how does tom walker change over the course of the short story?

As with all allegorical tales, the greed in this short story is exaggerated to highlight the danger, which is why Tom Walker does not change at all throughout the entire story: he represents greed and its danger to humans. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team

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What is the meaning of the end of the story Tom Walker?

Greed is shown through this allegorical tale to be deeply compelling and a real danger to virtue. As with all allegorical tales, the greed in this short story is exaggerated to highlight the...

How would you describe Tom Walker's wife in Tom Sawyer?

Aug 24, 2021 · Characters. Tom Walker, the story's main character, is a miser, which means he rarely spends money even when he should.He doesn't give anything to anyone, and that includes his wife. Tom's wife is ...

How is Tom Walker like Faust in the story?

In this story, Tom Walker agrees to sell his soul to the devil and endure eternal damnation in exchange for a vast sum of wealth, the thing he desires most in the world. Just like Faust, Tom realizes the consequences of his actions far too late.

Where does Tom Walker meet Old Scratch?

Apr 23, 2020 · What shows he is still a miser ? The worse off they were and the more they needed the money , the higher their repayment terms would be . ; he lends money to other people and has them pay it back at steep interest rates ; he is still a miser because he has a HUGE house but leaves part of it unfinished and unfurnished because he ’s too cheap to fix it up

How did Tom Walker change throughout the story?

Does Tom change in the story? Tom does not change throughout the story he is selfish and greedy at the beginning of the story and he is like that at the end too. Tom just wanted people to think that he changed because he was scared of the devil, so he started going to church for the wrong reasons.

Does Tom Walker change?

No tom does not change. He just starts going to church and is still violent and continues to run his business the same.

How do Tom Walker morals decay over the course of the story?

How do Tom Walker's morals decay over the course of the story? In the beginning, he didnt think that even the devil could make him into a salve trader. He still had some morals. Throughout the story he thought that the loss of his wife was a good thing.

What did Tom change about his life when he grew old?

As Tom grew old, what happened to him? He started worrying about what would happen to him in the next life. He regretted the bargain he made with the devil. Tom started going to church.

What happens to Tom at the end of the story?

what happens to Tom at the end of the book? the devil came and put him on the back of his horse, and galloped into a thunderstorm.

What happens to Tom's wealth at the end of the tale?

What has happened to Tom's wealth by the end of the story? By the end of the story, his gold and silver in his iron chest was filled with chips and two skeletons laying in his stable instead of horses. His house burned down to the ground.

What does Tom symbolize in The Devil and Tom Walker?

The Devil and Tom Walker - Emblems / Symbols: The Swamp = the shorcut full of "pits and quagmires," in other words this is a trap. Trees=look good on the outside, but rotten at the core. Chopped wood=ready to be burned. Skull=lack of respect for Native Americans (Tom kicked the skull for entertainment)

What does Tom's wife want him to do?

Tom's wife decides to go the Indian fort to try to strike her own deal. She disappears. The most likely story is that she fought with the Devil and he killed her. All that was found of her was he heart and liver tied up in her apron.

Did Tom Walker deserve his fate?

Tom Walker deserved his fate because he took things for granted, Tom made the deal with the devil. When his wife died it seemed as if he did not care. His fate was chosen when he went around and told people to change but he wasn't changing himself. He sold his soul for greed.

How did people respond to what happened to Tom Walker?

How do the "good people of Boston" respond to what happened to Tom Walker? They shook their shrug their Shoulders. What point do you think the authors is making when he writes that all that was found in Tom Walker's coffers were cinders, chips, and shavings shavings?

How does Tom behave when he is older and nearing death in The Devil and Tom Walker?

How does Tom behave when he is older and nearing death? Starts to pray, read the bible but is still cruel to others. What happens to Tom's wealth at the end of the tale? Becomes dust and ashes, burns down to the ground.

What happens to Tom and all his property in the end?

What has happened to Tom's wealth by the end of the story? Tom's wealth has been lost by the end of the story. As a result, by the end of the tale, his iron chest was filled with chips and skeletons, not horses, were resting in his stable. He lost his house in a fire.

The Devil and His Boy

This is very plausible, as Tom is actually the Queen's grandson, given up because of his illegitamacy. In the opening chapters, when the Queen myst...

The Devil and Tom Walker

The Devil offers Tom his buried treasure, but he has conditions.

How does the author describe the Walkers’ house?

From the text: They lived in a forlorn looking house, that stood alone and had an air of starvation . A few straggling savin trees, emblems of...

What does the Devil represent in the Allegory?

Irving uses a variety of symbols, where one thing represents something else, to create this allegory. The characters themselves are symbolic. The Devil is temptation and Tom and his wife represent greed. Later in the story, Tom symbolizes hypocrisy when he is attending church but still collecting mortgages.

What is the theme of the Devil and Tom Walker?

Most short stories have a theme , which is insight about human nature. In this case, though, 'The Devil and Tom Walker' has a moral , or a lesson to be learned. Clearly, Irving wants us to see that greed and moral corruption leads us down that wrong path. He illustrates this moral thought through the use of a literary device called an allegory, where the characters, objects and plot represent an idea.

What did the Puritans believe about the woods?

The Puritans believed the woods were filled with evil and that the Devil was behind every tree. Irving's story quite literally reinforces that idea. We can also see evidence of the Romantic view that the city is a place of moral corruption.

What is the story of the Devil and Tom Walker based on?

However, the story's plot is based on a very famous German legend about a man called Faust , who makes a deal with the Devil in order to gain knowledge and wealth.

What does Tom symbolize in the swamp?

Later in the story, Tom symbolizes hypocrisy when he is attending church but still collecting mortgages. The swamp is described as a shortcut - an 'ill-chosen' route. It is not only Tom's shortcut home, but it was his shortcut to obtaining the wealth he wanted.

What does Tom say in the Bible?

This, of course, does not work when one morning - with his Bible under a stack of mortgages - Tom opens the door to find a black horse and a black man who says, 'Tom, you're come for.'. Tom is thrown upon the horse and swiftly taken back to the old Indian fort and gone in a blaze of fire.

What is the setting of the story "The Devil's Work"?

We can also see evidence of the Romantic view that the city is a place of moral corruption. The setting for this story is Boston, and it is here that Tom does the Devil's work. He is a corrupt soul who is taking advantage of people for monetary gain. His corruption finally ends when he is whisked back into the forest.

What does Tom Walker do in the story?

In this story, Tom Walker agrees to sell his soul to the devil and endure eternal damnation in exchange for a vast sum of wealth, the thing he desires most in the world. Just like Faust, Tom realizes the consequences of his actions far too late. 2.

What is the satire of The Devil and Tom Walker?

A satire is a piece of work that criticizes some element of human folly , and "The Devil and Tom Walker" does exactly that. The story satirizes societal greed and hypocrisy, particularly that of the Puritans, the religious group that settled the Charles Bay during the time period in which this story takes place.

What is Tom Walker's major fault?

Tom Walker's major fault—though he has many—is that he is greedy, and his greed commences a snowball effect of unfortunate events until finally he is carried away to hell, just as Old Scratch promised.

What does the Devil promise Tom?

At first it seems that the devil is being fairly straightforward with Tom, promising him treasure at a price and marking him with his fingerprint to ensure that the promise is genuine . Later on, though, it becomes clear that he is using clever manipulation tactics to get what he wants from Tom.

What does Irving say about the persecution of different groups?

Early on in the story, Irving condemns the persecution of different groups on the grounds of religious intolerance. Later on in the story, however, he more explicitly denounces the hypocrisy present in so many religious figures.

Is Tom Walker a moral person?

Tom Walker is by no definition a moral person at the beginning of the story, but the morals he does have still show evidence of decay throughout the novel. He is hesitant to agree to the terms of Old Scratch's bargain, at first; here, he shows some restraint.

Is Tom Walker unlikable?

Though Tom Walker is definitely unlikable, he is also easily comparable to others who let greed, stinginess, and frugality blind them to the point where they (figuratively) have sold their souls. 8. Discuss the ways Old Scratch manipulates Tom Walker into agreeing to his deal.

What is the name of the Devil?

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."

What is Irving's piece about?

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.

What is the significance of Faustian tales?

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.

What does Old Scratch offer Tom?

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.

What happened to Tom's wife in the swamplands?

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.

When was the Devil and Tom Walker first published?

"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.

Where does Walker open his broker's office?

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.

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Plot Summary

Main Characters

Major Events and Setting

Key Quotes

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