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The devil and tom walker analysis
Literary elements in the devil and tom walker
The devil and tom walker analysis
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Writers have a way to make society take a double look at themselves and what is going on in life or even in nature is compared. It’s actually called satire it’s the use of humor, irony, it criticizes people’s stupidity or vices. “The Devil and Tom Walker” is written by Washington Irving. In his story, he uses satire to criticize the people and the actions they have taken among themselves in the 1720’s that lived in Boston.
In the book of “The Devil and Tom Walker” marriage was where the most struggle lies.
When you are married you love one another and want to please each other and more all positive things about them there may be some negative but every relationship has ups and downs.
But nothing is like this one his own wife wanted him to
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The deacon was one of them he hired pirates to get more money for his wealth and business but he was a man of god he was an ape. An ape means to copy someone especially the way they behave or speak. The White people was paid to kill every Native American put them an extent. Little did they know every time they were giving the devil more power. They wanted their land instead of making them leave town they kill the men and women even children.
Religion is a big one just because after they give their souls they want to believe and worship in god. They worship in god to protect them from the devil when they realize they didn't make the brightest decision. Some take til they get old but once you sold your soul there is no way you can get it back unless you buy it back. Deacon Peabody is one of them he is a man of god but is doing the devil's work on the low to stay known and wealthy but no one knows the truth about him. Persecuting Quakers and Anabaptists are the types of people Mr. Tom Walker was in church with he feels if he praises god as loud and goes to church with them that his goods will out way his wrongs. Will guess what. He was wrong again like I said earlier once you sold your soul you're not getting it back especially from the
In America, the period of Romanticism brought up many depictions of society that held their place in America many decades ago. This society was made up of Puritans who held a strong belief system and was even their form of governing. Romantic authors like Washington Irving, who wrote “The Devil and Tom Walker”, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The Scarlet Letter included Puritans in their stories to convey a message. In both works, the authors focus on Puritans in their stories to convey an image of who Puritans were and what they did, though not in a positive light through the use of the devil and the setting of a forest. This is because of how Romanticism generally satirized Puritans and tried to portray them as completely contradictory
Both “The Devil and Tom Walker” and “The Devil and Daniel Webster” are exemplary specimens of Faustian myths, and as such have very many similarities and concurrences. But, they also emphasize different aspects of the characters and their respective personalities. These two commendable stories serve as excellent chronicles of literature and as worthy examples of moral lessons for all ages.
"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.
Another reason I believe Tom deserved his fate is because he didn't need to offer this soul, he could have said no to him and continue with his life. In any case, that was not the situation, Tom proceeded with his arrangement with the devil and he let his greed control his activities. Making a deal with the devil is like welcoming yourself to hell, “One would think that to meet with such a singular personage, in this wild, lonely place, would have shaken any man’s nerves; but Tom was a hard-minded fellow (Irving 325). As of now, Tom was plainly mindful of what he was getting into and later on the story he starts to regret his actions. Furthermore, Tom knew selling his soul to the devil would convey him to his end however he was desperately in need of wealth so he continued with his deal. If Tom had sold his soul for knowledge I would have not change my mind because the fact he sold his soul, is horrible as it is. Another reason why Tom deserves his fate is because he thought he would be save after he got rich. Making a deal with the devil is the worst thing ever because if you want to taking something you did bad back, you can not
Satirical writing allows the author to express his or her opinion about a problem in society. A writing must follow three rules in order for it to be classified as satirical. First, a continuous focus on one’s subject’s faults. Secondly, instead of telling the reader directly, information must be given indirectly. Thirdly, the writing must have a variety of satirical techniques in general (Festa). With these simple guidelines, an author can demonstrate his beliefs of what he thinks needs to be changed in society.
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.
No matter in the past or present, the world never lacks actors and their nauseating affectations can be seen everywhere in life. They are pretending to have all those perfect beliefs and feelings and acting like the greatest people ever while they are really not. Satire is used by Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to depict how all kinds of people say one thing and do another in America in early 1800s, demonstrating that Mark Twain wants readers to be aware of the hypocrisy and ignorance of American society.
Satire is a writing technique used oftentimes as a way to criticize or mock something comically. Many writers utilize satire to reveal their perspectives on social issues without outright stating them. Mark Twain 's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn exhibits many examples of satire, all of which hint towards Twain 's opinions of the American society he lived in. Three particular societal norms Mark Twain uses satire to mock multiple times in his novel, include but are not limited to; racism and slavery, religion, and family feuds. There are multiple other instances for which satire is used, but these three are exceedingly prominent throughout the novel.
Slaves were required by their masters to attend church. The slaves soon realized that many of the biblical stories they learned about in church paralleled their own...
Romanticism is an essential part of the early forms of American literature. Romantic’s, who value feelings and intuition as opposed to reason, seek to reveal higher truths through their writings. One way to reveal these truths is by the use imagination, as Washington Irving and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow do. Through the utilization of imagination, Washington Irving and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reveal distinct truths about life.
Irving, Washington. “The Devil and Tom Walker”. Elements of Literature: Fifth Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2008. 175-185. Print.
Slave owners used Christianity as justification for what they did to the slaves . One would think that being a religious person would introduce better values, and would have helped to end the evil acts of slavery. But being a more religious person made a slave owner harsher and tougher it made them go harder on slaves for no reason. Douglass literally considered the worst of slave owners to be the more religious people.. Were I to be again reduced to the chains of slavery, next to that enslavement, Having a religious slave master was the worst thing that happened to me .For of all slave master that I have ever met, religious slave owners are the worst ones. I have ever found them the meanest and cruelest, the most cruel and scared , of all others." In order to help slaves get through some of the bad conditions that they went through .Families should have been provided for kids in slavery but Instead, slavery separated kids from their friends and families so the kid were on their own, even the little ones not only through childhood, but likely for their whole life. Douglass explained about this tragic situation through what he went through as a slave . The argument that "good people tend do bad things" has came throughout the world
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.
Racism in America's religious institutions can be traced to the very roots of America. Original religious views on other races had little bearing in everyday life. White Christians `paid little attention to slaves' souls' (22), and often viewed them as less than human. In the early 1730's, evangelicalism began to gain strength amongst slave holders. It was believed that being Christian made the slaves better workers and obey their masters more fully. The movement to `Christianize' slaves was fully put forth by evangelist George Whitefield in 1740 (25). He traveled the countryside, `saving' slaves from all parts of the country, and Christianizing them to become better slaves. George Whitefield's main point in the Christianizing of slaves was simple, ."..God allowed slavery for larger purposes, including the Christianization and uplifting of the heathen Africans." (27).
In the Devil and Tom Walker Tom’s wife has a temper, loud mouth and she was strong . His face sometimes showed signs that their fighting may have been more than words. She would hide things from Tom. They did not have a very good marriage. Again Irving portrayed the wife as loud and nagging.