Introduction
Literature is a unique form of art that addresses issues vital to societies and outlines values characteristic of a particular period in time. Authors create memorable characters, making them bearers of certain ideas and assigning them various features necessary for understanding the central messages. Thus, “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving and “Life in the Iron Mills” by Rebecca Harding are stories with powerful characters and unique features.
Rip Van Winkle is a kind man who falls asleep and awakens to find himself in a radically changed world. Hugh Wolfe from “Life in the Iron Mills” also has a good heart and cares for Deborah, despite his difficult life. Both these characters are essential for understanding the plot of the stories and the authors’ messages. While some differences between Rip Van Winkle and Hugh Wolfe are evident, they share similarities in their empathy toward others, boldness, and confidence.
Empathy
Rip Van Winkle
Empathy is one of the features that makes Rip Van Winkle and Hugh Wolfe similar, as it impacts their actions and personalities. The first one is a “good-natured fellow” and a “kind neighbor” who shows a positive attitude toward others (Irving, 1863, p. 8). Moreover, another important characteristic is that “he would never refuse to assist a neighbor even in the roughest toil” (Irving, 1863, p. 9). He does “little odd jobs” for women when their “less obliging husbands” refuse to do it (Irving, 1863, p. 10).
Throughout the story, Rip Van Winkle helps others and understands their feelings and situation. This means that empathy is one of the character’s central characteristics. He acts as a kind man who is always ready to help others, even if it does not bring him additional benefits.
Hugh Wolfe
Speaking about Hugh Wolfe, empathy is also critical for understanding this character. He is deeply concerned with the hardships people around them experience. He feels pain due to poverty and suffering, and wants to make a change (Harding, 1861). It shows the importance of empathy for this character and his place in the novel.
His words show his feelings and the ability to understand others: “Ye’re tired, poor lass! Bide here till I go” (Harding, 1861, para. 49). He does not seem to belong to the world where he currently lives. Realizing the difficulty of other people’s lives, he feels pain. In such a way, empathy is the trait that makes Rip Van Winkle and Hugh Wolfe similar to each other. They both want to help people around them because of the clear vision of their emotions and feelings.
Boldness
Rip Van Winkle
Boldness is another important characteristic that can be found in both Rip Van Winkle and Hugh Wolfe. For instance, introducing the character, Irving (1863) says, “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” (p. 10). It describes a confident person who can act without regrets and move forward, making strange or bold decisions.
Rip Van Winkle “would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound,” another crucial description showing his boldness and lack of hesitation (Irving, 1863, p. 10). This feature makes the character attractive to readers and transforms him into one of their favorite heroes. Although Hugh Wolfe has a different personality, he also has some boldness. He wants to make a difference and change the lives of people close to him, which requires him to be firm and determined (Harding, 1861). Wolfe often discusses problems, biased attitudes, or injustices he observes in the iron mills, which suggests he is closer to Rip Van Winkle than it might seem at first glance.
Hugh Wolfe
Speaking about Hugh Wolfe, Harding (1861) says, “the few hours for rest he spent hewing and hacking with his blunt knife, never speaking, until his watch came again” (para. 54). It shows persistence, readiness to act regardless of the circumstances, take risks, and act unusually to achieve the dream and improve the current position. In this way, both Rip Van Winkle and Hugh Wolfe exhibit boldness, differentiating them from others and making these characters more appealing to readers.
Confidence
Rip Van Winkle
Ultimately, confidence is a trait shared by both discussed characters. From the story’s first lines, the reader views Rip Van Winkle as a very confident character who does not hesitate about his actions and is always ready to take different risks. It is one of the main characteristics of a confident person. He refuses to leave his “time-worn” house and find a new one because he is sure of his future (Irving, 1863, p. 8).
Furthermore, although Rip Van Winkle finds himself in a completely new world after his awakening, he is confident that he will find his place here and live happily. His optimism rests on the character’s ability to survive while making things necessary at the moment and avoiding those that might require too much effort. This attitude leads to confidence and readiness to live his life how he wants.
Hugh Wolfe
Hugh Wolfe can also be considered a confident person, although his confidence rests on other aspects. He possesses a unique artistic mind, which enables him to see the world from a different perspective. The dull surroundings and poverty do not undermine his belief in the need for positive change and its inevitability. His confidence is essential for realizing this idea: “He stood up. A man,—he thought, stretching out his hands—free to work, to live, to love! Free! His right!” (Harding, 1861, para. 199). Like Rip Van Winkle, Hugh Wolfe is a confident individual with a distinct set of values and visions, ready to protect them and persevere in the face of struggle.
Conclusion
To conclude, Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” and Harding’s “Life in the Iron Mills” present two characters with distinct characteristics that are crucial to understanding the authors’ main themes. While there are considerable distinctions between Rip Van Winkle and Hugh Wolfe, they share traits like confidence, bravery, and empathy for others. Their behaviors, attitudes, and judgments all exhibit these traits.
They are willing to share their suffering and offer assistance to others because they have empathy for others. They exhibit boldness simultaneously, yet it may have a distinct character and origin. Lastly, both personalities are self-assured and prepared to defend their values or way of life. Because of this, it is important to consider some similarities between Hugh Wolfe and Rip Van Winkle.
References
Harding, R. (1861). Life in the Iron Mills. The Atlantic. Web.
Irving, W. (1863). Rip Van Winkle. Elegant Ebooks.