Section 4
4. The main event in the story is the American revolution. Discuss passages in the story that deal with this event and consider what statements about the revolution the story makes. Finally draw conclusions about the author's--either GC's or WI's--views about tradition and change.
"He now hurried forth, and hastened to his old resort, the village inn--but it too was gone. A large rickety wooden building stood in its place with great gaping windows, some of them broken and mended with old hats and patticoats, and over the door was painted, "the Union Hotel, by Jonathan Doolittle." Instead of the great tree that used to shelter the quiet little Dutch inn of yore, there now was reared a tall naked pole, with something on the top that looked like a red night-cap, and from it was fluttering a flag, on which was a singular assemblage of stars and stripes--all this was strange and incomprehensible." He recognized on the sign, however, the ruby face of King George, under which he had smoked so many a peacful pipe; but even this was singulary metamorphosed. The red coat was changed for one of blue and buff, a sword was held in the hand instead of a sceptre, the head was decorated with a cocked hat, and underneath was painted in large characters, GENERAL WASHINGTON."
This passage illistrates Rip's disorentation about the town from the changes he
has noticed. Rip remembers the town totally different but it seems somewhat
similar. Rip simbolizes the subtle changes of the township and the political
changes of the society due to his sleeeping through the most important
socio-politico event of early America.
"There was, as ususal, a crowd of folk about the door, but none that Rip recollected. The very character of the people seemed changed. There was a busy, bustleing, disputatious tone about it, instead of the accustomed phlegm and drowsy tranquillity. He looked in vain for the sage Nicolas Vedder..."
The nature of the people, instead of the tranquil and lazy complaisence with the old order of monarchical reign the people now had to form their own nation.
When Rip comes into town with a rusty fowling-piece, his uncouth dress, and a crowd of women and children at his heels; he attracts attention. He would be characteristic of the "older" generation that witnessed a revolution and could really care less. The older Americans were complaiscent with the English yet the younger Americans were enthused with the formation of their own independent nation. Rip complicates matters more by stating a once accepted truism of "god save the king!," and the voters, unlike what would have been expected twenty years earlier, scream out throes of treachery and malignant spite at the "Tory-spy."
