Greed is an intense desire for something, particularly wealth or power. It has roots in American society that go much deeper than the last couple of centuries; greed was clearly sweeping over the community even in the 1700’s. It is even evident in popular stories that are retold to this day. In the short story “The Devil and Tom Walker”, Washington Irving uses setting, theme and the characterization of Tom Walker to highlight the effects of greed, as well as show how one is willing to compromise anything if it means they will get something out of it in return. Talented nineteenth century American author, Washington Irving was highly recognized for his many achievements he accomplished throughout his lifetime as well as his unique writing style. …show more content…
Proving that not all men can handle all their dreams. Main character, “Tom Walker, an unscrupulous moneylender, makes a pact with the devil and only later professes religious beliefs” (Irving). This shows that a man was willing to do whatever he could to obtain large sums of money to which he could swindle and cheat people with. But, to then only to turn to faith when he feels it could protect him from his dirty dealings. In fact, “Tom is so greedy that he declines [at first] because he would have to share the fortune with his wife” (Irving). At first, Tom was iffy on making the deal largely due to the fear of sharing it with his wife. His deep feelings of greed are taking control of how he makes his own decisions, showing how powerful an emotion can be. Which only further proves that “greed is one of the most important themes of “The Devil and Tom Walker” Tom is approached by Old Scratch and offered wealth beyond his wildest dreams” (Irving). It is now more evident just how greed is affecting Tom. It is to the point that he is willing to live without just so his wife will be forced to live without as …show more content…
He is put in a time period of early uprising of the American society, and just happens to be reside in “one of the largest and most-established metropolitan areas in the growing United States” (Irving). Tom was surrounded with booming and growing communities all around him, so it can be understood how one may dream of a more prosperous life. However, Tom took his desires much too seriously, and ended up engulfed in greed. Although he and his wife “lived in a forlorn looking house that stood alone and had an air of starvation” he wanted more than just a better living environment, he wanted it all (Irving 322). His growing greed is even present before he agrees to the bargain with the devil. When told about the large sums of hidden money the only thing really bothering Tom is to wonder "what proof [he has] that [the devil has] been telling [the] truth?" (Irving). Tom Walker could care less about the consequences he may face, but cares more for making sure he is not being lied to by the devil. He is a very persuadable, money-hungry man, which makes him a perfect character chosen to illustrate the strength and power of
Soon he falls asleep and when he wakes up, he finds that he is on a table and a scythe is being lowered from the ceiling. The scythe is another symbol of death. As the scythe is coming down, he tries to find a way to get away from it. At the end of the story, he is saved at the last moment by " an outstretched arm caught my own as I fell, fainting, into the abyss." Washington Irving also talks about death and the devil in his short story "The Devil and Tom Walker." He writes more about the devil than he does death and he does not put himself in the place of the main character like Poe did. Tom, the main character, is a greedy person along with his wife. As he comes home one night, he goes through some woods and meets the devil. "Tom might have felt disposed to sell himself to the devil," but he was afraid to. On the other hand, his wife was not afraid and she disappears. Then Tom makes a deal with the devil, but soon "he thought with regret of the bargain he had made with his black friend, and set his wits to work to cheat him out of the conditions." He turns to religion and carries Bibles with him to keep the devil away, but it does
"About the year 1727, just at the time when earthquakes were prevalent in New England, and shook many tall sinners down upon their knees, there lived near this place a meager miserly fellow of the name of Tom Walker." (Irving) “The Devil and Tom Walker” is a short story written by Washington Irving in about 1824. The story is about a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for Pirate Kidd’s hidden treasure. The man, named Tom Walker, is a greedy, selfish man who thinks money is more important than his wife. “The Devil and Tom Walker” is the best short story example of Romanticism. The story uses escapism, nature as a form of spirituality, and imagination, which are all tenets of Romanticism.
In Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker” Tom Walker was convinced by the devil to make a deal to sell his soul to him. “The Black Man told him of great sums of money which had been buried by Kidd the Pirate, under the oak trees on the ridge not far from the morass.” That quote from Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker,” explains why Tom was interested in selling his soul to
I must say that Tom Walker truly deserves what happened to him. In Tom’s mind he believed happiness in life can only come by money and wealth. During this time, life was not doing too well for Tom, in any case, he does deserve his fate. I truly believe he deserved what happened to him because Tom had made an agreement with the devil for some wealth in return. Also while making the arrangement the DEVIL had agreed to give him money "only on certain conditions" (Irving 325). To protect himself from all the consequences of the devil, Tom carries a bible around him at all times as a shield from the devil. Making an arrangement with the devil was the most awful choice Tom had made. In addition, selling your soul to the devil will make you have nothing
In the book of “The Devil and Tom Walker” marriage was where the most struggle lies.
Can you imagine yourself locked up in a room with no doors? Similar to a room with no doors, there is no way out of hell if it was one's destiny. In the short story "The Devil & Tom Walker" by Washington Irving, the main character's fate is hell because of his wrong decisions in life, accepting a deal with the devil for earthly benefits. Irving reinforces his message about not making decisions that may damn your soul with the use of literary elements and figurative language. Wisely, Irving combines characterization, mood and point of view to perpetuate the theme of the story in the reader's mind.
The concept of greed, which was previously centered on consumption, is currently associated with material accumulation and seen as a self-conscious material vice (Robertson 2001, p. 76). Further analysis singles out several types of greed for money and possessions: greed as service and obedience to wealth, greed as love and devotion to wealth, greed as trusting in wealth (Rosner 2007, p. 11). The characters of The Great Gatsby portray all of the aforementioned types of greed. For instance early in the story Gatsby becomes aware of “the youth and m...
Irving, Washington. “The Devil and Tom Walker”. Elements of Literature: Fifth Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2008. 175-185. Print.
Twenty year naps, headless horsemen, and arranged marriages, what could be better? Washington Irving was an author of many short stories. His travels, westward expansion,and his short stories, made him a person many can not forget.
Washington Irving displays a sense of humor throughout “The Devil and Tom Walker” about greed, marriage and religion to help the reader, become a better person. Tom Walker makes a Faustian Bargain, also known as a deal with the devil. Tom has a lot of problems with his abusive wife, his desire for riches and getting into the afterlife. Washington Irving tells us the story of Tom Walker in a humorous way. Irving does this to display a message to his readers.
Before I investigated Washington Irving, I pictured him as a characterless author referring to his works misjudging him. On the contrary, now afterwards I feel very different about him. I elucidate Washington Irving as an amusing writer due to his fantastic works, including ¨The Sketch Book¨, ¨History of New York¨. ¨Salmagundi¨. ¨The Broken Heart¨. and ¨Life of Washington¨. Without a doubt Washington Irving is one of the best authors of all time in
The evil is shown, by the devil in how he is premeditating the murder of a "Deacon Peabody". Walker contemplates this meeting with the devil, and recognizes that evil is wealth is the first priority for him. Tom Walker's wife, was filled with cupidity and wanted to acquire the gold that the devil had promised. Walker hadn't obliged to his wife, and due to his wife's acute cupidity set out on her own journey to acquire that gold. She had been killed because of her greed, and lack of morals for self-prosperity, which resulted in her death.
Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker” includes great examples of Romanticism, such as symbols in nature having links to the supernatural, the importance of the inner nature, and the emphasis of the individual. In the story, Tom Walker is a selfish man who cares more about money than he does about anyone else, including his wife. One day, while he is walking through the woods, Tom Walker comes across the Devil, who makes a deal with him to exchange his soul for the treasure that is buried in those woods. Tom declines and returns back to his wife and tells her that he has passed on an opportunity that could bring them lots of money. Tom’s wife, outraged by his actions, decides to strike a deal of her own with the Devil and after several attempts, she never returns from the woods. The next time Tom goes to the woods he finds that his wife had been killed by the Devil. He finally agrees to make the deal with him, now that Tom doesn’t have to share anything with his wife. Tom ignores the Devil’s suggestion of becoming a slave-trader and becomes a moneylender instead. He gets wea...
... The greed portrayed by these characters has no explanation, at least that Fitzgerald offers, and thus should not exist; proving that these characters are simply greedy and deserve all that comes to them. And thus these two authors differ in the reasons why the greed occurs and, effectively, the difference in the short, 1-day gap from October 24 into October 25, 1929. And so greed exists in the modern period, saturating its two of its most famous novels and a theme of two of its most famous authors, portraying all evil as caused by greed, illustrating the true cynicism of the era. Works Cited Stenbeck, J. a.
Greed, being a key human condition, has shaped society from the very start. In fact, some scholars believe that greed was the first major milestone of human success, when the first human wondered why he/she had to scrounge around for necessities; it is a part of being human to be greedy. Wanting a new car, to be loved by another, or to desire the feeling of well doing when feeding the needy, these are all factions of greed...