Title: Rip Van Winkle Characters - eNotes.com
Headings: Rip Van Winkle Characters
Rip Van Winkle Characters
Characters
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Rip Van Winkle
Dame Van Winkle
Judith Cardenier
Rip Van Winkle, Jr.
The Stranger
Hendrick (Henry) Hudson
Nicholas Vedder
Derrick Van Bummel
Brom Dutcher
Peter Vanderdonk
The Self-Important Man
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Content: Rip sees his son, who is the very reflection of himself, and meets his daughter, Judith, who takes him in. The villagers at first do not believe Rip’s odd story about his disappearance. They call upon the ancient and wise Peter Vanderdonk, who has lived in the village the longest. Peter claims that Rip encountered the spirit of Henry Hudson, who explored and helped settle the area. Peter tells the villagers that Hudson visits every twenty years to survey his land. Most of the older villagers believe Rip's story and credit the existence of Hudson's spirit. Even the younger villagers, who are more skeptical, begin to like Rip. Rip’s story later serves as a comfort to all the men who want to escape their nagging wives. The men are said to wish for a sip of the mystical beer Rip tasted and find themselves freed by a long and deep sleep. Dame Van Winkle
Dame Van Winkle is Rip Van Winkle’s nagging wife.