Themes: Power and Moral Corruption
Wealthy and powerful men, such as Deacon Peabody and Absalom Crowninshield, are examples of those who have become morally corrupt from power. In the swamp, the devil names trees after them and scores their trees with his axe. When these people become fully corrupted, the devil cuts down the tree and burns it. This is an allegory for the fate of all of those who have become so corrupted by their power that their fate is death and torment in hell.
The devil also presides over morally corrupt practices, such as the slave trade. He calls himself the “great patron and prompter” of slave traders, underscoring the immoral basis of the slave trade. By writing the slave trade as a practice supported by the devil, Irving shows that the slave trade was considered morally wrong, not only by him but also by society. Further, as greedy and corrupt as Tom is, he refuses to become a slave trader. This refusal further illustrates Irving's condemnation of the practice.
When Tom sells his soul for treasure and power, he reveals his lack of morals and becomes a usurer. Tom takes advantage of the desperate and poor through his work by lending money at high interest rates—a practice which Irving indirectly condemns. Eventually, Tom fears for his soul in the afterlife and begins to act as a devout Christian out of selfishness, hoping to save himself. By doing so, Tom only commits further moral digressions through his hypocritical and selfish use of religion.
Expert Q&A
Why didn't Tom's religious efforts help him when the devil came for him?
Tom's religious efforts fail to save him from the devil because they are insincere and hypocritical. In "The Devil and Tom Walker," Tom becomes a fervent churchgoer only to escape his deal with the devil, but his actions contradict his professed beliefs. He continues exploiting the poor through usury, a sin condemned by the church. His conversion is satirical, highlighting his insincerity and fear, ultimately exposing him as an imposter unworthy of salvation.
What type of churchgoer does Tom represent in the provided excerpt from the story, and what words and phrases best represent his religion?
As Tom waxed old, however, he grew thoughtful. Having secured the good things of this world, he began to feel anxious about those of the next. He thought with regret on the bargain he made made with his black friend, and set his wits to work to cheat him out of the conditions. He became, therefore, all of a sudden a violent church goer. He played loudly and strenuously as if heaven were to be taken by force of lungs. Indeed, one might always tell when he had sinned most during the week, by the clamour of his Sunday devotion. The quiet Christians who had been modestly and steadfastly travelling Zionward, were struck with self reproach at seeing themselves so suddenly outstripped in their career by this new-made convert.
Tom represents a "Sunday Christian," someone who displays outward piety while living sinfully during the week. His religion is characterized by words like "loudly," "strenuously," and "clamour," indicating he makes a show of his faith to atone for past sins. The oxymoron "violent churchgoer" highlights his misguided belief that zeal and volume can compensate for a lack of genuine morality, irritating those who practice sincere Christianity.
"The Devil and Tom Walker" and its commentary on greed and wealth accumulation
"The Devil and Tom Walker" critiques greed and wealth accumulation by showing the destructive consequences of these traits. Tom Walker's deal with the devil for wealth leads to his moral decay and eventual downfall. The story highlights how the pursuit of wealth can corrupt individuals and lead to their ruin, serving as a moral lesson against unchecked greed.
In "The Devil and Tom Walker," what is the devil's opinion of the whites and why?
The devil in "The Devil and Tom Walker" holds a dismissive view of whites, referring to them as "savages" for their role in exterminating Native Americans. This ironic insult highlights the reversal of roles, as the devil sees Christians, who killed his loyal followers, as the true savages. He seems to relish persecuting whites, though he targets all races, including blacks and Native Americans, for his evil deeds. Whites are now his primary targets due to their dominance.
What parallels exist between "The Devil and Tom Walker" and the Faust legend?
"The Devil and Tom Walker" parallels the Faust legend as both protagonists make a pact with the Devil for worldly gains—knowledge for Faust and wealth for Tom Walker. Both stories highlight the theme of regret and the spiritual consequences of their bargains. Despite achieving their desires, both Faust and Tom Walker become anxious about their souls' fate, realizing too late that their earthly gains are meaningless in the afterlife.
How does the location of the mortgage papers in "The Devil and Tom Walker" represent Tom's hypocrisy?
The location of the mortgage papers in "The Devil and Tom Walker" symbolizes Tom's hypocrisy by showing how he prioritizes wealth over spirituality. The mortgage papers, placed above his Bible, highlight his continued greed and moral corruption despite his outward show of piety. This placement underscores that Tom values money more than his religious beliefs, making his Christianity superficial and insincere, ultimately leading to his downfall when the devil takes him.
In "The Devil and Tom Walker," how does Irving depict the dark aspects of religion and wealth?
Irving highlights the dark aspects of religion and wealth through Tom Walker's selfish actions. Walker exploits others for financial gain, growing wealthy but remaining stingy. His superficial turn to religion, marked by loud prayers, illustrates using faith as a facade for moral bankruptcy. Irving criticizes religious hypocrisy and the emptiness of wealth through symbolic trees, like Deacon Peabody's, which appear strong but are rotten inside, reflecting the moral decay of supposedly pious and wealthy individuals.
In "The Devil and Tom Walker," does Irving imply degrees of sinfulness?
In "The Devil and Tom Walker," Washington Irving suggests varying degrees of sinfulness. While Tom Walker is willing to engage in usury, he refuses to participate in the slave trade, indicating a hierarchy of sins. The story also uses symbolism, such as the carved trees, to imply that some sins are more severe than others. Irving portrays Tom's greed and exploitation of others as significant sins, culminating in his eventual downfall.
How does "The Devil and Tom Walker" demonstrate that social institutions often encourage greed?
"The Devil and Tom Walker" illustrates how social institutions can foster greed through marriage, religion, and societal norms. The Walkers' marriage is marked by self-interest, with each partner prioritizing personal gain over shared goals. The townspeople's reliance on usury highlights their material greed, as they seek wealth beyond their means. Religious figures like Deacon Peabody also embody hypocrisy, with their greed symbolized by their names on doomed trees, suggesting that societal values often encourage avarice.
What does this quote from "The Devil and Tom Walker" mean?
"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 particularly when it has been ill-gotten."
The quote suggests that the Devil oversees hidden, ill-gotten treasures, symbolizing the darkness of greed. In the story, the Devil guards Captain Kidd's buried treasure, which Tom Walker discovers. The Devil offers the treasure to Tom under certain conditions, marking him as his own. Ultimately, Tom cannot escape the Devil's claim over his soul, illustrating the inescapable consequences of greed and moral corruption.
In "The Devil and Tom Walker," what does the comparison of land speculation to a fever imply about the love of money?
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.
Already a member? Log in here.
