SLEEPY HOLLOW

Judicial System

As punishment for practicing unorthodox investigative methods, which included experimenting with fingerprints and autopsies (which he does preform on a victim in the movie), Ichabod is assigned to Sleepy Hollow. These activities had not yet been proven as accurate and moral ways of investigation and therefore were not excepted methods.

 

 

Witchcraft

One strong example of witchcraft is Lady Van Tassel, a witch, who controlled the Headless Horseman by keeping his skull and preforming spells. This concludes that for most of the film witchcraft is what is controlling the Horseman's actions. Also, in order to find the Headless Horseman's grave, which coincidently is located under the Tree of the Dead, he needs the assistance of a witch. The witch he seeks out happens to be Lady Van Tassel's twin sister. She lives deep in the woods and when Ichabod finds her she preforms a spell to locate the Headless Horseman's grave. Again this is another use of witchcraft. Perhaps witchcraft and the supernatural can explain things that religion cannot?

 

 

Religion

The film showed multiple flashbacks to Ichabod’s childhood depicting his mother and father. His father, who was seriously invested in religion and a strong believer, ended up killing Ichabod’s mother solely because she was a witch. This is an example of how religion was opposed to witchcraft during that time period. Even in comparisons to the Colonial Era, witchcraft was not a justifiable way of life. For example, the Salam Witch Trials showed hatred towards witchcraft. Furthermore, after the Revolutionary War witchcraft is not being accepted by religion. Within the past periods it is a continuing factor we seem to see. An example in the film that goes against religious belief, is the pastor committing adultery with the witch, Lady Van Tassel. Near the end of film, the Headless Horseman chases the town's people into the church. The Headless Horseman is unable to step inside the church grounds, however in the chaos and hysteria, the people do not realize this. This allows the Horseman to maintain the upper hand and kill Brutus Van Tassel from the outside of the church. It is possible this scene shows that without compete faith religion will not protect you.