Washington Irving, American novelist and short story writer, mastered the use of satire in his works. Through this literary device, he was able to ironically criticize institutions with the purpose of improving society. Nevertheless, the author’s subtlety plays an important role in hiding these humorous statements all along his master pieces. Irving’s short story The Devil and Tom Walker is no exception to this satire-use pattern. The tale narrates the story of a stereotypical American man named Tom Walker who trades his soul for money with the devil. The novelist creates humor in his story by satirizing the institution of marriage and human ambition.
One of the first things Irving satirizes in the short story is the institution of marriage. …show more content…
The author begins his sequence of mocks with the account of Tom’s wife desire to accept the devil’s money. After Tom decides to reject the devil’s proposal, his wife sets off to make the deal herself: ‘‘At length she determined to drive the bargain on her own account, and if she succeeded, to keep all the gain to herself. Being of the same fearless temper as her husband, she set off for the old Indian fort toward the close of a summer’s day.’’ (Irving, p. 327) This quote exemplifies the novelist’s intention of depicting Tom’s wife as an ambitious and not-cautious woman. Furthermore, it also describes her as a person who believes that it is worth the risk to meet the devil if there is money in between. Ambition is satirized once again when Tom is described as greedy. After the character finds his wife’s organs lying in the forest, he decides to complete the pact with the imp and get his hands on the treasure: ‘‘At length, it is said, when delay had whetted Tom’s eagerness to the quick, and prepared him to agree to anything rather than not gain the promised treasure, he met the black man one evening in his usual woodsman’s dress, with his ax on his shoulder, sauntering along the swamp, and humming a tune.’’ (Irving, p. 328) This quote demonstrates how Tom sets aside precaution and allows his ambition to control his actions. Irving, once again subtlety mocks Tom’s avaricious desire, by making it seem as if he considered his wife’s death a fortunate event. Finally, by the time that Tom becomes a wealthy settled moneylender, his ambition has done nothing but grow. The author satirizes Tom’s greed through his dialogue with a desperate humble man: ‘‘The poor land-jobber begged him to grant a few months’ indulgence. Tom had grown testy and irritated, and refused another day. ‘My family will be ruined and brought upon the parish’, said the land-jobber. ‘Charity begins at home,” replied Tom; “I must
One of the first things Irving satirizes in the short story is the institution of marriage. …show more content…
The author begins his sequence of mocks with the account of Tom’s wife desire to accept the devil’s money. After Tom decides to reject the devil’s proposal, his wife sets off to make the deal herself: ‘‘At length she determined to drive the bargain on her own account, and if she succeeded, to keep all the gain to herself. Being of the same fearless temper as her husband, she set off for the old Indian fort toward the close of a summer’s day.’’ (Irving, p. 327) This quote exemplifies the novelist’s intention of depicting Tom’s wife as an ambitious and not-cautious woman. Furthermore, it also describes her as a person who believes that it is worth the risk to meet the devil if there is money in between. Ambition is satirized once again when Tom is described as greedy. After the character finds his wife’s organs lying in the forest, he decides to complete the pact with the imp and get his hands on the treasure: ‘‘At length, it is said, when delay had whetted Tom’s eagerness to the quick, and prepared him to agree to anything rather than not gain the promised treasure, he met the black man one evening in his usual woodsman’s dress, with his ax on his shoulder, sauntering along the swamp, and humming a tune.’’ (Irving, p. 328) This quote demonstrates how Tom sets aside precaution and allows his ambition to control his actions. Irving, once again subtlety mocks Tom’s avaricious desire, by making it seem as if he considered his wife’s death a fortunate event. Finally, by the time that Tom becomes a wealthy settled moneylender, his ambition has done nothing but grow. The author satirizes Tom’s greed through his dialogue with a desperate humble man: ‘‘The poor land-jobber begged him to grant a few months’ indulgence. Tom had grown testy and irritated, and refused another day. ‘My family will be ruined and brought upon the parish’, said the land-jobber. ‘Charity begins at home,” replied Tom; “I must