The story of Rip Van Winkle is set years before and after the American Revolution. In Irvin's story, Rip Van Winkle, a man who wandered the mountains after listening to his wife's constant complaints, experiences strange encounters. He comes across men, said to be the spirits of Hudson's crew, who are playing nine pins, and after drinking, he lies down under a tree and goes to sleep. He wakes up twenty years later. Because he was used to how the world was before the United States Revolutionary War, he notices how drastically things have changed. Irvin uses the characters Rip to represent America, Dame to represent Great Britain, and the townspeople to represent the American people, to show the reader how the various parties participated in the American Revolution. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Rip's wife calls him lazy because he doesn't do anything around their house. He would rather go hunting with his dog or go to the village to chat with the men. Everyone in the village loves Rip. The narrator states, “Even the children of the village shouted with joy whenever he approached.” Rip made it his place to please everyone except the people in his family. Some examples include playing loudly with children, teaching them to fly kites, telling children stories, never refusing to help neighbors, and running errands for people. The narrator states, “In a word, Rip was ready to mind anyone's business but his own; but as for fulfilling his family duties and keeping his farm in order, Rip found it impossible.” This is what makes Rip upset with his wife. This can also be seen as a representation of American society as the United States shows its efforts in taking care of foreign affairs without taking care of its own. It is used to showing American struggles and immaturity. Rip's great mistake is his inability to be present and provide for his family. One day Rip goes to the mountains to escape his nagging wife, only to take a sip of drink and fall asleep for 20 years. When Rip wakes up and returns to town, he is shocked by the many changes that have occurred, such as his appearance and everything in the village. The character of Rip can also symbolize the American people who were struggling to find their identity. Dame Van Winkle is the wife of Rip Van Winkle, who has a very sharp tongue. She constantly nags her husband for his laziness and irresponsibility towards their home. The narrator shows this trait by saying, “She continually rang in his ears for his idleness, his carelessness, and the ruin he was causing his family.” She is never satisfied with her actions, and rightly so. The events of the story show that she is the reason for her husband's unhappiness. Dame represents the country of Great Britain. His demanding represents the power that the English tried to impose on the American colonies, which eventually made them tired, as Rip did. The tyranny he faces at home forces him to flee to the mountains, which appear to be Rip's happy place. Dame was the repressive hand that pushed Rip to find his escape with a feeling of freedom, just as the colonists did once they managed to escape the rule of the crown. The citizens in the story represented American society, showing how things were before. and after the Revolution. It seems that the citizens were a bit presumptuous before the revolution, and this is how they represent America under British regulation. When Rip returns to town 20 years later, i.