Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" has become an American classic. Irving created a character with American traits that loves to help other people as well as their businesses. Irving's goal was to pass a story on to future generations of a character with the common virtues Americans should posses to their fellow countrymen. Irving's Van Winkle was released 1819 and has been renowned as one of the most famous American masterpieces, captivating ever generation since its inception. It creates themes and characters that take people out of their reality, and into a world where things are much simpler. As the main character, Van Winkle, being loved by all that know him is also a stagnant character. He takes little interest in taking charge of his household with no desire to support his own family. This leads to a tyrannical atmosphere given off by his wife who expects more from Van Winkle. Using this theme, Irving sets the stage to compare the old Van Winkle's struggles to those faced by Americans both pre and post Revolutionary War. .
During the story, there are several themes and metaphors that can be connected to early American experiences that had to deal with tyrannical British rule, and America after it gains its independence. Irving starts off his short story describing Van Winkles lifestyle. Living in a small Dutch village in the Catskills, Van Winkle is loved by the people in his town. He would not hesitate to help or offer assistance to anyone who needed it, as well as take the time to tell stories to the town's children. Irving wanted to positively describe Van Winkle "[a] simple good-natured man; he was moreover a kind neighbor, and an obedient henpecked husband" (Baym 32). Everyone in the town was for the most part happy with Van Winkle, except for his wife. Before he takes is slumber, his wife constantly berates him for being so nice and easygoing to the rest of the town.
