorker born in 1783, grew up in a world engulfed in these democratic ideals. He grew up to be, as many would grow up in this atmosphere, a political satirist. This satirical nature of Irving's shows up well in "Rip Van Winkle", as he uses historical allusions and symbolic characters to mockingly compare colonial life under British rule to the democracy of the young United States. The reader assumes the appearance of Rip from the preceding paragraphs in which the author sets the general timeframe in the colonial era before and after the American Revolutionary war. To describe Rip one would have to look mostly at little hints in the story. The best way to describe Rip would be that he is very muscular because of all of the physical labor done in chores. We also learn Rip had light hair with blue eyes. Rip's clothing was that of the time period: black suits with fluffy white collars, tri-cornered hats, and brass buckles on the black shoes. Good-natured and helpful best describes Rip's attitude, this good faith towards all that eventually lands Rip in trouble. This story is full of historical instances. The first historical satire occurs attached to the name Peter Stuyvesant, who is mentioned twice with exaggerated praise. Stuyvesant, a harsh and strongly disliked governor, was in power when the English seized New York. Irving uses a false respect for Stuyvesant to make fun of the Dutch in New York, who blamed him for the loss of the land to the English. Having set the scene as a Dutch-friendly narrator, Irving introduces Dame Van Winkle, Rip's angry wife, who maintains contempt for Rip's laziness and carefree attitude. Dame Van Winkle' harsh control over her husband represents King George and the English rule of the colonies. Whereas George, yet felt faithful and attached to the Crown, mistreated the colonies Rip stood by his demanding wife. The irony is in Rip's non-caring attitude towards Dame Van Winkle. He was harassed and bossed, but he was content. Nicholas Vedder, the owner of the inn, who controlled the conversations and opi... ...ourse Rip, having been gone for twenty years, doesn't know what he is talking about and it goes on from there. Rip becomes very popular after telling his story to the villagers over and over again which proves that, in most cases, a fairy tale will beat out the truth in the order to please the public - and this story is no exception 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Poupard, Dennis "Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism." Sharon K. Hall, Vol. 4 Detroit, Michigan, Gale Research Company. 1981 Pg.1989-1992 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greene, Gayle. "Yearbook 1986" Sharon K, Hall Vol. 44. "Contemporary Literary Criticism." Detroit Michigan. Gale Research Company. 1986. Pg.194-195 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Galens, Judith. "Nineteenth-Century literature Criticism." Joann Cerrito. Vol 41 Detroit. Gale Research inc. 1994 Pg. 31-35 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Greene Gayle. "Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism." Laurie Lanzon Harris. Vol 2 Detroit Michigan Gale Research Company. 1982 Pg.62-64 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Magill, Frank N. "Cyclopedia of literary Characters." A.J. Sobezak. Vol. 4 New Jersey. Salem press Inc. 1998. Pg. 1641-1645 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rochin, Domingo "Rip Van Winkle an American story" Washington Irving. David Barfoot New York 1998 Pg.14-20