Symbolism In Irving's Rip Van Winkle

SYMBOL

Symbolism is the use of symbols to imply thoughts are unique in relation to their literal sense. Authors often use this literary element to create a certain emotion and relay a more profound meaning into a work of writing. As we go through the story, this utilization can be easily found in the classic tale of Rip Van Winkle as symbolism plays a major part.

Irving composed the story in light of the American individuals at time when society has changed drastically due to American Revolution. The analogies of Irving's Rip Van Winkle cover an array of Revolutionary encounters: America before English enforcement, early American provinces under English principle, and after the American Revolution. He suggests that there is an immense contrast which leads Rip astonished, to know he is in some other time. This could symbolize the American's perspective on their new home.

Rip’s wife portrays another symbol. It is indeed ironic due to the fact that even though two are hitched; Rip appears to despise his wife, Dame Van Winkle. Irving uses Dame Van Winkle as an image for Royal England and Rip Van Winkle's character portrays the citizens of America that is being swept away by England. One day after deciding he has had enough, Rip goes into the woods for the day along with his weapon and his dog named Wolf. This illustrates the starting point of the transformation which shows a parallel between the Americans getting their independence from England and Rip breaking free from his wife.

Characters
Three sorts of characters: round, flat, and stock, show up in many stories, Rip Van Winkle included.

In Rip Van Winkle, both men and women are stereotyped. Upon closer examination, one sees that this story albeit being straightforward at first look, contains a dream of what was then simply getting to be what is alluded to as "The American Dream."

The generalised or stereotyped characters are from the American people before and after Revolutionary War. Dame Van Winkle and Rip are stock characters that have been found in literature the irksome wife and the henpecked husband as Rip Van Winkle’s character represents the American society as perceived by England whereas his wife, Dame Van Winkle portrays England. This element between the free will loving Rip and his overbearing wife executes a key idea of the American Dream

The townspeople speak to American culture everywhere and how it developed with the acknowledgment of becoming independent. Americans were attempting to keep its distance from the oppressor, pretty much as Rip would do everything in his power to escape his dominant

wife.
Other than that, Rip and the townspeople speak to the lazy men. If he could have it his way, Rip would spend all the time throughout the day at the tavern or out in the “wilderness” far from people telling him what he should do. He just wants to be left unbothered. This represents the stereotypical remark people have on Americans