Rip Van Winkle and the American Dream Essay -- Rip Van Winkle Essays

In Rip van Winkle, Irving shows his doubts in the American Identity and the American dream. After the Revolutionary war, America was trying to develop its own course. They were drop off to govern their own course of development however, some of them had an air of uncertainties on their own identity in this new country. Irving was born among this generation in the newly created United States of America, and also felt uncertainty about the American identity. Irving might be the writer that is the least positive about being an American. The main designer for this uncertainty is the new born American has no history and tradition while the atomic number 63 has a great one accumulated for thousands of years. Therefore, in browse to solve this problem, Irving borrows an old European tale to make it take place in America. This tale related to the Dutch colonists haunts the kaatskill mountains. In order to highlight the American identity, Irving praises the majestic mountains which Europ e lacks. He describes the mountains that their summitswill glow and light up like a crown of glory Nevertheless, the use of these ancient explorers into Rip Van Winkle only to show that although American has formed its own identity, no one can cut its connection with Europe. No wonder when America was til now under tyranny of the British rule, some people still cannot cut the blood relationship with Europe. Therefore, the American identity is blurred by their relationship with Europe since then. Rip doesnt cha...