The Devil and Tom Walker is a story by Washington Irving. The story is about a man named Tom Walker who makes a deal with the devil. The devil asks Tom to give him his soul in return for riches. Tom agrees to the deal and becomes very rich. However, the devil always comes to collect what he is owed. Tom tries to avoid the devil, but eventually the devil catches up to him and takes his soul.
This story teaches us that we should be careful what we wish for. It also shows us the consequences of making deals with the devil. The story warns us about the dangers of greed and temptation. It reminds us that we should always be mindful of our actions, because they may have consequences that we do not foresee. The story is a cautionary tale that teaches us about the dangers of making bad decisions.
Stephen Vincent Benet, in his poem “The Devil and Daniel Webster”, and Washington Irving, in his novella “The Devil and Tom Walker,” illustrate to the reader the consequences of human greed for material possessions, as well as how a person’s commitment to the devil affects the outcome of the “deal.” The authors discuss human intent and purpose in these two distinct yet strangely similar narratives. In “The Devil and Tom Walker,” we follow a stingy man and his nagging wife who “… were so tight that they plotted together to cheat one another” (128).
The wife, in an attempt to get her husband to sell his soul to the devil, makes an agreement with him that if the devil were to ever come for him, she would get a new dress. The husband agrees and the next day, finds himself being chased by the devil. The husband is clever enough to make a deal with the devil; he will give him his soul in return for protection from the devil. The story concludes with the death of the husband, who “fell into a deep hole that he had dug for treasure, and was suffocated in the earth” (130).
The theme of “The Devil and Tom Walker” is human intent. The story shows how greed can lead to one’s demise. The husband’s intent was not pure; he only wanted what he could get for himself and did not care about the consequences. In “The Devil and Daniel Webster”, the story is of a poor farmer, Jabez Stone, who makes a deal with the devil in order to become rich. The devil agrees to give Stone whatever he wants on one condition: that Stone gives up his soul.
Stone agrees and is given riches, but at a cost. The devil takes away everything that Stone loves, including his wife and children. The theme of this story is also human intent, but it differs from “The Devil and Tom Walker” in that Jabez Stone’s intent was pure. He only wanted what was best for his family and was not motivated by greed. The outcome of the deal was not what Stone expected because he did not take into consideration the devil’s true intentions.
Irving’s tale ‘The Devil and Tom Walker’ is a moral story that warns its readers against avarice and corruption. Irving accomplishes this goal by employing an allegory, in which the characters, things, and plot are used to represent more than just elements of the narrative.
The Devil is a representation of temptation, and Walker’s agreement with the Devil is an allegory for the choices humans make that can have terrible consequences. The story therefore serves as a warning to readers not to succumb to temptation, lest they suffer the same fate as Walker. The consequences of Walker’s choices are made evident through the destruction he and his family suffer, as well as through the moral lesson at the end of the story. The story thus provides a cautionary tale against human greed and its destructive potential.
Irving’s story is based on a real-life figure named Tom Denton, who was known for his extreme greed. Denton made a deal with the Devil in which he would be given great wealth in return for his soul. However, as with Walker in Irving’s story, Denton’s greed ultimately led to his downfall. The story of The Devil and Tom Walker is an example of the consequences that can result from making deals with the Devil, and serves as a warning to readers not to succumb to temptation.
The story highlights the importance of human intent in regards to dealings with the Devil, and emphasises the need for caution when making such deals. By illustrating the dangers of greed and corruption, Irving’s story provides a moral lesson for readers. The story therefore serves as both a warning and a lesson, and is an important contribution to the genre of moral tales.
The tale demonstrates the perils of avarice, hypocrisy, and corruption as Tom grows increasingly concerned about his bargain and futilely tries to hide behind public piety as he plots to flee his obligation.
The Devil in The Devil and Tom Walker is a representation of the dark side of human nature, personified as a malignant force that can lure people into ruin. The story also highlights the importance of being truthful and honest, virtues which Tom neglects until it is too late.
Washington Irving’s The Devil and Tom Walker is a morality tale that warns against the dangers of making deals with the devil. The story follows the Faustian journey of Tom Walker, who makes a deal with the devil in exchange for wealth and prosperity. However, as with many such deals, there is a catch – the devil will claim Tom’s soul upon his death. Tom tries to cheat the devil by hiding his wealth and living a modest life, but the devil is not so easily fooled.
The story is a warning against the dangers of greed and corruption, and highlights the importance of being truthful and honest. It also shows the consequences of making deals with the devil, which can often lead to ruin. The Devil and Tom Walker is a classic example of American gothic literature, and is still widely studied today. The story was first published in 1824 in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., and has been adapted for stage and screen many times.
