George Williams V

Mr. Edgar Tawes

American Literature
May 07, 2015
Tom Walker and the Devil
Irvings use idealism and imagination to describe the results of greed. Websters
Dictionary
states: Greed is a selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed.
There is
nothing wrong with wanting and desiring money to take care of our familys needs or
even
having fun and enjoying ourselves, but as the Bible states at 1 Timothy 6:9, 10: But
those who
are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful
desires
that plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root all sorts of
injurious
things, and have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with
man
pains. Money or riches are not evil. The love of money or riches above anything else
causes
problems.
People have done many things for money. The idea of being rich and wealth will
drive
people forget their moral character and principles to obtain riches. Greed is like mold. If
not
removed, it will spread and completely control. For example, Washington Irvings story
of a

man named Tom Walker, who makes a deal with the Devil to be a selfish and stingy
money
lender in order to be rich. (pg. 236) Tom Walker is a very poor and miserable man. He
has a
mean and greedy wife. Irving describes how she hides things from Tom. She hides eggs
that
could bring them money from him. When they fight she leaves the evidence of their
fights on
his face. (pg. 230) When Tom comes home one day, he tells her about the deal the Devil
offers
him, she begs Tom to go back and make the deal. The next day she goes and tries to
make the
deal, but she failed. Finally, she takes their valuables to the Devil to make the deal. After
a
couple of days, she has not returned. Tom starts missing his valuables and goes to find
her and
get them back. Tom is upset that he does not find his valuables, but is glad the Devil gets
rid of
his wife. Now he is ready to make a deal with the Devil. (pg. 232-235) He is motivated
by the
thought of having the riches for himself.
Tom is a smart and crafty business man. He makes friends with people so they will
borrow
money from him. He lends them money but makes the terms very hard. If they cannot
pay him
back, he takes all they have. But one day Tom is feeling bad about how he is making his
money.
So he starts reading the Bible and going to church. (pg. 236-239) Tom does not learn
much. On
the day he dies he plans to take the house of his best friend.

Irvings story is similar to characters in the Bible, who allow greed to destroy their
lives.
Adam and Eve wants to be like God. God gives them everything they could desire. He
has only
one rule, not eat from one tree in the garden. Eve, however, desires to eat from that tree
and she
persuades her husband to do the same. They are perfect but when they sins they become
imperfect and lose their paradise for themselves and their children. Tom Walkers greed
ends
with his death. (pg. 238)
Another person in the Bible similar to Irvings character is Achan. He hides
treasures that
does not belong to him. He loses his life and the life of his family. They are stoned to
death. A
third Bible character is Judas. A disciple of Jesus. He is a very close friend. He desires
money
so bad, he betrays Jesus to the Roman Army for thirty pieces of silver. Feeling so guilty,
he
hangs himself.
Today, people are just as greedy. Just like Mrs. Walker in Irvings story, they use their
resources to buy a lottery ticket or bet on horses to become rich. Money or resources
from their
families or neglect their personal needs just to make it big. Another way people try to get
rich is
by stealing. Stealing is taking things that does not belong to them. Many people get hurt
or
killed because someone wants what they have. Another method of making money in an
illgotten way is the selling of drugs. These habits destroy the lives of the sellers, users and
their

families. Washington Irvings story about Tom Walker and the Devil is a lesson in greed
and
how the love of money can grow and control lives.