Comparing Rip Van Winkle And Subconscious Musings

Chrystal Coon

English

Rip Van Winkle and Subconscious Musings

The story “Rip Van Winkle” is about a character named Rip Van Winkle, a man who wanted nothing more out of life then to be able to do as he pleased and drink without responsibilities. One day he takes a trip into the Katskill mountains, which causes him to miss twenty years of his life. Rip wakes up after his sleep in the mountains and realizes that everything is different. He is faced with the life changing realization that he can no longer live he carefree life and must take some form of responsibility because the new villagers are hostile towards him due to his nature. In the end, Rip’s son stops the villagers from doing anything to Rip and this allows him to continue to live his carefree and chosen lifestyle.

In Robert

Ferguson’s article, “Rip Van Winkle and the Generational Divide in American Culture” he explains how Rip created the foundation for American literature, also how he aided in imagination, creativity and ambiguity for generations to come. It goes into details about various stories through the character Rip Van winkle that indirectly forms a basis to question ourselves in. (Ferguson pg. 529-530) This article frequently points out that Rip Van Winkle is a failure that somehow and not intentionally manages to prevail. It also explains the authors opinion of what makes Winkle not only successful, but a loveable hero despite his failures and personality traits. Ferguson also explains in his article that the story of “Rip Van Winkle” has more than one true ending, or one true meaning within it. He goes on to explain that Irving’s story can span across multiple generations of readers, creating a new meaning to each generation that reads it causing multiple conclusions to be drawn form it.
Robert Ferguson delves into the abstract disillusion of reality in the story. He claims that various inhabitants continue to doubt the reality of Rip’s explanation and claim it to be a fairytale due to their current circumstance and views of life. There is a point made about alcohol consumption during the time period of the story and Ferguson considers it satire of the alcoholic epidemic of the United States and how it affected the population's mentalities and actions. Ferguson lists facts supporting his claim, such as Rip’s frequent visits to the tavern and nearly never-ending thirst for liquor. He also notes how Rip often blamed his addiction on the alcohol itself and those who drink with him rather than focusing any blame on himself.
Ferguson claims that the reader is drawn by the bizarre triumph of Rip during his weaknesses and his hypocritical social strength despite his characteristics. Rip has somehow failed multiple times to overcome his situations, yet he still continued forward seamlessly. It is also claimed that the world has seemingly fallen throughout the story of Rip Van Winkle and is exposed in multiple ways: death, loss, and bankruptcy, but somehow, now one is genuinely phased by the tragedies around them and continue life accordingly. The disillusion of the townsfolk from the suffering about could be either acceptance or a genuine ignorance of how life should or used to be previously.
I agree somewhat with Ferguson’s article and the points that he makes about Rip Van Winkle being an example on how on can see the generational divide in America. For the most part, I understand what Ferguson is saying, but in some aspects I also don’t agree with him. Towards the end of the story, after Rip wakes up he is treated hostility by the other villagers. Ferguson states that Rip always comes out as the loveable hero at the end, but I simply do not see this. The villagers almost jail him for being a strange, unknown man who speaks of things that have happened a long time ago, until his son realizes who he is and stops them. Rip doesn’t portray the character of a hero, if anyone does it is his son who saves him. Therefore, I cannot see where Ferguson gets his assumption about Rip’s character. I can see how Rip Van Winkle is the start of imagination in the way that Rip is essentially living how he wants and not caring about anything but himself, which is what many Americans yearn for if even subconsciously. “The great error in Rip’s composition was an insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labor.” (Irving pg. 9) The story tells us that he tried as hard as he could to avoid doing anything of responsibility. Rip can fail so many times, yet he still manages to come out okay and in a comfortable position.
I feel like this story sets up the imagination for this idea to be planted into someone's mind. The personality Rip possesses reflects a majority of the population, such as his laziness and ability to rationalize away situations or faults to prevent himself from dealing with them properly. “A symbol of American infancy and misplaced innocence, he [Rip] us the adolescent who refuses to grow up and gets away with it.” (Ferguson Pg. 530) Ferguson also mentions how Rip’s behavior is a key symptom of someone who Ferguson says has an “escapists mentality.” Ferguson also comments on how Rip is seen to people to be what they wish they could be, saying that “he is the dreamy alternative in a culture driven by mundane prosperity and social conformity.” (Ferguson Pg. 530)
There are mentions of the story being gentile satire due to the fact the reader is distanced from the predicaments of the story. The satire aids in assisting the reader into understanding and accepting the traits they may have and show, but also preventing it from scaring the reader from the horrific situations presented. “Endemic drinking, to be sure, is a natural source of humor everywhere, and it should surprise no one to find it a prominent subject in Irving’s satires between 1807 and 1819.” (Ferguson Pg. 532) I also agree with Ferguson when he surmises here that Rip and his drinking are a part of Irving’s attempt at making readers find humor within an otherwise straightforward fairytale. The events that happen to Rip can be seen as satirical humor, and it makes readers find humor in what happens to him, because we are distanced from them.
I believe that Ferguson has the correct idea about the society and their reactions to the story of Rip Van Winkle and the effect it had on the creativity if the writers of the time.

The effects Rip's adventures had on writing can still be felt today, especially in the defined satire expressed throughout. I agree that the generational divide can be seen through Rip Van Winkle because of the way Rip chooses to behave, versus how the people twenty years later behave. The story also seems to speak to me personally, I believe I can identify with Rip and his personality, and also his choices made in the storyline. For example, when he went into the mountains, he didn’t refuse the drink, I wouldn’t have either.

In conclusion, Ferguson’s article is explaining how Washington Irving’s story “Rip Van Winkle” has multiple meanings that many readers can draw conclusions from. His article also demonstrates the generational aspect to the story and how everyone that reads it can enjoy and find their imaginations in it. The mentions of the general population and their thought process of the time can also be interpreted in many ways from their addictions to dismay and ignorance of their

circumstances.

Works Cited
Ferguson, Robert A. “Rip Van Winkle and the Generational Divide in American Culture”. Early American Literature 40.3 (2005): 529–544. Web.

Irving, Washington. "Rip Van Winkle". Ibibio. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.