Rip Van Winkle Washington Irving: An Overview

Washington Irving begins this popular short story with a bit of background, though some doubt its ability to provide any background at all. However, it truly is vital for the telling of Rip Van Winkle.

The initial setup describes Diedrich Knickerbocker, who was an "old gentleman of New-York, who was very curious in the Dutch history of the province and the manners of the descendants from its primitive settlers". Knickerbocker turns out to be the "author" of Irving's story, and it would be to the reader's benefit to understand that Diedrich Knickerbocker was a pseudonym used by Irving himself in earlier works such as A History of New York (1809) and this introduction satirizes similar works. Irving is a very subtle satirist, and without a certain hesitation his work could be construed literally or as a work of fantasy.

The purpose of this introduction is to establish the perception of the entire story. It is not fantasy, but it is not reality. We as readers are supposed to question the legitimacy of anything and everything presented to us - and furthermore, to question the ideas presented as fact. Politics are especially important in this piece, as the central conflict near the end draws upon Revolutionary War ideologies. Many times Winkle (the lead character of this piece) is called a "tory" "refugee" or "spy" and some background information on the Revolutionary War might be helpful in fully understanding these accusations.

But at the same time, Irving might have appreciated a modern audience without pre-conceived notions because Rip Van Winkle wants a reader to think truly and fully. We are meant to criticize American life by the end of this story. Some important themes to think about regarding this criticism:

-American lifestyle in terms of work ethic
-American politics and the evolution of said politics
-The ambiguity of honesty
-Morality

These themes encapsulate what Irving was aiming for in the time he wrote it, but certainly there is more to think about regarding this work. It is not enough to read Rip Van Winkle once; each time reveals something new and different. Its importance in the literary canon is unquestionable - it is referenced over and over again in modern pop culture. Recently films such as Thirteen Going on Thirty and others have been loosely based upon this classic story.