Washington Irving and the American Identity

By Matthew Cox


19th Century writer Washington Irving helped to create the American identity though literature. Using techniques from European Romantic writers, he drew readers into his stories through nature, vivid images, interesting characters, folklore, historical references, and the like. European empires used mystification by regulating art and literature. They did this to make their authority seem natural or universal. American writers at this time demystified the influence of British control by glorifying self-reliance, democracy, and hard work. Works including the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” used unusual characters, plot twists, superstition, historical references, and the like to spread American ideals. This was important to establish a national identity and not control people. Washington Irving used his stories to assert the ideas of American democracy.

Mystification is the process of hiding political values by disguising them to seem natural, universal, or transcendental (Stevenson, p.32). Oppressive societies including Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union used propaganda to make their agendas seem common to the people that they ruled. Other regimes in history did the same thing by censoring or regulating speech, writings, art, or other forms of expression. The British Empire used similar methods to control their colonies in the 1700’s. After the War of Independence, the Americans used art and writings to convey their values as free people. Such ideas included hard work, patriotism, loyalty to family, democracy, free thought, and the like. Concepts like these were not intended to control people. They were used to teach individuals principles important to a democratic society.

Writers including Washington Irving used common people, visual imagery, folklore, familiar locations (i.e. the Catskill Mountains), and the like to convey his ideas in ways that readers could understand (Norberg, p. xiii). Irving, famously known as the First Man of American Letters, wrote two of America’s best known stories: “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Both of these tales came from The Sketch-Book. They were a collection of short stories published in 1820. It helped to establish Irving as a serious writer.

"Rip Van Winkle” told the story of a Dutch-American who is lazy, but easy-going in the second person. He does not care about work, raising his family, or anything productive. These were character flaws also known as hamartia. It was used to connect the main character to readers by appearing human. He lived in a small town in the Catskill Mountains. The setting used visual images including trees, scenic views, descriptions of the village, colorful costumes, and the like to engage the reader. Additionally, Irving used local traditions and folklore to bring the setting to life. Techniques such as these were used by Romantic writers to appeal to common people and glorify nature. Beneath the romanticized exterior, there are certain principles beneath. For example, Rip was lazy, but taught readers the consequences of not living up to one’s responsibilities; he got lost and slept for twenty years. Also, the writer referred to historical figures and events. These included Henry Hudson’s exploration of the Northeast (xviii-xix). Using Hudson’s men as spirits also connected the readers to local superstition. This showed the historical dimension of New York’s Dutch and British past. Using the hyperbole of sleeping for twenty years seemed to reflect Christian temperance in Irving’s Presbyterian Background. Furthermore, Irving used patriotic symbols in the story. For example, the village inn became the “Union Hotel.” Rip’s rude awakening to these changes also help to spread awareness for democratic change.

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has had similar themes, but told in different ways in second person (xix). For example, Irving used visual imagery including mountains, trees, colorful people, folklore, and other things to draw readers into the story. Ichabod Crane, the protagonist, was the school master in the town of Sleepy Hollow. He was portrayed as awkward and naïve Swiftian caricature. The schoolmaster was a hard working, educated person who was in love with Katrina Van Tassel. She was the daughter of a wealthy Dutch land owner, Baltus Van Tassel. Both Ichabod and Balthus were portrayed as model American citizens-successful, enterprising, and learning new things. Such values reflected the American ideals of hard work and self-reliance. Brom Bones was the antagonist who harassed Crane. He was jealous and wanted to marry Katrina. This appeared to represent the dark side of human nature with opportunism. The rising action of the story happened when the Headless Horseman chased Ichabod to the safety of a covered bridge; superstition told that evil spirits such as the Headless Horseman could not cross running water. Irving made historical references to Revolutionary War battles, war heroes, and the like. He felt that these ideas were important for instilling patriotic ideals into Americans. Washington left Crane’s fate open ended. This has let the reader for form own ideas about what happened to him.

Washington Irving used his stories to assert the ideas of American democracy. Writers in the early 1800’s used images of nature, folklore, superstition, unusual heroes, and historical allusions to create a sense of national identity. European Romantic writers used similar methods to draw common people into their works. Empires in Europe used mystification and propaganda to rule different nations. This let their domination natural or universal. American writers spread democracy by writing stories demonstrating free thought, hard work, and democratic freedom. Washington Irving used “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” to help shape the American identity. He used plots that people understood and characters that readers could identify with.


Works Cited

Norberg, Peter. “The First Man of Letters.” The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Writings. Ed. Peter Norberg. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2006.

Stephenson, Jay. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to English Literature. New York: Penguin, 2007.