Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker” Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker” is a short story that illustrates the darkness that exist in human nature. Perhaps his involvement in government or is experience as being a lawyer that allows him to see the inner conflicts we as human beings struggle to control. Whatever his inspiration his writings create an almost comedic explanation as to how people become overwhelmed with greed. The period in which Washington Irving endured may
When first glanced at “The Devil and Tom Walker” does not seem like the “romantic” ideals one might think. The idea of romance is not just that of kissing, sex and relationships, that is an old paradigm. But, the tale of Tom Walker and the Devil depicts the beauty of nature, is emotionally charged and displayed many things that put imagination over reason, all characteristics of a romantic story. Even the definition of “romantic” is “of, characterized by, or suggestive of an idealized view of reality”
story “The Devil and Tom Walker” are two different story plots. Although they are very different, they are also very similar in comparison. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is a ghostly tale that questions a mystery of the headless horsemen that had lost his head in a nearby battle. “The Devil and Tom Walker” is about a man by the name of Tom Walker that discovers the remains of an old indian fortification. Tom kicks the skull and faces the devil for his bad action. Tom bargains with the devil and becomes
even with the Devil to gain the property. The becoming a slave-trader of satin does not prevent Tom and his wife from dealing with it. The treasure hidden by the pirate Kidd obviously is a description of its ill roots: the wrong ways of gained treasure. We know the Devil is a reflection of black powers. It emerges especially where tricky things could be happened. The end of the story shows that the money gained with wrong ways would not bring happiness to anyone else. And the Devil enjoys the playing
movement of Romanticism. Many of the stories written during that era were full of common Romantic elements such as Strong emotions, a youthful innocent main character, symbolism, and abrupt endings. “The Adventure of the German Student” and “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving and “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne are some of the Romantic short stories written during that time. Gottfried Wolfgang is a youthful and innocent main character which is a romantic element. He is a
Morbid Can It Get? Gothic literature incorporates several elements that set it apart from other literature. No element is as prevalent as the use of morbid scenarios in the novel Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Likewise, the short stories “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving and “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe share the common element, making the stories alike. In the novel Sharp Objects, the first example of something morbid is when Camille, the main character, encounters Natalie, a teenage
Allies protected countless people from persecution and prevented the expansion of the evil German empire. People should stand up for justice and what is right as is noted throughout history as well in the following works of literature: “The Devil and Tom Walker”, “The Crucible”,
supernatural elements. Having supernatural elements draws a reader’s attention and creates a mood. For example, “The old stories add, moreover that the devil presided at the hiding of the money, and took it under his guardianship; but this, it is well known, he always does with buried treasure…”(The Devil and Tom Walker). The fact that the devil always hides the money and the reading leaves a question about what he does with the buried treasures draws a reader. A reader would want to know where he
the after life. No one could become worthy of salvation, however, in this quote from The Crucible Hale explains that the Devil can get to anyone. In the scene where Hale tells John Proctor that Rebecca Nurse had been accused of witch craft, John thought it impossible that anyone would accuse Rebecca and this is how Hale responds: “’Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven”(Miller 201). Even the most righteous can fall from holiness and forfeit their
this in the short stories are the wives. Both Tom and Rip’s wives are seen as the villains in the stories by trying to tell their husbands what to do and make the lives of their