The Devil and Tom Walker Essay Sample

The Devil and Tom Walker Essay Sample It is a short narration that tells us a horrible story of Tom Walker and his nameless wife. The tale starts with a dreadful legend about the treasure hidden by Captain Kidd, the notorious pirate. To protect his fortune, he struck a deal with the Devil. However, Captain Kidd was never lucky to return as he had been captured and hanged. Then the author of “The Devil and Tom Walker,” Washington Irving, brings us to the marsh not far from Boston where the pirate buried his hoard. There is a greedy and misery couple lives next to that place. Tom Walker and his scornful wife have no peace of mind; their souls lost in perishing cold. They are always cheating, scolding and fighting each other. Neighbors avoid greeting them. The Devil and Tom Walker SparkNotes will help you to avoid dull reading and save your time. Deep in the Swamp: Tough Deal with the Satan One day Tom walks through the marsh and discovers the debris of an abandoned Indian fort. Suddenly, he finds a skull with a hatchet buried in it. Immediately the strange voice comes from nowhere and forbids Tom to touch his findings. Tom sees a black man sitting on a stump. He recognizes him soon. It is the Devil himself, Old Scratch with an ugly black face and a sharp ax. He makes aware Tom that this wetland is his property. The Devil recounts the old legend about buried hoard and makes an attractive proposal to Tom who is eager for treasures; though the price is his soul. Returning home, Tom tells his scornful wife the whole story. She encourages him to take the offer. However, to contradict her, Tom states he will decline the proposition. Soon after that, the Scrooge-like woman rushes to the wetland to arrange her own bargain with Old Scratch. The wife takes all the valuables to pursue the Satan to strike a deal with her. But the miserable woman has never returned from that journey. Her husband, at last, finds her liver and heart into the apron tied to a tree. Tom is rather upset with valuables disappearance than his wife demise. He is rejoicing at the tragic news as he gets rid of his unbearable wife. Eventually, Tom closes a deal with Old Scratch and attains the pirate’s hoard on the terrible condition. The Devil and Tom Walker: Summary After moving to Boston, he became a prosperous loan shark with repute of man who shows no mercy and compassion to his victims. He is a wealthy person in possession of a great fortune who is charging high-interest rates and securing debts mercilessly. Tom builds an ostentatiously large house, but he neither finishes the building nor furnishes the premises. However, the time has passed, and Tom feels a sense of remorse over his acts and regrets about the bargain with the Satan. He becomes the most devout and faithful man who starts zealously attends church. Tom is keeping Bible on his desk, and a small one always carries in his pocket. In that way, he expects to cheat the Old Scratch. But trying to escape his fate, Tom becomes insane. For example, he has a horse buried upside-down to avoid the Devil’s clutches at Judgment Day. In spite of his turning to God, Tom remains a business shark. One hot day, he talks to a ruined investor who beseeches the moneylender to delay the payment a nd to give him several months more. During the uncomfortable conversation, Tom imprudently mentions his bargain with the Satan. At once Old Scratch arrives at the porch of Tom’s grand house. The Devil knocks at his door. Tom makes an attempt to escape the fate, but he fails. The Devil takes him away on the horse. Both of them disappear in a bolt of lightning. No one has ever seen Tom Walker and the Devil again. After he has gone, the citizens discover that all his ill-gotten wealth has disappeared: treasures turned to wood, horses become skeletons and house burned to ash. However, the rumor about Tom’s riding on the cursed horse is spread. Maybe, even you can meet him there, in the middle of the abandoned Indian fort. The Devil and Tom Walker: Analysis The author compiles a matter-of-fact narration with a supernatural subject. The tragedy and the irony are mixed in Irving’s story. He characterizes Tom and his wife as pure and one-dimensional personalities. They both are covetous and selfish persons who disgust us enormously and worthy only reader’s contempt. There are some crucial features of the story: Unnamed wife. It is remarkable that Tom’s wife remains unnamed in the story. It is the typical nag of antifeminism literature. Figurative language. Through the particular choice of the words, the author develops a sad mood and gently immerses the readers in the story. For example, describing the house of Tom and his unnamed wife, he makes the readers understand that they are lonely couple threatened by starvation. Also, using figurative language and literally elements, the author underlines his message: don’t rush with a choice that may ruin you forever. Antagonism. Irvings attitude towards the characters is evident. He describes Tom as an antagonist. For example, when Tom turns to be a rich man, he spends part of his ill-earned fortune in a ridiculous way building a huge house which he has left unfurnished. There is no balance between Tom’s spiritual life and his earthy deals. Irony. In general, Irving is quite ironic about the human nature and behavior. For example, he underlines Tom’s religion obsession. Tom consistently attends the church, carries Bible in his pocket and keeps the other one on his desk. Nevertheless, he is a callous man even to those who unable to pay. Conclusion As is seen, with the Devil’s help or without him, Tom’s heart and soul have lost forever. His vanity and meanness is the object of author’s irony. In such way, Irving exposes those who obsessed with material assets and cares only for their well-being.