Consider, for a moment, the societal perception that the Sleepy Hollow community has of each character: Brom Bones is seen as the mischievous good-ole-boy type whose waggish ways and boastful personality lead others to see him as the popular quarterback type, for a modern comparison.

Ichabod Crane, on the other hand, is seen as the well-meaning academic -- intelligent, dutiful, and proficient, but not much of a "looker," so to speak. His services are appreciated, and he frequents the homes of his students with mothers who cook well, but overall, he is still viewed as somewhat of a harmless "nerd."

These two contrasting personalities -- the jock and the geek -- lead the reader to a fuller understanding of the characters, and force the reader to "pick sides." We become sympathetic to the plights of both the protagonist, Ichabod, and the antagonist, Brom, as the story progresses.