Introduction
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a short story by the American writer Washington Irving from his collection of short stories, Traveler’s Tales, written while living in Birmingham, England. The story is set in the old Dutch village of Greensburg, or Terry Town, situated deep in the vast bays on the east bank of the Hudson River. Near the town is Sleepy Hollow, surrounded by a halo of legend and mystical mystery. The novel’s protagonist is Ichabod Crane, a local teacher originally from Connecticut. Irving’s character is comical from start to finish: his appearance, his methods of teaching children, his ways of wooing girls, his voice that makes even unafraid farmers cross themselves and dogs howl, and his crazy dancing. On a personal encounter with the imaginary Horseman, Ichabod is scared to death, and after the Horseman throws his head at him, he disappears from the town forever. No one knows where Ichabod has disappeared, which is ground for speculation. The character is very interesting, and his actions are noteworthy. The author portrayed Ichabod as comical and vain, but the hero was not afraid to show the real himself.
The Protagonist of the Novel
The dialogue shows that it is very peculiar and requires detailed analysis. The children loved Ichabod; he was moderately strict but loved them, as is evident from his attitude toward them. The author describes Ichabod’s dwelling and attire: “he carefully ironed a black pair and, standing before a piece of broken mirror, at length smoothed his hair” (Irving). Judging from this, the hero was not in a very good financial situation. The hero was in love with a girl named Katrina van Tassel. He liked her both externally and financially: he wanted to become the master of all her wealth. Although Ichabod was not rich, he attracted girls with his manliness and strength of spirit. He did not back down from his desire to win his beloved despite his rivals. This is why Katrina was in love with Ichabod and preferred him to another candidate: “As soon as Ichabod went on the offensive, Brome’s hopes began to diminish markedly” (Irving). It is worth noting that Ichabod was a very talented young man: he could sing and dance, which increased his attractiveness in the eyes of others.
Conclusion
Thus, Ichabod is a positive character who lives an ordinary life in the village. He loves learning and teaching children literacy and singing. He does not have a good financial situation as a teacher and therefore seeks to improve it through marriage. His passion for reading, singing, and other hobbies can be regarded as a characteristic of an intellectually developed person. He can be called a man with a strong spirit, as he does not give up in the face of difficulties and tries to achieve his goals. On the night he was pursued by the headless horseman, Ichabod did not run away but tried to solve the situation reasonably. The ambiguity of the ending allows the reader to think of his ending. I think a logical ending to the story might be that Brom pretended to be the horseman and thus wanted to get rid of a competitor. Ichabod’s story is both tragic and comical at the same time. The author wanted to convey that people like Ichabod have the right to exist in society.
Thus Ichabod Crane is a comic character: his appearance, his educational methods, his ways of courting, his voice, which makes even unafraid farmers cross themselves and dogs howl, and his absurd dances. He enjoys the kindness of the local farmers and the parents of his students, who let him live in their house. He is frightened by rumors of the Horseman, but this does not stop him from telling other people made-up stories about his encounter with the ghost of Sleepy Hollow. The ambiguity of the ending provides some food for thought. The character is ambiguous, as everyone interprets his actions in his way.
Work Cited
Irving, Washington. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”Short Stories & Classic Literature for Readers & Teachers, 2020. Web.