Rip Van Winkle Character Traits
Many storytellers have attributed their characters with identifiable traits in order to make them more relatable to the reader. Positive traits make the character more likeable, while negative traits cause the reader to view the character with distain. Writers of American mythology sought to distinguish and celebrate the United States. Their writings indicate the way the people of the time viewed themselves. The goal of American mythology writers was to show how robust the new nation was. Mythological characters often pave their own path and teach a lesson. Washington Irving showed the differences between America and Europe with his writing. Irving’s Rip Van Winkle displayed the pleasurable aspects of colonial life. By creating a character
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Ambition is Rip’s least present character trait. Ambition is aspiration to attain success. Irving declared, “The great error in Rip’s composition was an insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labor,” on page 63 of Rip Van Winkle. We can see that Rip doesn’t like hard work. Rip doesn’t care that he won’t make money if he doesn’t work. On page 64 Irving remarked, “Rip Van Winkle, however, was one of those happy mortals, of foolish, well-oiled dispositions, who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown, whichever can be got with least thought or trouble, and would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound.” This shows a great lack of ambition. Rip always takes the easy route and stays away from trouble. Also on page 64, Irving acknowledged, “If left to himself, he would have whistled life away, in perfect contentment; but his wife kept continually dinning in his ears about his idleness, his carelessness, and the ruin he was bringing on his family.” This clearly shows that Rip lacks ambition. He has no urge to provide for his family and doesn’t care what he does with his life. Rip’s lack of ambition makes the reader feel sorry for his family and wish he will amend his ways. Absence of ambition is Rip’s tragic flaw. It is what causes all his problems. All great American mythological characters have a major flaw. This makes the reader reevaluate their traits and
Ambition is Rip’s least present character trait. Ambition is aspiration to attain success. Irving declared, “The great error in Rip’s composition was an insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labor,” on page 63 of Rip Van Winkle. We can see that Rip doesn’t like hard work. Rip doesn’t care that he won’t make money if he doesn’t work. On page 64 Irving remarked, “Rip Van Winkle, however, was one of those happy mortals, of foolish, well-oiled dispositions, who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown, whichever can be got with least thought or trouble, and would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound.” This shows a great lack of ambition. Rip always takes the easy route and stays away from trouble. Also on page 64, Irving acknowledged, “If left to himself, he would have whistled life away, in perfect contentment; but his wife kept continually dinning in his ears about his idleness, his carelessness, and the ruin he was bringing on his family.” This clearly shows that Rip lacks ambition. He has no urge to provide for his family and doesn’t care what he does with his life. Rip’s lack of ambition makes the reader feel sorry for his family and wish he will amend his ways. Absence of ambition is Rip’s tragic flaw. It is what causes all his problems. All great American mythological characters have a major flaw. This makes the reader reevaluate their traits and