How Can a Man Have Integrity With a Woman?
Irving describes the beautiful, rich abundance of earth as Ichabod rides through the fields of the van Tassel estate on his way to pay court to the lovely Katrina–“the rich fields of wheat, of rye, of buckwheat, and Indian corn, and the orchards burdened with ruddy fruit”–and his heart, we are told, “yearned after the damsel who was to inherit these domains.” Ichabod is smitten, Irving makes clear, not only with the girl, but with the wealth associated with her. The story continues: his imagination expanded with the idea how they might be readily turned to cash…Nay, his busy fancy already realized his hopes, and presented to him the blooming Katrina, with a whole family of children, mounted on top of a wagon loaded with household trumpery, with pots and kettles dangling beneath; and he beheld himself bestriding a pacing mare, with a colt at her heels, setting out for Kentucky, Tennessee, or the Lord knows where. It never occurs to Ichabod to ask Katrina what she might feel about le
