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          ARRoGANT                CoURiERS      WiTH     ESSaYS

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

 Dizzed: 10/94  # of Words:367   School: ?              State: ?
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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, there 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).
