Symbolism In The Devil And Tom Walker

Symbols of Society in “The Devil and Tom Walker”

In this short story “The Devil and Tom Walker”, the author Washington Irving uses token objects as an analogy to society. “The Devil and Tom Walker” is a short story written in archetype plot. This story is based off a play from the 1750’s called Faust, about a man that sells his soul to the devil to achieve gain. This man somehow cleverly beats the devil, but unfortunately Tom Walker does not. Throughout “The Devil and Tom Walker” there are many pieces of symbolism, but these items represent character in today’s society.

Tom Walker, the main character, represents greed in society today because of his injudicious actions. “‘You shall open a broker’s shop in Boston next month,’ said the black man. ‘I’ll do it tomorrow if you wish,’ said Tom Walker. ‘You shall lend money at two percent a month.’ ‘Egad, I’ll charge four!’ replied Tom Walker” (296). Tom Walker agreed with the devil; furthermore, he wants to charge people even more than the devil because of how corrupt he has converted much like society today. In today’s society people are willing to do anything to be better than another body; therefore, they end up selling themselves, much like Tom Walker did, to the devil, and become very corrupt. “In this way he made money hand

The way they kept the house and horse is a representation of their character and life style. “He built himself, as usual, a vast house, out of ostention; but left the greater part of it unfinished and unfurnished, out of parsimony. He even set up a carriage in the fullness of his vainglory, though he nearly starved the horses which drew it” (299). He build an extravagant house on the outside, yet on the inside it had nearly nothing. Much like society it isn’t what we have on the outside, but what we have on the inside that makes us who we