8221; reflects the colonies’ nationalism spirit and dreams of liberty from Britain, as well as Britain’s certainty that it was the intended ruler and guide for the colonies’ future development. The reference to the “sharp tongue” growing more intense with each use illustrates the mounting tension between the respective two sets of forces. In fact, the only allusion of a compliment from the relationships was Rip speaking of his home, which “To tell the truth, Dame Van Winkle had always kept in neat order” (436). Britain had initially created the colonies in America, and had, at one time, been able to keep them related to it in a feeling of peaceful harmony.After Rip returns to the village in the post-war era and finally figures out what had happened during his absence, he is somewhat relieved to discover his wife had passed away. He said that, “There was a drop of comfort, at least, in this intelligence” (438) because he was then able to “go in and out whenever he pleased, without dreading the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle” (439). So while Rip was discovering a newfound freedom from his wife, the colonies were discovering a newfound freedom from their longtime ruler, Great Britain. The colonies were then free to be the United States of America and remain that way without threat of British intervention in the future. In conclusion, while Rip Van Winkle is just a character in a short story, he is also a representative for the American colonies in both pre- and post-Revolutionary War times; whereas his spouse, Dame Van Winkle is not just a mean old wife, but also a representative of Great Britain in both pre- and post-war times. Through their relationship, Washington Irving paints a symbolic picture of the transition from dependent colonies into an independent nation for America, and the downfall of British rule on North American ground....
