Rip Van Winkle was known to be the man who slept for 20 years. Rips sleep caused him to miss the Revolutionary War and Americas transition from colony to nation. When he awakens he finds out that everything and everyone has changed.
During his 20 year sleep Rip misses events such as the Revolutionary War in which some of his friends fought and died for. Rip also missed out on Americas transition from colony to nation, so that when he enters the village and yells I am a poor quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the King, God bless him! (2317). With that comment the villagers think of him as a spy and want to kick him out of the village or kill him. When Rip finds out his dog is gone he is saddened but felt an ease of comfort and somewhat joy finding out his wife had died. Irving writes Whenever her name was mentioned, however, he shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and cast up his eyes; which might pass either for an expression of resignation to his fate, or joy at his deliverance. (2319).
Before Rips sleep his village was small and antique as he describes It is a little village, of great antiquity, having been founded by some of the government (2310). Also, Rip was very well known in the village to everyone, even the dogs. When Rip awoken from his sleep and eventually came down to the village, he does not recognize anyone and noticed that the dress fashion has changed as well. Irving writes, The very village was altered; it was longer and more populous. (2316).
Even though Rip slept for 20 years and missed all these events in his life, he continues his old ways after his daughter lets him live with her. If Irving would pick a village he would probably pick the second one mostly because that Rips wife is now dead and cannot abuse him anymore. Besides Rips wife I think that Irving would not care which village to be in as long as Rips wife was not there and he can get back to his old lazy ways again.
Work Citied
Irving, Washington. Rip Van Winkle The Heath Anthology of American Literature.
Ed. Lauter, Paul. New York, 2009 (Pages 2309-2321)
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