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Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Washington Irving’s story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” presents a story based in the village known as Sleepy Hollow in New York. The village is an unusually cool and quiet place, where the natives live with each other peacefully. They also seem to daydream more than the rest of New Yorkers. However, there is an interesting fact about the people of Sleepy Hollow village as they seem to have a founded and a strong belief in supernatural powers and supernatural beings. Hence, they live in their beliefs. Hence, while telling the story, it becomes apparent that there is a conflict in understanding who the particular legend was, whether Ichabod Crane or the Headless Horseman, as the people in Sleepy Hollow are so invested in believing in the supernatural. Hence, this essay aims to argue that the main character, the protagonist of the story of the legend in the short story, is Ichabod Crane and not the Headless Horseman.
Ichabod Crane is the legend of the story ad he is presented in a more humane and relatable sense. He is a schoolmaster from Connecticut State and has moved to Sleepy Hollow to teach. This implies that he has come to educate the people of Sleepy Hollow village and elevate their literacy levels. A legend has a great impact on other people’s lives and seeks to improve their daily lives. Hence, it would be accurate to admit and argue that Ichabod Crane moved from Connecticut to Sleepy Hollow village in New York so that he would make great their lives by teaching them and educating their children. “He was a native of Connecticut, a State which supplies the Union with pioneers for the mind as well as for the forest, and sends forth yearly its legions of frontier woodmen and country schoolmasters,” (Irving 4). Hence, Ichabod Crane had been selected from his home State to improve others’ lives. This confirms that he was a legend to the people as he was out on a good mission that would transform their lives and make them better.
While teaching, Ichabod Crane realized that he did not make enough salary to sustain him. Hence, being a great music instructor, he started teaching music in part time. A great hero and a legend create solutions to challenges and seek to improve others’ lives. During one of his music classes, a student would come and be part of the group of learners. Katrina Van Tassel became an ardent music learner. For her beauty, Ichabod Crane fell in love with her and wanted to win her heart. “This rantipole hero had for some time singled out the blooming Katrina for the object of his uncouth gallantries, and though his amorous toying were something like the gentle caresses and endearments of a bar, yet it was whispered she did not altogether discharge his hopes,” (Irving 13). Ichabod fell in love with Katrina, who was the daughter of a Dutch farmer in Sleepy Hollow. As it is with most legends, they seek out the most beautiful and charming women to marry. Hence, as Irving has referred to Ichabod Crane as a hero, he fits the description of a legend of the story. He seeks to pursue Katrina and win her heart so that he can have her hand in marriage. However, that is not set to be as Katrina does not give in eventually.
Irving describes Ichabod as a great man with a huge and great physique, to mean that the male masculinity frame in Ichabod Crane is widely recognizable and admired by the people and especially the women. “The cognomen of Crane was not inapplicable to his person. He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands dangles a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together,” (Irving 4). The description of Ichabod Crane clearly shows that he was a man who was recognizable and also whose existence and physique were relatable to the audience and other characters. When he eventually went to the Kristina party, he was turned down by Katrina Van Tassel. That means that humanly enough, he would also not get everything he wished he would.
However, while Ichabod stands out as the legend, there is a counterclaim in the story. On his way home that night after being turned down by Katrina, he walks along a dark path. He rides on his horse, and a few steps away, he sees a figure. The figure is dark and does not seem to respond to his calls. He sets to escape, but he realizes it has no head, and it is following him. He realizes that it is the Headless Horseman, a figure said to have lost his head in the war. He is chased and escapes leaving the horse behind. Ichabod, at last, escapes without a trace. “Ichabod did not make his appearance at breakfast; dinner-hour came but no Ichabod,” (Irving 27). After the encounter with the Headless Horseman, Ichabod disappears. While he is portrayed as the legend in the story, his escape from the Headless Horseman begs the question: how would a legend escape without a fight?
In conclusion, Irving has presented Ichabod as a legend. The reason for that is because he is human, and his actions are relatable. His persuasion to move to Sleepy Hollow village is to make the lives of the villagers better. Additionally, he gets attracted to the most beautiful woman. However, he does not fight when the Headless Horseman chases him, making it unclear who is the legend. But Ichabod stands out in the narrative.
Work cited
Irving, Washington, and Thea Kliros. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Courier Corporation, 1995.