How Does Washington Irving Create Change In Rip Van Winkle

To improve a person’s well-being, change is required in every aspect of their life. Most people experience times in their lives when they need to say goodbye to family members or partners, move to a new place, etc. Some changes are very difficult to go through. This is why it is very typical for the majority of people to feel some level of fear throughout the change, which may prevent a person from trying to move forward with taking the next steps. Humans remain fixed in their comfort zones as a result of this fear. In Washington Irving’s short story "Rip Van Winkle", Irving uses personification, similes, as well as irony to demonstrate that often when a person embraces change, it can result in a positive outcome.

Washington Irving personifies

At the start of the novel, he personifies the weather. He explains that while there is typically a clear sky and no wind, clouds will gather like a school of fish, and become out of sight. As the weather changes during the day, we frequently notice a shift in nature. Although the storm may be frightening, Irving wants people to understand that just because someone may fear change, it does not mean that it is a dangerous thing. Nature embraces this change rather than being afraid of it, making it the new normal. A rain pattern can also change throughout a storm. As Rip was walking, he heard a noise, "… supposing it to be the muttering of one of those transient thundershowers" (Irving). By claiming that the rain is murmuring to Rip Van Winkle, personification is invoked. Additionally, Irving utilizes it to demonstrate how the weather varies throughout time. Describing how rain may sometimes wipe away what was already present, while also introducing new problems into people's lives. People would gradually become stagnant if they don't adapt to change like a

This was shown in the same way as when Rip had physically altered himself but was still stuck with his past self. When Rip finally gained consciousness, his"… appearance" had changed "with his long, grizzled beard, his rusty fowling piece, his uncouth dress," people started to appear and asked, "on which side he voted?" Rip stared in vacant stupidity." (Irving). Rip awoke from his 20-year slumber, startled by his surroundings. His environment underwent a revolution in terms of culture instead of a physical change. Irving uses dramatic irony to highlight Rip's differences from others around him. Rip appeared to be stuck in the past and had not gone through the "transformation" that his surroundings had. However, when Rip was done talking to all the people around him, he was still very confused about his change. As well as being deeply disoriented, Rip had "… cried out in despair," asking, "Does nobody here know Rip Van Winkle?"’ (Irving). Irving demonstrates the exact length of Rip's absence using verbal irony. When he returns to the town, no one realizes he is talking about himself. So he asks everyone whether they are familiar with Rip Van Winkle. The audience fails to understand that he was alive the entire time he was absent. They all believed he was speaking of his son, Rip Van Winkle Jr. Rip gradually understands he needs to adapt quickly because he is