illustrated outline of a person's head with a red thumbprint on the forehead with an outline of the devil behind

The Devil and Tom Walker

by Washington Irving

Start Free Trial

Student Question

What factors led to Tom initially refusing the deal?

Quick answer:

Tom initially refuses the Devil's deal primarily due to his resentment towards his wife, who has caused him significant distress. Although tempted by the wealth of Kidd the pirate, Tom's desire to spite his wife outweighs his greed. Additionally, Tom's hardened nature, a result of his wife's treatment, makes him unafraid of the Devil. Despite these factors, the Devil marks Tom with a signature, hinting at the eventual sale of his soul.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

The factors that contributed to Tom's initial refusal to the Devil are as follows:

Tom didn't want to accept the Devil's offer because he wasn't sure whether he wanted to make his wife happy by getting all the wealth of Kidd, the pirate.  He wanted to  snub her because she has caused him so much turmoil over the years.  His greed and lust for power was great but his resentment for his wife was greater and this was enough to turn the Devil down on their initial encounter.  He is also not afraid of the Devil because his wife has made him so hardened about everything.  The Devil has burnt his signature into Tom's forehead to assure him, that he will keep his word.  Even though Tom doesn't disclose the terms of the sale of wealth, we can guess that he will probably have to sell his soul to get it.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial