The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

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Tracy Carrasquillo Professor Hopkins AML 2010 6 October 2012 “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Washington Irving’s, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a short story that was written in 1820 and is considered one of the earliest American fiction stories still read today. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” chronicles the life of Ichabod Crane and the townspeople of Sleepy Hollow. It shows the characters in this story crave status and focuses on material possessions as a measure of worth. This is not a tale of superstition and fables as some may think, but a tale of selfishness and greed. Irving accentuates that society is captivated by material wealth and fulfilling one’s desires as their priorities. The main character in this tale of greed is Ichabod Crane. He is the newly hired schoolmaster who bases all of his interest on monetary gain. He is underpaid, as most teachers are, and is only able to secure the necessities in life. He is not able to enjoy the finer things which he so desires and feels he deserves. Since his salary is meager he finds that by assisting the farmers and teaching singing lessons he can obtain food and lodging from the parents of the children he teaches. Ichabod believes that since he is a schoolmaster, and they are regarded as being a bit superior in certain areas, that this gives him some standing among the women in the neighborhood. However, he has very little to offer a wife. In truth, his education is inadequate, he has little drive, and he lives off of others. “His heart set on material gain, Ichabod is gracelessly devoid of the natural human affection” (Hoffman). So when Ichabod falls in love with Katrina Van Tassel, a student in his singing class, it is not because he truly loves her. His love for Katrina is based upon his desire to obtain her wealth if they were to marry. Gaining Katrina’s love is a means to an end for

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