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The devil and tom walker and the devil and daniel webster compare and contrast essay
The devil and tom walker and the devil and daniel webster compare and contrast essay
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A Faustian legend is a story in which a character trades something of great personal value to the devil in order to receive personal gain. Since this type of literature originated in the Fourth Century it has spread throughout the world. Two relatively recent versions of this legend are “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving and “The Devil and Daniel Webster” by Vincent Benét. These stories show many similarities as well as a few differences. While both Benét and Irving present similar themes in setting of the tales and motivation in the Faustian character, they do differ in the nature of that character and their visual presentation of the Devil. A fairly obvious comparison between these two stories is the setting in which they take place. Both occur in New England territory, mainly in the forests and hilly country. It also seems as if the land in each of the tales is rocky and hard to work. The geographical features of these lands sound much the same. In fact, each of the two takes place in an area very close to, if not in, Massachusetts. Tom Walker lives a few miles from Boston, while Jabez Stone lives in New Hampshire, near the area where that state meets up with Vermont and Massachusetts. Daniel Webster lives in Massachusetts, in a town called Marshfield. The geographical and cartographical similarities here show an obvious parallel between the two. The motivation of the Faustian character is to a great extent the same. Both Tom Walker and Jabez Stone manifestly want a better life than what they had. Each character is down on their luck. Walker lives in “a forlorn-looking house that stood alone, and had an air of starvation” (Irving 259) while Stone is “an unlucky man” (“Daniel Webster”). Each of the... ... middle of paper ... ...niel Webster”). This version of Old Scratch is obviously not the rugged, “manly-man” of Irving’s writing. As noted later, this devil also has teeth filed to a point. By introducing the Devil in such a light, Benét is apotheosizing his mental power as opposed to physical power. This creature is more than a match for the smartest human who will be pitted against him. Showing the Devil like this early in the story makes Daniel Webster’s victory over him later all the better. 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.
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...
Washington Irving is considered to be the foremost American author of the early romantic era. As such, the majority of his works contain elements consistent with Romantic ideals, including his short story The Devil and Tom Walker. Through literary elements such as diction, imagery, tone, syntax, and figurative language, Irving portrays Tom Walker in a negative light. In a larger sense however, Irving’s use of these literary elements goes beyond merely characterizing Tom Walker, as the entire story can be seen as an allegory critiquing society during the Industrial Revolution. Irving’s utilizes diction masterfully in order to portray Walker’s greediness.
Washington Irving, one of the first American authors to gain international recognition, believed in order for an American writer to be successful, they had to imitate British literature. Irving was born in 1783 and was always exceedingly talented in reading and writing. During the 1800’s, short stories had just became a new attraction. People did not know much about them. However, Irving wanted to explore more and began writing a short story which emphasized the evil temptations and influence the devil has on all people. In Washington Irving’s dark short story, “The Devil and Tom Walker”, Irving displays the theme of moral corruption through symbolism.
Irving satirizes objects and attributes that often have scary connotations to make “The Devil and Tom Walker” a mildly humorous tale by allowing his character to enter unnerving locations with conviction, making light of horrific events and notions in history, and approaching negative character traits with a sarcastic tone. Without this methodology, Tom’s encounter with the devil would entrench readers in trepidation, making it a less enjoyable read. This writer uses his talent to make the damnation of a soul a gratifying experience to
The Devil’s Role in Paradise Lost, The Bible, Faust, and The Devil and Tom Walker
1. Cooksey, Thomas L. `"Talk Not of a Wife" - American interpretations of the Faust legend in 'The Devil and Daniel Webster,' 'Cabin in the Sky' and 'Damn Yankees.' Fall 1999
The main focus of the story “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is the triumph of evil over good. A supposedly good man is tempted by evil and allows himself to be converted into a man of evil. This is much like the situation that arises in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, where two people are tempted to sin and give in thus submitting themselves to the power of the devil. In this novel, the area where the devil resides is strictly parallel to that in “Young Goodman Brown”.
As humans, we go through life’s obstacles and find ourselves lost in these obstacles. Many times one is approached by friends, family and sometimes strangers. As they become aware of your circumstances and obstacles they attempt to give you advice by sharing their beliefs. Similarly, in literature, a devil character appears during a crisis or weak moment's in the protagonist's life to challenge, guide, bring out qualities and thoughts that already live within the protagonist. Although the devil character can be perceived as evil and devious, the devil character has the ability to test the protagonist in order to put the character in contact with something already existent within them.
Faust originated as German folklore, and has been written into literature several times. For the purpose of this paper, the characters will be considered as they are represented in the play Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. When looking at Goethe’s representation of Faust, he bears several resemblances to Hawthorne’s Chillingworth. The first aspect of the characters to be considered lies in who they were before their stories began. The article describes how both men were scholars, devoting their lives to study and knowledge. They were considered doctors due to their rigorous study of medicine. Because of their investment in the quest for knowledge, both men were separated from humanity, but yearned to understand it just the same. As Stein says in his article, “Like all Fausts, he [Chillingworth] has found it necessary to pursue knowledge beyond ordinary limits….Scholar, alchemist, magician, and physician, he resembles the Faustian hero” (78). Hawthorne seemed to paint Chillingworth in the image of Faust, creating him as a character so consumed by his studies that he lives outside natural society. A direct allusion to Faust seems to be made in the midst of The Scarlet Letter, calling Chi...
“The Devil and Tom Walker” was considered the American version of the archetypal story of the Faust. Faust is an old German legend about a sixteenth century German philosopher who sells his soul to the devil for knowledge and power. Many people considered Faust as the main inspiration to the Washington Irving story “The Devil and Tom Walker.” Irving used “The Devil and Tom Walker” as a richly symbolic story that shaped the views of many people during the American Romanticism.
The short story, “The Devil and Tom Walker”, features two of the main characters which are Tom Walker and his wife, Mrs. Walker. Tom and his wife don’t get along very well like many believe couples do. Mrs. Walker actually physically abuses Tom, but he is too afraid to admit it and divorce her. That’s why they are still a married couple. Although both Tom and his wife are very greedy and give in to deals with the Devil, they have very different personalities and treatments towards each other.
The short story "The Devil and Tom Walker," by Washington Irving, reveals the impulses and temptations that affect people in their daily lives. Irving develops and supports his story through exemplification. His purpose was to show what choices or decisions people have to make in their daily lives in order to connect with his audience, to be able to make his story more relatable and enjoyable by the people. In his story, Irving states, "The devil said: In this neighborhood, I am known by the name of the black woodsman. I am he to whom the red men consecrated this spot, and in honor of whom they now and then roasted a white man, by way of sweet-smelling sacrifice," from which we can infer various ethical, social, and cultural influences and
“In “The Devil and Tom Walker,” set in New England in the early 1700s, a narrator relates a story he has heard about a local man’s dealings with the devil (Wilson, Kathleen).” This statement shows a brief overview of the short story about Tom Walker and the Devil. After Tom makes a deal with the devil he attempts to cheat the devil by attending church in hope that it will save his soul. "When Tom grows old, he begins to worry about the terms of his deal with the devil and suddenly becomes a “violent church-goer” in an effort to cheat the devil out of receiving his soul (Wilson, Kathleen).” In his old age he starts to come to a realization that he is doomed to fall into the Devil’s hands and tries to slip his way out of their deal. Tom’s efforts are in vain as the Devil still comes for his rotted soul in the end. ” Nevertheless, one morning the devil conies calling and instantly whisks Tom away on a black horse in the midst of a thunderstorm to the Indian fort in the woods, never to be seen again (Wilson, Kathleen).” Tom is eventually taken away by the Devil and is never seen again. In the forest his tree rotted to the core signaling the end of Tom
Kostić, Milena. "The Faustian Motif in Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus." Facta Universititas 7.2 (2009): 209-22. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.
What power would come with selling one’s soul to the devil? The same question was pondered by Doctor Faustus. Bored of human knowledge, he wondered what else there could be. With a few foolish decisions, Faustus’s life takes a turn he does not expect. Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe shows the importance of decision making and the seven deadly sins in Faustus’s life.