What is the point of “Rip Van Winkle?” Is it only a funny story or is there something else going on? Can this story be read as being symbolic of the struggle between America and England with Rip representing America and Dame Van Winkle represent Project description Is John Smith a reliable narrator? Do you trust the way he describes the events that occurred? Why does he write in the third person point of view?Isn’t he describing his experience? What does he accomplish by this?