Both “The Devil and Daniel Webster” by Stephen Benét and “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving are classic short stories which provide commentary on spirituality, religion, traditions, and more. They provide insight into the way people from the respective eras of their publications viewed issues such as the devil and redemption. Despite these similarities, some key differences exist between “The Devil and Tom Walker” and “The Devil and Daniel Webster.” These differences chiefly lie in the way they depict the devil, portray religion and saving grace, and resolve the conflict of the story.
The first difference between Irving and Benét’s stories is their depiction of the devil. Though both assign him the moniker “Old Scratch,” the …show more content…
When a moribund Jabez Stone wants to renege on his deal with the devil, he turns to Daniel Webster, a strong, generous man with “a soft spot for old neighbors” from New Hampshire (Benét 14). Webster fights zealously for Stone and saves him from eternal damnation at the hands of the pernicious jury, becoming Stone’s “saving grace” (Benét, p. 20). Tom Walker, on the other hand, attempts to save his soul by dissembling his inner corruption. He becomes “a violent churchgoer”, proclaiming his spirituality, and carrying a Bible in the hopes that Scratch will not take him (Irving, p. 8). Unfortunately, this “new-made convert” continues to take advantage of his fellow man, and his fictitious religion is not enough to redeem him when the devil finally has “his due” (Irving, p. 8, 9). Concludingly, when Jabez Stone finds his situation too harrowing and seeks a way out, his saving grace comes in the form of Daniel Webster. On the other hand, Tom Walker seeks to find his security by adopting a fake religion -- a choice which proves to be his undoing as he is nevertheless swept away by Old …show more content…
The resolution of Jabez Stone’s story is very promising. Thanks to his hiring Daniel Webster to plead his case, Stone gets off scot-free. Webster’s “eloquence” is able to compel a room full of hardened criminals to find their own humanity, and, in a move more magnanimous than anything they accomplished in life, the villains grant Stone his eternal freedom (Benét, p. 20). Webster threatens Scratch, enjoins him to never again bother Stone nor another New Hampshireman “till doomsday,” and sends him away with his tail between his legs (Benét, p. 21). Tom Walker’s resolution is substantially more depressing. Despite his fervent attempts at piety, Walker continues to allow his avarice control his life, and when Old Scratch finally comes for him, his facade of spirituality cannot save him from the deal he has struck (Irving, p. 9-10). In the end, all that is left of Walker’s wealth is a few “cinders,” “chips and shavings” (Irving, p. 10). The disparity between these resolutions is perspicuous; Jabez Stone and Daniel Webster emerge victorious from their battle for Stone’s soul, while Tom Walker is doomed to the eternity for which he bargained.
In conclusion, Stephen Benét’s story “The Devil and Daniel Webster” and Washington Irving’s tale “The Devil and Tom Walker” are adaptations of the Faust legend which contain important differences in their treatment of the devil, religion and saving grace, and
The first difference between Irving and Benét’s stories is their depiction of the devil. Though both assign him the moniker “Old Scratch,” the …show more content…
When a moribund Jabez Stone wants to renege on his deal with the devil, he turns to Daniel Webster, a strong, generous man with “a soft spot for old neighbors” from New Hampshire (Benét 14). Webster fights zealously for Stone and saves him from eternal damnation at the hands of the pernicious jury, becoming Stone’s “saving grace” (Benét, p. 20). Tom Walker, on the other hand, attempts to save his soul by dissembling his inner corruption. He becomes “a violent churchgoer”, proclaiming his spirituality, and carrying a Bible in the hopes that Scratch will not take him (Irving, p. 8). Unfortunately, this “new-made convert” continues to take advantage of his fellow man, and his fictitious religion is not enough to redeem him when the devil finally has “his due” (Irving, p. 8, 9). Concludingly, when Jabez Stone finds his situation too harrowing and seeks a way out, his saving grace comes in the form of Daniel Webster. On the other hand, Tom Walker seeks to find his security by adopting a fake religion -- a choice which proves to be his undoing as he is nevertheless swept away by Old …show more content…
The resolution of Jabez Stone’s story is very promising. Thanks to his hiring Daniel Webster to plead his case, Stone gets off scot-free. Webster’s “eloquence” is able to compel a room full of hardened criminals to find their own humanity, and, in a move more magnanimous than anything they accomplished in life, the villains grant Stone his eternal freedom (Benét, p. 20). Webster threatens Scratch, enjoins him to never again bother Stone nor another New Hampshireman “till doomsday,” and sends him away with his tail between his legs (Benét, p. 21). Tom Walker’s resolution is substantially more depressing. Despite his fervent attempts at piety, Walker continues to allow his avarice control his life, and when Old Scratch finally comes for him, his facade of spirituality cannot save him from the deal he has struck (Irving, p. 9-10). In the end, all that is left of Walker’s wealth is a few “cinders,” “chips and shavings” (Irving, p. 10). The disparity between these resolutions is perspicuous; Jabez Stone and Daniel Webster emerge victorious from their battle for Stone’s soul, while Tom Walker is doomed to the eternity for which he bargained.
In conclusion, Stephen Benét’s story “The Devil and Daniel Webster” and Washington Irving’s tale “The Devil and Tom Walker” are adaptations of the Faust legend which contain important differences in their treatment of the devil, religion and saving grace, and