In this essay I will analyze the three main characters in “The Devil and Tom Walker”, I will also be describing how his wife and Old Scratch each demonstrate universal patterns of human behavior or commonly held beliefs. I will explain the theme of nonconformity in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” and focus on the ideas of genius, society and self-worth. And lastly I will analyze the theme and mood of each poem by Longfellow, Dickinson and Whitman.
To begin Tom displays patterns of human behavior and commonly held beliefs because he is a miser which means that when he has money he doesn’t really spend it. Tom’s wife is also a miserly but she has a quick temper, in the story she is verbally abusive and the town thinks she might be physically abusive to Tom. Lastly Old Scratch is given numerous names which would be “huntsman” and “black woodsman”, he is described as being the devil, scruffy face and carries an axe with him. …show more content…
Emerson’s thoughts of what genius is would be someone that can basically think for themselves someone that is not to be called a sheep or a follower because followers don’t like to think for themselves, his thoughts on society are trusting our own mind lies in the plan of society I believe what he is trying to say is that because society holds conformity to such a high standard that it is pretty daring to act on your thoughts or in other words just being yourself because at a young age our minds aren’t set on what the consequences of what will happen but we age society teaches us to know better and find approval in
To begin Tom displays patterns of human behavior and commonly held beliefs because he is a miser which means that when he has money he doesn’t really spend it. Tom’s wife is also a miserly but she has a quick temper, in the story she is verbally abusive and the town thinks she might be physically abusive to Tom. Lastly Old Scratch is given numerous names which would be “huntsman” and “black woodsman”, he is described as being the devil, scruffy face and carries an axe with him. …show more content…
Emerson’s thoughts of what genius is would be someone that can basically think for themselves someone that is not to be called a sheep or a follower because followers don’t like to think for themselves, his thoughts on society are trusting our own mind lies in the plan of society I believe what he is trying to say is that because society holds conformity to such a high standard that it is pretty daring to act on your thoughts or in other words just being yourself because at a young age our minds aren’t set on what the consequences of what will happen but we age society teaches us to know better and find approval in