ith daily bread, for he was a huge feeder, and though lank, had the dilating powers of an Anaconda; but to help out his maintenance, he…boarded and lodged at the houses of the farmers, whose children he instructed,” (Irving, 951). Similarly, the English abused their American subjects until they were driven out by the brute force for which this country is so well known. Ichabod also resembled England in his perception of Katrina Van Tassel. “As the enraptured Ichabod fancied all this, and as he rolled his great green eyes over the fat meadow lands, the rich fields of wheat, of rye of buckwheat, and Indian corn, and the orchards burthened with ruddy fruit, which surrounded the warm tenement of Van Tassel, his heart yearned after the damsel who was to inherit these domains, and his imagination expanded with the idea, how they might be readily turned into cash,” (Irving, 955). Crane witnessed the American bounty and wished to tap into the unlimited resources. He did not love her for who she was on the inside, but rather, what she could do for him. Katrina represents America because whoever wins her also wins the treasures of her father. Crane recognized this fact as well as Brom Van Brunt, the story’s symbol of the American people. Crane wished to take Katrina, as well as their children and possessions, and travel to new territory, away from Sleepy Hollow, where she was born and raised, much as England had taken America’s resources away from her people in order to replenish depleted funds. Van Brunt recognized Crane’s self-interest and therefore fought to keep the treasure where it rightfully belonged.Ichabod’s destructive tendencies were shown through Irving’s description of him riding to the party. “He rode with short stirrups, which brought his knees nearly up to the pommel of the saddle; his sharp elbows stuck out like grasshoppers’; he carried his whip perpendi...
