The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Ichabod Crane is most recognized by his appearance - one that has made him a legendary fictional character . He is tall and skinny with long arms and legs and looks like a scarecrow . However , he is an educated man so despite his appearance he is able to command respect from others . He maintains a higher social position because of his status as a school teacher who knows many interesting facts . As a teacher he enforces good behavior from his students through strict enforcement . However , outside of the classroom he doesn 't model these expectations

in his own life . He is selfish and only thinks about his own immediate happiness . One example that proves this attitude is his desire to eat large amounts of food and his continuous attempts to eat more whatever the cost

Katrina van Tassel is the girl that Ichabod Crane falls in love with She is a very beautiful woman who was raised by a rather indifferent father . Ichabod is entranced by her beauty as well as the large amounts of money that she is set to inherit from her wealthy father . As a result , he begins to woo Katrina who returns his affections . Ichabod later asks Katrina to marry him but she refuses and this is when Ichabod finds out she was only using him to make Brom van Blunt jealous

The most striking event associated with Ichabod happens the night he finds out that Katrina won 't marry him . Ichabod has always been afraid of ghosts and spirits and when he leaves Katrina 's house he sees the Headless Horseman and runs away in terror . He crosses the river thinking he is safe but his hat is found the next day and Ichabod is never seen again . In the end , Ichabod , who was respected before was made a laughingstock by a fictitious Headless Horseman and a pumpkin

Brom van Blunt can be compared to the town drunk in that he was always causing trouble . He too desired the affections of Katrina and was not happy when she started seeing Ichabod Crane . His social status was a bit more controversial than Crane 's because of his rowdy and inappropriate behavior . He uses his knowledge of humiliation in many attempts to make Ichabod Crane look like a fool but only ends up making himself appear the fool . He doesn 't take work very seriously and the only thing that he is truly serious about is his desire for Katrina van Tassel

In the end , it is revealed that Katrina really does want to be courted by van Blunt and was only seeing Ichabod Crane in to make him jealous and want her more . This is revealed the night Ichabod Crane is last seen . It is said that Brom van Blunt is actually the Headless Horseman and used Crane 's fear of spirits in to run him out of town . If this is true , it is the ultimate act of humiliation since Brom and Katrina continued to...