The Devil and Tom Walker written by Washington Irving is an early version of Gothic literature. Washington Irving born April 3, 1783 in New York City, New York is considered both the first American man of letters and the creator of the American short story. Although best known for tales of rural America such as Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Devil and Tom Walker takes place in the early 1700s, and refers to several central historical events from slightly before and within this period. In this story, Irving tells the story of how Tom Walker discovers the remains of an old Indian reservation in the woods. After kicking a skull, Tom encounters the Devil, who offers him some buried treasure, in exchange for his soul. Tom declines the Devil’s offer to spite his wife, with whom he fights with constantly. She …show more content…
Irving uses Tom Walker himself to symbolize hidden evil. However, the most glaring example of hidden evil is Tom's behavior after selling his soul. Tom becomes a zealous church-goer and judgmental neighbor who persecutes Quakers and Anabaptists. He carries a huge Bible while he is driving a hard bargain as a usurer. In fact, his hidden evil ultimately causes his downfall when he says, “The devil take me if I have made a farthing!” (Irving 8). Of course, the Devil does take Tom because Tom has made such a fortune on the backs of people unfortunate enough to owe him money. Washington Irving also contributes Tom’s greed as a source of hidden evil. Tom Walker is known for his greed and it is this greed that leads him to sell his soul to the devil in exchange for money. Tom's downfall is meant to warn readers not to let greed blind them, for it can have disastrous consequences. Hidden Evil is shown throughout The Devil and Tom Walker; the story suggests that greed and hypocrisy are the root of evil, and from Tom's fate it is clear that these do not go