Comparing Puritans In Washington Irving's The Devil And Tom Walker

During the early 1700s, a traveler met a man in the Massachusetts forest. However, this was no mortal man, but the devil. “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Devil and Tom Walker,” two short stories, both start out in this way. Washington Irving wrote the latter in 1824, which tells how Tom Walker profited through working for the devil. In 1835, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote “Young Goodman Brown,” which describes Goodman Brown’s woodland encounter with the Devil. The two stories share specific ideas regarding the devil, overpowering minor deviations between each other.

In “The Devil and Tom Walker” they use literary archetypes that represents universal patterns of human behavior or commonly-held beliefs. This story takes place in 1727 in Boston Massachusetts. There are three main characters who are very similar but a little different. Tom Walker is small, greedy, overly confident, and miserly. Tom Walker’s wife Mrs. Walker is selfish, verbally abusive towards Tom, and she is known as a termagant because she nags and complains all of the time. Last but not least old scratch has many other names that have been given to him by his personality, but he is the devil.

“The Devil and Tom Walker” describes the devil in the following way: “he was dressed in a rude half-indian garb, and had a red belt...yet He had a shock of coarse black hair...and bore an ax on his shoulder.” Washington Irving wrote “The Devil and Tom Walker” in 1824, which tells how Tom Walker became rich by working for the devil. Another short story, “Young Goodman Brown,” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in1835, describes Goodman Brown’s woodland tramp with the Devil. The two stories share specific ideas regarding the devil, overpowering minor deviations between each other.

Tom Walker character is miserly. Tom hid many things from his wife Mrs. Walker. ’’ They were so miserly that they even

In this story we can see many interesting facts about the main character Tom Walker such as his relations with other characters and his own beliefs. In the story we can see how Tom doesn’t accept the deal with the Devil at first, but when his wife dies in hands of the Devil, Tom Walker now accepts to do the deal; however he doesn’t accept because he feels like he has lost everything but because now his wife can’t take away any part of the treasure and now he will do the things he wants for his own good and not to please

Throughout this story Irving condemns greed. In the beginning of the story, Tom is characterized as a greedy man. One way this is shown is when his wife is killed by the devil. She brought many valuable goods to try and make a deal with the devil and she got into a fight and lost. When Tom found out about his wife he was more concerned about the loss of the valuable goods that his wife. Another

The characterization and setting in “The Devil and Tom Walker” reveals how the characters really are. To begin with, Tom and the devil made a deal, but Tom didn’t want to keep it. The devil trusted Tom with this deal but, after a while into this thing he had going Tom didn’t want to keep it. This reveals how everyone can’t be trusted and how once you get into things its hard to get out of sometimes.

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.

In all the books ever read, there is always one character who has made an important, life-changing choice. In The Devil and Tom Walker, by Washington Irving, Tom Walker was that character. He was a sad man, he was always miserable in his marriage and with his wealth, especially. While walking through the woods one day, Tom encountered the devil and they struck up conversation. The devil proposed to him a deal, Tom may have the treasure buried at an old Indian fort, which will bring him all the money he desired, for only his soul and must become a usurer for the devil. At first, Tom did not take the deal. Howver, when he got home that day he spoke to his wife about the encounter and she insisted he make the deal. His wife went looking for the devil that night to reconcile the deal, but the devil killed her before she got the chance. After

Nathaniel Hawthorne and Washington Irving are two of the most prolific and successful writers of their era. Hawthorne’s, “Young Goodman Brown” is a story about a man, Goodman Brown who happens to set out on a trip for an evil purpose. On the way he meets a man who offers him his staff, saying that it might help him walk faster, but Goodman Brown refuses and wishes to return back to his village for the sake of his wife, Faith. On the other hand, Irving’s, “The Devil and Tom Walker” is about an individual who lets his greed and selfishness take charge of him. Tom Walker, a greedy man, attempts to make a deal with a devil. Tom seeks wealth and in return the devil asks for his soul. In both stories, the authors express their feelings and views about staying away from indulgence and sin. In spite of all the difference among Hawthorne’s, “Young Goodman Brown” and Irving’s, “The Devil and Tom Walker,” they share salient similarities such as setting, symbolism, and author’s purpose.

In the beginning of the short story, Tom walks into the woods and meets the Devil. In Tom’s deal, Tom asks, “’What proof have I that all you have

He was living a very unhappy life. He did not have love for noone especially his wife. All he cared about was his money and angering his wife. Tom Walker was out in the woods and went to go meet old scratch , the man old scratch offered Tom a deal of making easy money but he didn't take the deal because he didn't want to please his wife. He mentioned the offer to his wife and she was angry at Tom because he didnt

Greed has a powerful hold on several human beings. For some it has a stronger hold than others not so much. Without people knowing, greed kills the soul slowly. Tom Walker met the face of greed one night and was offered that would set his fate. As he analyzed the black man's charcoaled face he came to realize the man before him was the devil. With swift smooth words Satan offered some ancient treasure for Tom Walker soul. Pondering the glamorous offer Tom decided against it due to his wife at home. Revealing what happen to her later that night, she was mad. She wondered why he didn’t take the offer. Greed worked its way into her heart leading her to her death. As soon as Tom finds out he seeks out the devil and makes the deal. Time passes by as a money-launderer Tom regrets his decision and repents for his sin. He dedicates his life to change. But a heart consumed by greed never fully changes as the adduction lacks to be satisfied.

“The Devil and Tom Walker” was Irving’s featured piece in the textbook. This short story was about Tom Walker who leads a very unhappy life. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are not a loving couple. One day as Tom is walking through the woods, he comes across a skull. A man appears out of nowhere and starts yelling at him. The man goes by the name Old Scratch but that does not stop Tom from figuring out it is the devil. Old Scratch says that Captain Kidd has buried a treasure and he offers it to Walker in exchange for selling his soul to the devil. Walker turns down the offer and goes home to tell his wife about what happened. She begs him to take the money but he refuses to

Tom is talking to Huckleberry Finn about wanting to get Muff Potter out of jail. Also in the story it states, “The boys did as they had aften done and before- went to the cell grating and gave Potter some tobacco and matches. Tom is still young, but he has a good hear. He may get into some trouble but he does not mean to be rotten.