The Devil and Tom Walker

THE DEVIL
AND
TOM
WALKER
WASHINGTON IRVING
THE DEVIL AND
TOM WALKER
STUDY GUIDE
© Esther Lombardi
What would you trade your

soul for? Are the characters in
the story persons you would
want to meet? Who is Faust
and what is known as Faustian
bargain? In what ways can a
family’s financial situation play
a factor in their choices?
English 11 American Literature

Meten Preparatory Academy
Chengdu, China
Tom was a hard-minded fellow, not easily daunted, and he
had lived so long with a termagant wife, that he did not even
fear the devil.
faustian bargain: sold one’s soul in exchange of sth.

SUMMARY
The story opens with the tale of
how Captain Kidd, a pirate, buried some
treasure in a swamp just outside Boston. It
then jumps to the year 1727, when New
Englander Tom Walker happened to find
himself walking through this swamp.
Walker, explains the narrator, was just the
kind of man to jump at the prospect of a
buried treasure, as he, along with his wife,
was selfish to the point of destruction.
While walking through the swamp, Walker

comes upon the devil, a great "black" man
carrying an ax, whom Irving calls Old
Scratch. The devil in disguise tells Walker
about the treasure, saying that he controls
it but will give it to Tom for a price. Walker
agrees readily, without really considering
what he is expected to pay in return—his
soul. The rest of the tale follows the twists
and turns one might expect as a result of
greed-driven decisions and deal-making
with the devil.
Background
THE AUTHOR AND HIS WORKS
ashington Irving, one of early America's greatest
W storytellers, was the author of such beloved works

as "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and "The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow" (1820). Another of his short stories,
"The Devil and Tom Walker," is not as well known, but it is
definitely worth seeking out. "The Devil and Tom Walker"
was first published in 1824 among a collection of short
stories called "Tales of a Traveller," which Irving wrote
under pseudonym Geoffrey Crayon. The story
appropriately appeared in a section called "Money-Diggers,"
as the tale chronicles the selfish choices of an exceptionally
stingy and greedy man.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Irving's piece is a relatively early entry into the many literary
works considered Faustian tales—stories depicting greed, a
thirst for instant gratification, and, ultimately, a deal with
the devil as the means to such selfish ends. The original
legend of Faust dates to 16th-century Germany; Christopher
Marlowe then dramatized (and popularized) it in his play
"The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus," which was first
performed sometime around 1588. Faustian tales have been
a hallmark of Western culture ever since, inspiring the major
themes of plays, poems, operas, classical music, and even
film and television productions.
Given its dark subject matter, it is unsurprising that "The

Devil and Tom Walker" sparked a fair amount of
controversy, particularly among the religious population.
Still, many consider it an exemplary piece of narrative
writing and one of Irving's finest stories. In fact, Irving's
piece triggered a rebirth of sorts for the Faustian tale. It is
widely reported to have inspired Stephen Vincent Benet's
"The Devil and Daniel Webster," which appeared in The
Saturday Evening Post in 1936—more than a century after
Irving's story came out.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Tom Walker
Tom Walker is the protagonist of the story. He is described
as "a meager miserly fellow" and is probably Irving's least
likable character. However, despite his many unsavory
characteristics, he is memorable. Walker is often compared
to Faust/Faustus, the protagonist of the legend that has
inspired countless works throughout literary history,
including Marlowe, Goethe, and more.
Walker's wife
Walker's wife is such a minor character that her name is
never given, but she can be likened to her husband in her
miserly nature and volatile temper. Irving describes: "Tom's
wife was a tall termagant, fierce of temper, loud of tongue,
and strong of arm. Her voice was often heard in wordy
warfare with her husband, and his face sometimes showed
signs that their conflicts were not confined to words."
Old Scratch
Old Scratch is another name for the devil. Irving describes:
"It is true, he was dressed in a rude, half Indian garb, and
had a red belt or sash swathed round his body, but his face
was neither black nor copper color, but swarthy and dingy
and begrimed with soot, as if he had been accustomed to toil
among fires and forges."
The actions of Old Scratch are similar to other Faustian tales

in that he is the tempter who offers the protagonist riches or
other gains in exchange for their soul.
Major Events and Setting

"The Devil and Tom Walker" may be a short story, but quite
a bit takes place in its few pages. The events—and the
locations in which they take place—really drive the
overarching theme of the story: avarice and its
consequences. The events of the story can be divided into
two locations:
•
Old Indian Fort
Tom Walker takes a shortcut through tangled, dark,
and dingy swamplands, which are so dark and
uninviting that they represent hell in the story. Tom
meets the devil, Old Scratch, at an abandoned Indian
fort hidden away in the swamplands.
• Old Scratch offers Tom riches hidden by Captain Kidd
in exchange for "certain conditions." The conditions
are, of course, that Walker sells his soul to him. Tom
initially rejects the offer, but ultimately agrees.
• Tom's wife confronts Old Scratch. She goes into the
swamplands twice, hoping that Old Scratch would
make a deal with her instead of her husband. Tom's
wife absconds with all of the couple's valuables for the
second meeting, but she disappears into the
swamplands and is never heard from again.
•
Boston
Bolstered by the ill-gotten riches offered by Old
Scratch, Walker opens a broker's office in Boston.
Walker lends money freely, but he is merciless in his
dealings and ruins the lives of many borrowers, often
repossessing their property.
• A ruined speculator asks for a debt he owes to Tom to
be forgiven. Walker refuses, but the devil rides in on a
horse, easily sweeps Tom up, and gallops away. Tom is
never seen again. After that, all the deeds and notes in
Walker's safe turn to ash, and his house mysteriously
burns down. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
1783-1859. First American writer to achieve international
reputation. Father of American short story. One of early
America’s greatest story-tellers

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What is the setting of the story?

Who are the main characters in the story?

THE DEVIL

What would you trade your

English 11 American Literature

faustian bargain: sold one’s soul in exchange of sth.

While walking through the swamp, Walker

ashington Irving, one of early America's greatest

W storytellers, was the author of such beloved works

Given its dark subject matter, it is unsurprising that "The

The actions of Old Scratch are similar to other Faustian tales

Major Events and Setting

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