Essay On The Devil And Tom Walker

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Lesly Hernandez Mrs. Rasp AM Lit 07 December 2017 The Devil and Tom Walker In “The Devil and Tom Walker’’ by Washington Irving, Tom describes three different features of American Romanticism. American Romanticism had features of imaginative and emotional value. “The Devil and Tom Walker” exhibited three common characteristics of American Romanticism. He used intuition rather than reason, symbolism, and exotic locale and the supernatural. Tom Walker used intuition rather than reason throughout the story. Buried under the trees in the inlet was treasure that had been buried by Kidd the pirate. Protecting the treasure was the devil. The devil makes the deal to give Tom the treasure in return for his soul. Tom was quick with his decision to side with the devil shortly after his wife dies. He sold his soul to the devil in return for wealth and treasure. If Tom would’ve used reason, he wouldn’t have sided with the devil so quickly. Tom didn’t think about the consequences and later wishes he didn’t make that mistake. He tried to find a way out of the pact. Tom carried a small bible with him everywhere he went and kept one at his home. Tom selling his soul to the devil for wealth really shows us what money can do to people now days. …show more content…

Moral development is lacking development of right and wrong. The forest fits well because it represents a “short cut”. Tom decides to take the short cut back home. The forest was an odd, spooky, isolated place where the devil was. Of course, Tom being fearless led him to keep going. In the forest, Tom runs into the devil that has been guarding the treasure. There, Tom decides to sell his soul to the devil. Not only was the forest a short cut to return home, but also a short cut to become wealthy. Everybody has taken a short cut in life before, and yes it will be easier but in some cases, short cuts aren’t the way to

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