Examples Of Allegory In The Legend Of Sleep Hollow

The Allegory of Sleepy Hollow
“The Legends of Sleep Hollow” I think can be read as an allegory. The Legends of Sleepy Hollow is a story in which the whole town does not know what to believe. The town is full of superstition, ghost stories that are from wartime violence, it has headless horsemen. The town is all around creepy and really quiet. “The whole neighborhood abounds with local tales, haunted spots, and twilights superstitions: stars shoot and meteors glare oftener across the valley than in any other part of the country, and the night-mare, with her whole nine fold, seems to make it the favourite scene of her gambols (42).” The town’s population is made up of Dutch immigrants.
This world is representative of historical truth. There had just been war not too long ago. America was becoming more diverse with the amount of immigrants settling there. Ichabod Crane is a character who was not American born, he was a Dutch settler he was from Connecticut. Ichabod crane could also be an allegorical representation of the closest thing to a typical American at that time. Ichabod Crane for one is superstitious, he also has a motive for wealth. “Boarded and lodged at the houses of the farmers whose children he

instructed (44).” The Parents also furnished him with daily bread. His lady Katrina Van Tassel came from money and Ichabod had planned to receive that wealth by marrying Katrina. He is a capitalist; he’ll do anything to get wealthy. From walking kids home from school, helped to make hay, mended fences, he ever cut wood for the winter fires. Anything possible to make money.
A few characteristics of Ichabod are he is lean, lanky and extremely superstitious. “He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together (43).” Abraham also known by his nick name Brom Bones who is called to be the town rowdy was described as large, strong, rough, humorous and good natured. “He was broad shouldered and double jointed with short curly black hair, and a bluff, but not unpleasant countenance, having a mingled air of fun and arrogance (49).” Allegorically, Ichabod crane is an outsider and Brom Bones is afraid Ichabod might come to town and ruin his life. I believe this represents perfectly because America was expanding at this time and new ideas were presented but the America people may have not been ready for them. Brom Bones also had intentions on marrying Katrina. So Bones was scared Ichabod would succeed at marrying Katrina. Bones did everything he could do to get rid of Crane and at the end he did get rid of Cane.
There is a headless horseman that chases Ichabod and I think that could have possibly been Brom Bones to scare Ichabod away.

“He was framed for great knowledge and skill in horsemanship, being as dexterous on horseback as Tartar (49).” I think this gives more insight on the possibility that Abraham was the “headless horseman” he had the skills to be able to ride naturally, fast, and be able to focus on scaring Ichabod. Brom bones acted suspicious when the story was brought up about Ichabod Crane leaving and why Ichabod left. “...was observed to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was related, and always burst into a hearty laugh at the mention of the pumpkin; which led some to suspect that he knew more about the matter than he chose to tell

(61).”
It is interesting to look at the story as an allegory, it makes the story deeper. But I also think the story can stand on its own Just as a ghost story. The series “The Legends of Sleepy Hollow” on Netflix is by far one of my favorite shows. It is a little different but I really think they took the story and turned it into a deeper allegory which made the show really scary and has a lot going on with war and fighting, the headless horsemen, and ghost. It is all around My favorite story line.