Rip读后感_ripvanwinkle读后感
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Writing Midterm Answer Key
Change is an inevitable part of life.Whether or not people want things to change, change happens.But are there certain aspects of life that change, while some remain preserved throughout time? Washington Irving explores this question in his story, “Rip Van Winkle.” Set in the time periods shortly before and after the American Revolutionary War, it tells the story of Rip, a simple and whimsical man hampered by his nagging wife.One day, Rip wanders into the forest, only to find some strange men who offer him a strange beverage.Rip accepts the drink, takes a nap, and awakens 20 years later.At first it seems that everything has changed.How does Rip cope with the changes? Does he change himself? In this story, Irving clearly demonstrates that outward change can be drastic and quick;however, through the symbols of Rip’s and the town’s behaviors, it’s visible that not everything changes.Moreover, through Rip’s family, it is revealed that some things continue and endure the test of time.At first, Irving seems to tell the reader that large-scale change can happen at a moment’s notice.Before his nap, Rip leads a simple life.He is well-liked by every living being in his village;not even dogs “would bark at him throughout the neighborhood.” However, he is often troubled by his wife, mainly due to his “insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labor,” which always leads to quarrels in the Van Winkle household.Rip survives by always helping others in need, though he never helps his own family.In the times before the American Revolution, the English colony was still developing, so
occupations and steady income were not the focus for all-for many colonizers, freedom was their main goal.Similarly, Rip hopes to be free of his wife’s expectations, so he takes a nap in the forest one day.When he awakens, the War has already been fought, unbeknownst to him.Irving purposefully makes the gap period-20 years-brief, and utilizes a change agent like war to demonstrate how quickly change can occur.As Rip walks back to the village he meets “a number of people, but none whom he knew”-this foreshadowing is a far cry from before, when Rip knew everyone.The village is almost
unrecognizable to Rip, as all the buildings have been modernized, or torn down.It is more populous, and with new people;most of Rip’s neighbors have moved, went to war, or died, including his deceased wife.At the time Rip is told about the fate of his friends, he notices the biggest change.The town inn, Rip’s favorite place for socializing, has transformed into a nice hotel.The sign of King George III that once adorned the inn has been replaced by the unfamiliar face of George Washington.When he overhears some conversations, he is confused beyond imagination-people mention “the rights of citizens,”
“elections,” “Congre” and many other political concepts that developed during Rip’s slumber.When Rip declares that he’s “a loyal subject of the king,” the new residents accuse him of being a Tory and try to throw him out.The colonies became the independent country of America while Rip slept, yet he doesn’t know nor understand these new laws.This shows that, more than any other obvious change, politics change most dramatically in a short period of time.Despite the large-scale change that occurred on the surface level in Rip’s home village, he learns quickly that not everything has changed, nor does it have to.After Rip comes to terms with his
circumstances, he begins to accept the changes, while change in his own character is miniscule.Even though a significant political shift has happened, Rip cares little about politics;“the changes of states and empires” have no real effect on his daily life.In fact, Rip simply returns to the life he led 20 years ago, with some slight, yet advantageous differences-now that he’s old and widowed, he resides with his
daughter and “can do nothing with impunity;” his old age and lack of a nagging wife allow him to do what he wants at will.Rip partook in fulfilling himself before, but now it’s socially acceptable for him.He also “resumed his old walks and habits,” such as playing with the neighborhood children and lounging at the inn.Clearly, the story shows that personalities and habits don’t change over time.Another example of unaltered habits is the utility of the hotel as the social hub of the neighborhood, both 20 years ago and now.Despite the dramatic alterations the small, peaceful inn has undergone to become a large, worn-down, rowdy hotel, the building’s location retains its function as the social gathering place of the village, where residents collect to discu goip.While appearances may change, some deep-rooted habits-on both the personal and communal level-remain unaffected by time’s paing.Finally, the story shows that, even with grand change, some traditions and characters will not only stay the same, but they will continue to be paed down through other generations.Rip and his wife owned opposing personalities-he was lazy and did nothing he didn’t want to, while Dame Van Winkle, a hardworking housewife and mother, constantly chided and yelled at him for his lazine.The couple also had two children, a son and a daughter.While the daughter is not mentioned before his slumber, Rip’s son, Rip II, is described as taking after his father, even promising “to inherit the
habits…old clothes of his father.” Sure enough, twenty years later, when Rip asks “Does nobody here know Rip Van Winkle?”, the villagers point to his son, “the ditto of himself,” and Rip briefly suffers an identity crisis.Rip II is a near exact copy of his father, representing characteristics that are inherited from previous generations and, therefore, survive changing times.Rip’s daughter, too, is implied to be like his wife in personality.When he first sees her, the “air” and “tone of her voice…awakened a train of recollections” for Rip, and he recognizes his child through these mannerisms which resemble Dame Van Winkle’s.Not only that, but the daughter also has a son-named Rip, of course.The three males, spanning three different generations, all with the same name fully embody traditions paing on to future generations and surviving change.In conclusion, Irving’s meage in “Rip Van Winkle” is that change is as inevitable as time paing, but only visible aspects change drastically.Deep-rooted qualities, such as character, personality and tradition, are able to stand the test of time.Many people look beyond the question of “what changes,” and only consider whether or not change is good.However, Irving begs us to evaluate what has to change, and what doesn’t.According to the author, at the end of the day, though time causes maive change, human characteristics will remain the same.
