As I grow old, my realizations about life become deeper, situations become more complicated. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to the time when any pain could be healed by just a band-aid and a lollipop.
I saw Rip Van Winkles’ story in a different view, in which he was not actually idle or hen-pecked just like what his wife told him. For me, the reason might be because of having a nagger wife. This might cause him not to stay long in their house and just help others almost every day. There might also be some things or ideas that they do not agree with. For those reasons, I was able to come up with my conclusions that his nagger wife and their opposite ideas forced him to run away from his problems and his family. In reality, some of us choose to escape our problems, rather than bravely face it. It is maybe because you are psychologically weak to face it, or you are really exhausted fighting with pain and problems that’s why you decided to run away. That was human nature. If one feels so desperate about life, it’s either he will kill himself or hide from it, without knowing that he cannot escape from the ghost of his problems that will keep haunting him until the end of time. With regards to his decision to be in Kaatskill’s Mountains, for me he was just looking around for his “Peace of mind”, which is really important to make good decisions and for personal reflection. We all came up to the time that we were really annoyed of everything and then thought of having a break—a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or a stick of cigarette just to reflect on that day. Rip was just like us who wanted to find his place in this busy world.
During his time in Kaatskill Mountains, he was with his dog; Wolf, and his gun. For me, Wolf symbolizes his other personality. Basically, a dog is known for being honest to his master, fast learner, and sweet. Just like Rip, even though his wife seems to be so loquacious, he never thought of having another woman in his life. Some of us look for the things that our partners do not have, and use that as the reason to leave them. Demanding for something that they do not have is not love at all. It’s a cliché to hear but true. “Love is acceptance.” Not for what they have, but for what they really do not have. It is also stated that Rip can easily get acquainted with others which made him feel loved and accepted.
His gun, for me represents his anger and emotions. Primarily, a gun is very harmful but that depends on who is holding it. In the flow of the story, Rip was able to control his temper and his emotions. Not because he is a coward, but because he understands his wife. A true man never put his fist against his wife, but patiently lends his ears and calmly defends himself.
You might hear one of your family member says, “Magaling ka lang sa ibang tao.” That was one of the ironies of life. Being good to others does not mean that you are craving for attention. Instead, it reflects on how your family trained you to be such. Most of his fellow man said that Rip was a good father and husband. Though it was wrong, he was able to hide the real problem that his family had during that time. He just makes the best out of it.
Though a lollipop and band-aid cannot heal Rip’s anxieties and pain, the odd thing was he gets used to live with his problems which was good for me. As I quote my friend, “If you are in pain, don’t fight it. You’ll just get exhausted. One advice, feel the pain until it hurts no more. Remember, we are living in a bed full of roses with its thorns.”
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