The Devil And Tom Walker Character Analysis

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Character Sketch The Devil and Tom Walker Title The story "The Devil and Tom Walker" written by Washington Irving, published in 1824, consists of a protagonist named Tom Walker. The story dates in the year 1727, taking place in England, thus adding to the literary context to the story quite nicely. The story features a very ill mannered man named Tom Walker, tempted by the one very mythical creature, The Devil. The Devil represents a reflection of a side of Tom; an entity embedded within the simple soul that he is. The Devil also literally represents the gold of Kidd the Pirate. The Devil is basically Tom himself, an isomer of his original self: they look the same; they are the same person, but not necessarily. The Devil is a very powerful…show more content…
It will change the values of the person, it will demean the things you once took pride in, "Let us get hold of the property," said he, consolingly, to himself, "and we will endeavor to do without the woman."(Irving 5). The idea of riches enough for a king struck Tom - as the death of his wife meant nothing to him, except the fact that he had more money to indulge in his greedy self. The date 1727 was not particularly a 'technological' time where things such as computers, internet, and cell phones were invented yet, adding to the frugal character of Tom and the Devil. Hard work was much more evident back in the 17th century, as everyone had a part to contribute to the community. Hard work was something everyone went through, as compared to someone in 2013. The motif of an 'easy way out' would sound much more pleasurable to someone in the 17th century, as that was a time of slavery, a time of desperation, a time of a very slim chance of success. Under these circumstances, the setting adds to the Devil, as the temptation of money seems much more pleasurable and desirable as compared to a later century. Life was hard for people then, as the temptation of the usurers' money seemed very appealing to a person, " The poor land jobber begged him to grant a few months indulgence. Tom had grown testy and irritated…show more content…
The Devil which is a parallel to money is a motif so people such that in Tom's position, will borrow money from him. The Devil has essentially converted Tom into his spawn, as he is doing the same thing the Devil once did to him. The greed and money ultimately resulted in his death, and Tom's userer subjects led the end of their lives because of the debt they had to pay. The subjects indulged in the thought of free money, easily accessible money, ruining their lives, which is what the 'Devil' quiescently did to Tom Walker. This quote portrays the greed contained in people, "He was on the point of foreclosing a mortgage, by which he would complete the ruin of an unlucky land-speculator for whom he had professed the greatest friendship." (Irving 8). Tom had basically been the Devil himself, supporting the fact that the Devil is a mere isomer of his counterpart,
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