"Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving

“Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving is a fiction story of a character whose destiny was impacted by marvellous circumstances. In contrast to Benjamin’s Franklin Autobiography and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self reliance, there are some things that are similar, however overall Rip Van Winkle is entirely various plot; in other words, it’s main character is unique. I discovered a number of evidences showing that. First, the book itself is written in an unique design. In the very start of this deal with the use of real names, dates and puts the author makes the reader think the accuracy of the tale.

It also describes the everyday life of American Colonists, making the part of the book being a resource of historic information. But the occasions taking place there are uncertain and generally can not pretend to be real at all.The story istelf has plenty of paradox and sarcasm, and it also exposes a lot of circulations that prevail to the society regardless to the time period.

Dame Van Winkle is a shrew and horrifies the life of Rip, who, on the contrary, has a very versatile character. Irving specifies him as a “basic excellent natured guy, … a kind neighbour, and an obidient, henpecked hubby”. The figure that Washington Irving creates is likewise distinct. According to Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, a man ought to pursue the goal to be perfect by establishing and mastering his Virtues, though the accomplishment of excellence seems for him slightly possible.

On contrary, Rip Van Winkle never tries to develop good qualities of his mind and soul. During the story, he doesn’t even think a lot about such a philosophical topic. His mind is more involved in thinking about the everyday’s problems. In addition, Rip even contradicts to some of the virtues. He gets drunk with the liquor that he even haven’t been allowed to drink, and falls asleep. This action is the main reason of everything that happens next in this book. So, he breaks the Franklin’s rule about the Temperance: “Eat not to Dullness. Drink not to Elevation”(page 284). Also, wasting time doing nothing and being not able to work on his farm, he runs counter to Industry Virtue:”Lose no time. Be always employ’d in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.” (page 284). And overall, all his behavior contradicts the Virtue list of Franklin.

In comparison to Emerson figure, however, there are more similarities. Emerson point of view allows everybody to have some flows, as long as the person’s mind is not spoiled. And, according to Ralph Waldo Emerson, the person’s mind is degraded when he or she doesn’t rely on himself. “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”(page 534). In his opinion, trusting yourself means having your own opinion, point of view, never imitating someone, and being a non-conformist, for “imitation is suicide”(page 533). But the main character of Washington Irving’s work doesn’t meet these requirements.

It is obvious that he is really not self-reliant at all; his opinion and his all live is greatly swayed by other people, especially by his wife Dame Van Winkle. Rip’s temper doesn’t allow him to make his own decisions. So, we can conclude that only people with the strong will can be self reliant, and we can’t consider Rip as such one. Finally, it becomes clear that Rip Van Winkle is not either Franklinan or an Emersonian type of person, but the unique creation of Washington Irving, the American original figure. But there is one thing that all of the books irrefutably share in common-their characters make everyone think about their own values and traits. And eventually it helps everybody to become better.