Devil And Tom Walker Greed Essay

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.

Irving was born April 3, 1783 in Manhattan, New York (Irving 318). Even during his younger years, he “[had] a passion for writing, a playful mind, and keen powers of observation” (Irving 318). Washington Irving had a distinct taste for putting and observing fine details in his work, even before his major successes. No matter if he was just truly getting into and elaborate explanation of a location or setting or perhaps just providing extra details, Irving persisted to immerse readers in the plot and make them apart of the story. Later on in his literary career, “he began writing a series of stories that blended legends of Europe with tales he had heard wandering as a young man...” (Irving 318). At the time, his writings could have been thought of as unusual, due to his use of unorthodox elements and blending them together. Irving also commonly included the devil along with European folk tales (Irving 318). These outstandingly unique elements can easily be seen in his 1859 publication of the short story “The Devil and Tom Walker”.
This particular short story takes place in New England around 1727, a time where America was nowhere close to where it is today and was full of greedy men and women; which portrays a very meaningful theme that everyone could learn from. The main character, Tom walker is a struggling businessman with a tough, shrewd wife, who was said to be “tall, termagant, fierce of temper, loud of tongue, and strong of arm” (Irving 322). In addition to his boisterous wife, their marriage is not too strong either, they continuously try to cheat each other anyway they can. Considering Tom’s at-home life is not doing so hot, one day when he was walking in the woods he came across the devil where he began to bargain for a deal that would grant him a lifetime of money and wealth (Irving 324). Tom takes extra time to think over whether he wants to take the deal or not, but makes the fatal mistake of telling his wife; after luring him to sleep, she was out of the door the second Tom was no longer looking to go make her own deal with the devil. Unfortunately, Tom’s wife is killed by the devil and he claims all of the valuable possessions she had brought to bargain with him. Once he woke, Tom eventually went back to the devil to strike his own deal, luckily, he had a better outcome than his wife and spent the rest of his life rich and wealthy, but yet continuously worried about the devil returning. Due to this, Tom becomes a consistent churchgoer trying to repent the deal he made with the devil but one day the devil comes to collect Tom, and he did not have any holy objects on him, such as his Bible, thus making it easy for the devil to throw Tom upon his horse and get his own end of their bargain. As Tom illustrates in the story, “moral corruption breeds more moral corruption, escalating to the greatest corruption of all, a pact with the devil” (Irving 326). Further instilling the overall theme of the story, which is to be good and wise with your money, but that if one ends up being corrupt and foolish, all debts will end up being collected.
In addition to theme, the story teaches us of the intense strength of greed and hunger.

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

well.
Tom Walker characterized to be a symbol of how powerful greed can be on one’s conscious.

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

greed.
Therefore, in Irving’s short story, “The Devil and Tom Walker” he takes advantage of the setting, theme and intense characterization of protagonist Tom Walker in order to exhibit the effects of greed, as well as demonstrate how easy it can be for a person to compromise anything if it means they will get something out of it in return. As Irving says “let all griping money brokers lay this story to heart” (Irving 332). In essence, he is saying that his writing was a lesson of what power greed has over a person and what extreme things it can cause one to do. As well as, the consequences greed always carries alongside it-- that will always find their way back to you, no matter how much you try to avoid them.