Write an extended paragraph analyzing the character of Rip Van Winkle from the perspective of Benjamin Franklin in “The Way to Wealth” and Thomas Paine in Common Sense. What would Franklin and Paine say about Rip? Would they approve or disapprove of his b

From the perspectives of Benjamin Franklin in “The Way to Wealth” and Thomas Paine in “Common Sense,” Rip Van Winkle emerges as a character who embodies a mix of both approval and disapproval. Franklin, with his emphasis on industriousness and the virtue of hard work, would likely disapprove of Rip’s apparent laziness and lack of ambition. In “The Way to Wealth,” Franklin famously states, “Diligence is the mother of good luck,” suggesting that success, both personal and financial, is contingent upon one’s hard work and perseverance. Rip’s prolonged slumber and his retreat from responsibility serve as stark contrasts to Franklin’s ideals, painting Rip as a figure who wastes his potential and squanders the opportunities afforded to him. In contrast, Thomas Paine, who focuses more on societal structures and personal freedom in “Common Sense,” may view Rip more sympathetically as a casualty of oppressive social conventions. Paine advocates for the individual’s right to pursue happiness and freedom from tyranny, which could frame Rip's escapism as a desire to break free from the burdens of colonial rule and domestic obligations. However, Paine would likely still caution against the consequences of Rip's inaction, emphasizing that societal progress requires active engagement rather than passive retreat. Ultimately, while Franklin would likely admonish Rip for his unproductive behavior, Paine might regard his plight as a poignant reminder of the need for personal agency within a rigid societal framework, although he would still be critical of Rip’s failure to contribute to the newly forming nation in which he finds himself. Thus, both thinkers, while positioned differently, converge on the notion that Rip’s choice to disengage from the world around him undermines not only his personal fulfillment but also the broader promise of communal progress.