The Motifs Of Greed And Loveless Marriage In The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow And The Devil And Tom Walker
Washington Irving
Washington Irving, the creator and father of the American short-story, wrote symbolically about American society through his characters, themes, and stories. His contribution to Dark Romantic literature is acknowledged. Irving draws on elements of Dark Romantic writing in his early works to highlight the human flaws in many of them, especially in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and in “The Devil and Tom Walker”. These works expose immoral characteristics to highlight the dark side characters, a trope from Dark Romanticism. They emphasize the negative aspects of society and the people they touch. Irving was the Dark Romantic’s only author to use stories as a way to expose society’s faults. The motifs of jealousy and loveless marriage are prominent in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, and especially in Ichabod Kranes’ desire to marry Katrina Van Tassel. Crane wants to be with her because he is greedy and she has the fortune. “Ichabod Crowe had a softhearted and foolish nature towards sex. He was especially attracted to her when he visited her paternal residence” (7). Crane didn’t fall in love with her romantically until after he saw her physical beauty. Crane believes Katrina is from a wealthy family after seeing her home. Crane dreams of this kinda life for his own. “The enraptured Ichabod fantasized all this. . . His heart long for the damsel who would inherit these domains” (Bily 150). Crane’s selfish quest for wealth becomes Katrina’s obsession. Irving sees greed as a morally unsound characteristic. He believes that marrying someone for their wealth is wrong. Crane is used by Irving to represent greedy Americans and he is included in the Dark Romantic movement.
Irving uses greed to depict the sins of the characters in “The Devil & Tom Walker”. Tom Walker is a selfish, gluttonous husband who will do any thing to save his own skin. Tom initially rejects the proposal of Old Scratch, the evil devil. The devil offers Tom a share of his earnings, but he declines the offer. He is more concerned about himself and his personal wealth than his spouse. This evil desire leads eventually to her brutal murder. Tom is not sad when Tom’s wife is taken away by the devil. Instead, he is excited to learn that he had made a deal and has money. He realizes he is free to enjoy the benefits without his wife. James Lynch, a New York Folklore Quarterly author, describes: “Greed [motifs] are one of the main themes of “The Devil & Tom Walker.” Old Scratch approaches Tom offering him wealth that is beyond his wildest imaginations” (Lynch 58) Irving also uses Irving’s greed and inability to feel sorry for his wife to show their greed-filled marriage. It is not only a sign of greed that can cause terrible and horrible things, but it also proves it can lead to the end of relationships. Irving’s story highlights the Dark Romantic characteristics of greed as a negative quality in life. Irving uses the story to illustrate the negative effects of greed. This is why he has compared it to Dark Romanticism.
Irving uses the motif of loveless married to connect greed and the Dark Romantic movement. Irving uses this motif in many stories to show the flaws of American marriages. Irving draws attention to the bad side of a marriage that lacks true love in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. Their love is not based on affection, but more on material desires and selfish motives. “Ichabod Crane had an inquisitive and soft heart for sex. He was more interested in the morsel than he was in love. Crane didn’t marry Katrina to show his deep love for her. Katrina also never speaks of her love for Ichabod. This shows their infidelity as a couple. “Ichabod quickly falls for her charming charms. But it’s only when he visits her father at his farm that he feels he is truly in love with her. Or at least her inheritance.” (Nelson 151). Crane is adamant about Katrina and his love. He doesn’t care about Katrina’s needs. This motif is used by Irving to point out the problems in American marriages. This symbol serves to remind us of the moral failings of loveless marriages and to make it possible to change them. This is to highlight the flaws in American marriages.
The same motif was used in “The Devil and Tom Walker” to highlight how deceitful marriages can be. Irving shows how a lack or true love can lead to the destruction of a marriage. The apparent death of Tom Walker’s wife ends the marriage. “Tom had a strong mind and was not afraid of the devil. He lived so long with his wife. Tom Walker is not in love with his wife of many decades. Their marriage places love at the bottom of their priorities. They are not in love for the right reasons. Their marriage is full of greed, selfishness, and dishonesty. Irving’s other stories demonstrate that married characters have no compassion and show little love for their spouses. “Irving mocked marriage by showing Tom Walker’s apparent death. He didn’t feel any regret or sadness. A loving relationship is one in which the loss of a spouse, loved one or partner causes grief. Tom doesn’t grieve for his wife’s death after her passing. Irving illustrates the negative effects of a marriage that is not based on love. This shows how American society views marriage as not being based on love. A relationship that is not based on love will result in the breaking of the marriage vow. This will also lower society’s expectations and views about marriage.
Irving uses humor to show the flaws in American life. He mocks Americans by using humor and ridicule. Irving uses humor in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” to highlight the bad effects of relationships and the horrible consequences they can have. His views on American life are expressed through satire. The story depicts Ichabod Crane becoming so attached to Katrina he is unable to stop thinking about her: “… Soft anticipation stole his mind and made him crave tiny slapjacks that were well buttered and sprinkled with honey or treacle by Katrina Van Tassel, (3). Irving’s use jokes and satire highlight the thin lines between fiction and reality in modern society. Crane gets so obsessed with Katrina Van Tassel’s actions that all he does is to watch and obsess over her. Irving does all this to communicate to people that there is more to life than what we see. Irving conveys this important message through his story. Irving carefully constructs his humor to emphasize the dangers inherent in believing too strongly in stories, and the distinction between fiction and nonfiction. This is done through Ichabod Crane who is shown as someone who doesn’t understand the limits and possibilities of imagination. He is obsessed by his dreams to marry Katrina Van Tassel”(Bily 152). Crane doesn’t have any limits on his imagination. He dreamed of marrying Katrina. Katrina is not mentioned in the story. This is Irving’s direct satire on a common American life event. Many people dream of marrying another person and imagine what it would be like. However, these fantasies often don’t come true. Irving uses his story to convey this message. Irving’s purpose in using satire to confuse reality and fiction can lead to us being exposed, as Crane was in this story. Irving employs satire to show the consequences of believing false things. They are often hurt by this behavior, which ultimately shows how dark romantic writing can include satire.
Satire refers to a Dark Romantic element, and is often used in “The Devil’s and Tom Walker.” Marriage is the most mocked subject. Irving illustrates the terrible effects of relationships and their impact on others by using the example of Tom’s marriage to his wife. People look at their relationship and are grateful that they don’t have to be married. Irving uses this comedy to mock American marriage and the way people see it. People are often shocked to see the pain in a relationship and are grateful that it is not so bad. The story also satirises Tom’s decision to turn to religion for a fresh start. He then becomes an arrogant and critical man. Irving does this in irony to highlight the paradox of people who turn to faith to do the right things and then go wrong. “In addition Irving also satirizes Tom’s switch to religion, and how he became very critical about his neighbors, despite knowing that his soul was damned.” (Piedmont Marton 212). Irving employs satire to highlight flaws in American society.
Irving is a Dark Romantic author who focuses on the dark side of humanity. He incorporates flawed characters into “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and in “The Devil and Tom Walker.” Irving uses the theme of greed to demonstrate the impact it has on daily life and the damage it can cause on people and relationships. Because it exposes the dark side of life and humanity, Irving is a Dark Romantic author. His characters are often involved in unhealthy relationships, as shown by the motif of loveless marriage. Irving uses faulty, unhealthy marriages to rectify the American society. To show that believing in things other than reality can lead to hurt, he also uses humor.
Works cited
Abel, Darrel. “The Rise of a National Literature”, American Literature: Colonial Writing and Early National Writing. Barron’s Educational Studies published a book in New York in 1963.
Bily Cynthia, short stories for students, Gale Research 1997
William L. Hedges examines Washington Irving’s life in his book Washington Irving: An American Study, 1802- 1832, published by Johns Hopkins Press in 1965.
Irving, Washington. The Devil, Tom Walker. Putnam, Davis, and Co. published a book in Worcester, MA in 1896. Print.
Irving, Washington. The narrative of Sleepy Hollow. New York: of Wonders, 1990. Print.
Lynch, James. “The Devil In the Writings Of Irving, Hawthorne And Poe,” New York Folklore Quarterly VIII, 1952.
Nelson, Michael. Gale Research, 1997.
Elisabeth Piedmont Marton, for short stories for students, Gale Research, 1997.
Plummer, Laura. Short Stories for Students Gale Research, 1997.
