Transformation and Freedom in Rip Van Winkle :: Rip Van Winkle Essays

Transformation and Freedom in Rip Van Winkle Washington Irving's, "Rip Van Winkle" presented a tale of a "dreamer." Rip Van Winkle was a family man who worked odd jobs around town, but managed to slip away from doing his own work around his farm. He was "one of those happy mortals...who take[s] the world easy." (pg. 404). He constantly struggled with the "henpecking" of his wife. Van Winkle found refuge and comfort going squirrel shooting with his dog. "Rip Van Winkle" depicts a story of a man longing to be free, and of the transformation that occurs to him and the town. Van Winkle "would have whistled life away" (pg. 404) had it not been for his wife . This served as a foreshadow for what was to come. Van Winkle wanted peace and to be left alone. He was like a kid; he often "made their playthings, taught them to fly kites and shoot marbles..." (pg. 403). He always did what could "be got with least thought or trouble," (pg.404) just as a child often does. He just "shrugged his shoulders...but said nothing," (pg. 404) to Dame Van Winkle's lectures. He was tired of hearing her, yet did nothing to change his behaviors or at least to try to please her. Van Winkle did "dream" his life away. He was gone for twenty years and returns to find his town and life different from how he had left it. I believe he just left one day and before he knew it, twenty years had past. Dame Van Winkle represented the Revolutionary War. "The changes of states and empires made but little impression on him," (pg. 412) but he did displease the "petticoat government." He describes the government as if it were a woman. "Petticoat" is a representation of Dame Van Winkle. Van Winkle pays no attention to his wife nor does he fight back, just as he did not fight in the war. Or, was this his war he was battling? When Van Winkle reflects on top of the mountain, "he heaved a heavy sigh when he thought of encountering the terrors of Dame Van Winkle." (pg. 406) "Terrors" come to mind when one thinks of war. Van Winkle doesn't regard Dame as his wife, rather he thinks of her as "Dame Van Winkle," with no affection.