#Drama Analysis Ichabod Crane and a Red Cardinal in Sleepy Hollow written by Irfan Suryana

Yogyakarta, 18 December 2015


A. Evidence:
Before Ichabod Crane would go to Sleepy Hollow he held a bird cage with a red cardinal inside and he opened the cage so the bird flew free.

B. Question:
1. What is the purpose of presenting that action?
2. What is meaning of presenting that action?
3. Why must be red cardinal?

C. Analysis
1. Cardinal medicine symbolizes relationship, courtship, and monogamy in Native American lore.
2. Medicine animals act as guides, teachers, or protectors as they impart power, wisdom, or virtue to the chosen person.
3. It also imparts luckiness.
4. A cardinal is representative of a loved one who has passed.
5. When a cardinal appears in the yard it’s a visitor from Heaven.
6. Most of us see birds as a symbol of freedom, or even as symbols of the future. Their ability to soar high into the sky and their proximity with the sky makes them desirable for humans who cannot fly without substitute wings.
7. Cardinal connotes beauty, vibrancy, and nobility. Red is the color of love, and it is to associate a red cardinal with love and warmth. It could be a reference to a possible passionate or a sign of you settling down in life with the person you love. Besides, it could mean delight by way of accomplishment of a good deed.
8. The cardinal’s name is derived from the high-ranking clerics of the Catholic Church who wear rich red robes. The trem cardinal is used to denote something with primary or essential qualities, such as a cardinal direction. The word comes from the Latin cardo, meaning hinge.
9. The cherokee believe that the cardinal is the daughter of the sun. Legend has it that if someone sees a cardinal flying upward, toward the sun, he will have good luck. Conversely, if he sees it flying down toward the Earth , watch out for bad luck.
10. The cardinal tells someone that he can handle his problem about confidence, and to believe in himself. It is important to be proud of himself for his abilities or for the things he has achieved. The cardinal’s bright red feathers and cheerful song call attention to him wherever he goes. If someone sees cardinal, it may be telling him to stand up, lift his head high, and take pride in himself.
11. The cardinal’s bright red plumage also calls someone to open himself to craetive energy. The cardinal also helps someone to open up and gets his creativity flowing again. The red feather is linked with fire, the element of activity, vitality, and passion. If someone is feeling like go a stray, the cardinal may lend him its energy to help him gets back on his feet. Likewise, it can be a good bird with whom to work if he is struggling to handle depression. If someone is having difficulty dealing with anger, however, seeing a cardinal may remind someone to take a step or two back.
12. The cardinal makes a fantastic animal totem. It reminds people to hold themselves with pride – not ego pride. Rather, the cardinalasks people to stand a little taller, be a bit more regal, step into their natural confidence as if people were born to lead with grace and nobility. Those who attract the cardinal as their totem are naturally energetic, love life, and happily help the others where/when they can. People can call upon the cardinal when they are feeling low and they can call on the cardinal as well when they need bolstering for an event they are nervous about. The symbolic cardinal meanings are hope, love, cheer, prode, focus, energy, and renewal.
13. For Christians, cardinal red is the color symbol of the blood of Christ and the hope humanity gained from his resurrection. Cardinal is the name as well as the color worn byCardinals, the highest priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Red is worn on the day of Pentecost as a sign to celebrate the birth of the Christian Church as well as on Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Red is symbol of steadfast faith. 
14. The cardinal color red is symbol of vitality, importance, faith & power. Cardinals can bring color and vitality into  people’s lives. Their crimson color can remind them of the importance of themselves as individuals in the circle of life. As the cardinal red color is symbol of faith, so it can remind them to "keep the faith" though circumstances might look bleak, dark and hopeless.
15. The cardinal cycle of twelve is symbol of cycles, life, death & renewal.
16. Cardinal sounds are symbol of cheer, elevation, clarity & communication. The call of a cardinal can come to cheer people up, or cheer people on. The unique clarity of his call is can be used to gain our attention and lift people from their depression, their sorrow or perhaps their ordinariness. The cardinal’s call can call to people to do our duty. A cardinal call can tell people to give up any vanity or appearances we may be holding on to and follow the hope in our heart, a cardinal hope that will lead people, on our upward journey through the cycle of life.
17. Cardinal parenting & mating are symbol of care, duty, dedication & transformation. The female cardinal’s voice in the world may remind a woman that she too has a voice and it may be time to find it and begin expressing herself. The parental and mating behavior of cardinals can remind people that their dedication to nurturing and caring for their loved one is also a part of the natural life cycle. The caring manor of a male cardinal can remind people that we are never really alone, that there is a father above who will always protect and care for them.
18. Cardinal health is symbol of strength, readiness, self-preservation & vitality.
D. Answer
Based on many sources that I have found I can conclude that the purpose of presenting Ichabod’s action is in order to get confidence in doing his duty to go to Sleepy Hollow. Besides that, he wanted to get good luck, believe in himself so he freed a red cardinal from its cage. He also wanted to get away from any depression and problem that will make him so low and be faced in Sleepy Hollow. He wanted to open up and get his creativity as well. The red feather of cardinalis linked with fire, the element of activity, vitality, and passion and it is symbol of faith as well. If someone is feeling like go a stray, the cardinal may lend him its energy to help him gets back on his feet.A red cardinal is also deemed as protector. Moreover, Ichabod Crane wanted to stand up, lift his head high, and took pride for his duty.

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