Rip Van Winkle and its Impact on Society
Events, no matter how small can change a society, a culture, and an outlook in the blink of an eye. Whether it is in a war, a speech, a gesture, or even a novel. Washington Irving made an incredible impact from his short story "Rip Van Winkle", drawing the events surrounding him to form a simple story with deep meaning. To bring to a pinpoint, the story shaped the American culture as the American culture shaped the story.
Washington should not be able to take full credit for his story. Rip Van Winkle originated from the Dutch folklores. The story was found in the house of Diedrich Knickerbocker. Although there was some speculation on the accuracy of the tale, historians agree that the story is "now admitted into all Historical collections as a book of unquestionable authority" (Irving, 1353). Knickerbocker claims that he actually talked to Winkle himself and concluded that Rip was in sound mind and that "the story therefore, is beyond the possibility of doubt" (1353). The Catskills are a parallel to the story. Filled with Indian folklores, the Catskills are believed to posses a Manitou or spirit that will take the form of the flesh of human or animal form that would strive to rid the area of bad or mischievous elements or people.
Combing the Dutch folklore, the Indian tales, and the idea of using short simple stories to make a point, Washington created a whole new dimension of literature. The British culture concluded that his story had become the new "American" literature.
Washington analysis of the relationship between the British and the colonists caused a minor stir among people. First, it was unconventional to even mention the revolution since it was such a touchy subject. Secondly, Washington made quite a statement with his notion that the British rule acted selfishly and oppressive, in turn, portrayed America as the hero.
From this folklore, others have grown from it. Some believe that Rip in fact did not fall asleep, but took adventurous journeys in foreign lands with strange people. Art and child-like fantasies have been the median to which the stories have been communicated.
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.
Politically, the French and Indian War torn apart Britain and its American colonies. In Document C, George Washington is asking Robert Orme to let him become a higher rank in the military. He wanted more power. Washington wishes to serve under, "a Gentleman of General Braddock's abilities and experience." Although he was very sincere when he wrote this, Britain was not giving what he truly wanted. Upon this note, George Washington went against the British government. He started a revolution. Reverend Thomas Barnard also had some similar views and thoughts about Britain and its colonies. In his sermon of 1763, he says, "Safe from the Enemy of the Wilderness, safe from the gripping Hand of arbitrary Sway and cruel Superstition, here shall be the late founded Seat of Peace and Freedom." He believes that the American people have suffered and died on this land and they deserve more. They deserve freedom. Britain was losing control of their colonies. The people of the colonies wanted freedom. All of these political events led to the Revolutionary War.
...ture of King George in “Rip Van Winkle.” Rip returns to his village twenty years after he left and realizes that someone has transformed the King into George Washington (541). Irving, realizing that much of life is merely a refashioning of the same ideas and structures into something that looks new, has taken an old German folk tale and turned it into a story of American life. We may live in a time with vastly different resources, technologies, and opportunities, but the urges that drive us are still the same.
In Irving’s story, Dame Van Winkle was depicted negatively by Rip. Her concerned were primarily in the wellbeing of the family and in the absence of Rip, she was forced to take on more responsibilities at home raising and providing for her family which in turn led her to become bitter towards Rip, who seemed to busy helping everyone else. Her constant nagging resulted in Rip voyaging off to the mountains
known tale of Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving. In the moment when Van Winkle sees his exact likeness
In “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving he writes about a simple man, Rip Van Winkle, who does just enough to get by in life. He lives in a village by the catskill mountains, and is loved by everyone in the village. He is an easy going man, who spends most of his days at the village inn talking with his neighbors, fishing all day, and wandering the mountains with his dog to refuge from his wife the thorn on his side. On one of his trips to the mountains Rip Van Winkle stumbles upon a group of men who offer him a drink, and that drink changes everything for Van Winkle. He later wakes up, twenty years later, and returns to his village were he notices nothing is the same from when he left. He learns that King George III is no longer in charge,
Indoor tanning is becoming a very popular “hobby”, but most people do not know, or do not care, about its dangerous side effects. Studies show that people who use tanning booths have a much higher chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer. If someone were to start tanning indoors before they turn 30 or 25, the risk of them getting Melanoma peaks, and if they start tanning before they turn 20 or 25, they are much more likely to get basal and squamous cancer.
Irving, Washington. “Rip Van Winkle.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Bayn. New York: Norton & Company, 1999.
The greatest danger from this problem is faced by teenagers. Studies have shown that among artificial tanners, those who started at an early age are more likely to develop skin cancer. Out of high school-aged girls, 51 percent reported using a commercial tanning bed at least four times in the past year (Perron). The fact of the matter is younger people do not have the foresight to realize that being tan isn’t worth the sometimes fatal after-effects.
Natalie was 24 and had an itchy oddly shaped mole. She then went to get it checked out, and came to find she had melanoma. Natalie had to undergo 3 hours of surgery. “Tanning beds give you a 59% chance of skin cancer” Indoor tanning has bad effects on people because it increases your chance of skin cancer and the effects it has on skin appearance.
Washington Irving's, "Rip Van Winkle" presented a tale of a "dreamer." Rip Van Winkle was a family man
Many people strive to have beautiful, flawless, and tanned skin. In order to get that desired even bronzed glow year round, many people partake in the use of tanning beds, and tanning salons in communities throughout the country. Over the years, indoor tanning use has increasingly become more and more popular among adolescents and young adults. Tanning beds are equipped with special lightbulbs that emit ultraviolet, or UV, rays. These UV rays much like exposure to the sun, can harm the various layers of the skin. In a recent observation, it has been discovered that tanning beds cause what can be potentially severe health problems. Indoor tanning is dangerous because of the increased risk of multiple health problems, not the least of which is
Using a tanning bed for a nice bronze or prom? Think again. You’re actually helping up your body’s risk of skin cancer by 75% if under the age of 35 (NCSL). The World Health Organization's International Agency of Research on Cancer have declared ultraviolet radiation from artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, to be a well known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) (AAD.org). The federal government needs to further legislate tanning bed exposure by raising the age of usage, limiting the power of the beds and further reduce exposure times.
Institute of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved Jan 10, 2011, from Childhood Obesity Prevention Actions for Local Government: www.iom.edu/Activities/Childhood/LocalObesPrevention.asp