Irving's "Rip Van Winkle"

     This story is about a man, who is adored by many people. He was loved by many women, and the children all like to play with him. His life outside of his house is perfect, however, he and his wife are on the verge of divorce, his father was cruel to him, and he was not a good farmer. He only loved his dog. One day, he went up on a mountain to take his own life, but people showed up and he drank with them until he passed out. When he woke up, his dog was gone. He went back to town to find that he was actually asleep for 20 years, and everyone he knew was gone. He had to start a new life.
     This story can relate to alcoholism very well. This man was depressed, and in his depression he took a drink of alcohol, but didn't stop, he drank more and more. He eventually passed out and slept for twenty years, in a completely different life. This symbolizes how alcohol can dominate your life, and can for many years, and that when you finally stop, you may have already ruined or changed everything and may have a completely new life, or even have to start all over.
    Is that what Irving was trying to show?