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          ARRoGANT                CoURiERS      WiTH     ESSaYS

Grade Level:       Type of Work           Subject/Topic is on:
 [ ]6-8                 [ ]Class Notes    [Essay on the Evil in    ]
 [x]9-10                [ ]Cliff Notes    ["The Devil & Tom Walker"]
 [x]11-12               [x]Essay/Report   [                        ]
 [ ]College             [ ]Misc           [                        ]

 Date: 06/94  # of Words:368   School:Public - COED   State:NY
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          Essay on Evil in "The Devil and Tom Walker"

     The concept of evil in the short story "The Devil and Tom
Walker" can be shown in many ways, by Irvings' symbolism.
In the short story, Tom Walker symbolizes all of mankind by
portraying him as being "sinful" and evil. When their is an intent
to destroy, then we get a different level of hatred. We see that
good vs. evil has been a theme that is ubiquitous in many
writings.
     The story "The Devil and Tom Walker" is a story about a man
who lives an immoral life of greed. Walker lives in a wooded area,
where it is solemn, and quiet area of New England. Walker runs
into the devil and sees that the devil is cutting down someone
else's timber. The evil is shown, by the devil in how he is
premeditating the murder of a "Deacon Peabody". Walker
contemplates this meeting with the devil, and recognizes that evil
is wealth is the first priority for him.
     Tom Walker's wife, was filled with cupidity and wanted to
acquire the gold that the devil had promised. Walker hadn't
obliged to his wife, and due to his wife's acute cupidity set out
on her own journey to acquire that gold. She had been killed
because of her greed, and lack of morals for self-prosperity,
which resulted in her death. This is an important example of the
use of evil within "The Devil and Tome Walker".
     Walker is told from the devil that he could earn money
through usury and extortion. Walker commits to usury and makes a
generous sum of money.  Walker has no repentance for such a sin
and continues to his usury. The evil accumulates in the story as
Walker accumulates more and more money, resulting from more and
more greed. The accumulation of this money leads to a climactic
point where Walker is fed up with his accumulation of money, and
askes to be taken by the devil.
     Consequently, the devil "takes" Walker to hell. The evil is
eloquently represented by Walker "selling himself to the devil",
and his inability to understand that materiel possessions couldn't
be taken to the next world (after death).
