RIP VAN WINKLE AND HISTORY.

RIP VAN WINKLE AND HISTORY. My new insight into “Rip Van Winkle” came when I was browsing in Nick’s copy of THE DUMBEST GENERATION by Mark Bauerlein and came across Professor Bauerlein’s analysis of “Rip Van Winkle.” Bauerlein highlights the change that Washington Irving made to an old story. The time frame that Irving chose gives an important political and historical dimension. Rip goes to sleep before the American Revolution and wakes up after it—in the middle of an election. Bauerlein says: “The selected time frame highlights the advent of democracy itself, and what it does to people deep down….Before, the villagers were subjects. Now, they are political agents, voters….” Bauerlein quotes Irving: “The very character of the people seemed changed. There was a busy, bustling, disputatious tone about it, instead of the accustomed phlegm and drowsy tranquility.” The story is about a whole society, not just Rip. I had missed all that.