Rip Van Winkle -W. Irving

Online Quote:
“…a man, a country who is longing to be free. Rip Van Winkle also depicts the life of a town before and after "liberty." Rip Van Winkle's character portrays the society of America as it was seen by England at the time, as lazy and unproductive, England is represented by Rip's wife, Dame Van Winkle, orderly and productive...” –Associated Content

Book Quote:
“the country had thrown off the yolk of old England-and that, instead of being a subject of his Majesty… he had got his neck out of the yolk of matrimony, and could go in and out whenever he pleased.” –Irving (964)

Summary:
Rip Van Winkle was a good kind man who would help all his fellow townsmen and played with the children. He however did not act the family man that he should have been in his wife’s eyes. He didn’t farm, he didn’t work; he would leave the house everyday and hunt. When he was hunting he explored with his dog Wolf. He is out one day and it starts to rain but he helps a man asks him to bring a load to Kaatskill mountains. He spent a night there and returns to town to find out twenty years has passed. His home is gone and his family. He cannot find his friends but meets a group of people saying he is “a loyal subject of the king” to those who have had a revolution to end the kings’ power. Rip finds his daughter a good wife and mother; his son turned out as he did. He finds his wife dead to his relief, free at last.

Opinion:
Rip Van Winkle represented the colonists who were rebelling against the king. His wife was seen as the king who demanded order and obedience. Rip wants to be free to do as he pleases; his wife wants him to be a farmer that is the suitable job for him and other colonists. Colonists were to farm and send their crop to England after all. Rip is comforted to learn that his wife has died as the people are happy to have liberties. When he hears of the matters the people are discussing he is at lost. What are they thinking? Is there such thing as having freedom? Something the people couldn’t imagine could happen has happened and Rip is just as surprised because it isn’t his time and his time would never hear of such a thing. Excommunicating the king would be high treason and the people loved their king no matter what. Yes Irving was freed from commitment to his fiancé and responsibilities to work in the family firm. He did use marriage to show the need of responsibilities and commitments that held Rip. He is free when his wife dies and his children are grown. The whole point of the story was “freedom.”