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
that was kind, but not ambitious, Washington Irving developed an American mythology that demonstrated revolutionary ideals and taught a valuable lesson.
Washington Irving’s character, Rip Van Winkle, possesses many fine character traits. One of Rip’s most prominent character trait is kindness. Kindness is ability to act generously and friendly towards others. On page 62 of Rip Van Winkle, we see how the author viewed Rip. He announces, “I have observed that he was a simple, good-natured man; he was moreover a kind neighbor, and an obedient, henpecked husband.” Irving explicitly states that Rip is “a kind neighbor.” Rip’s kindness to the village children is found on page 63. There, it is commented, “He assisted at their sports, made their playthings, taught them to fly kites and shoot marbles, and told them long stories of ghosts, witches, and Indians.” Rip went out of his way to make the children happy. An unkind person would never be so generous and caring. Pages 63-64 reveal all the tasks Rip was willing to do for his neighbors. It is claimed, “He would never even refuse to assist a neighbor in the roughest toil, and was a foremost man at all country frolics for husking Indian corn, or building stone fences; the woman of the village, too, used to employ him to run their errands, and to do such little odd jobs as their less obliging husbands would not do for them…” We can see that Rip is extremely generous. He never declines to help a neighbor, no matter what the chore is. Rip’s kindness makes the reader care for him. Had Rip been rude and arrogant, readers wouldn’t have been able to connect with him. As with all American mythologies, there is always a trait the writer wants you to observe. Kindness is valued and desired by all people. The authors hope is for you to develop this trait.
There are many character traits that Washington Irving’s character, Rip Van Winkle, does not boast.
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
want to become a better person than the character.
Despite his lack of ambition, Rip Van Winkle possessed a kindness that the reader finds endearing. Rip’s kindness made him well loved by the townspeople, while his lack of ambition exasperated his wife. Irving Washington constructed a character that contains both a quality that American mythological writers praised and a quality they found detrimental. Rip Van Winkle is a fantastical story that embodies early American ideals and praises newly settled North America. Washington Irving taught a significant lesson through his character, Rip Van Winkle. It is Irving’s hope that the reader will take this story to heart and contemplate their own personality traits. Rip Van Winkle shows us that even if we are kind, without ambition, our lives will pass us by.