Everyday something tragic happens. Someone is either getting robbed, killed, shot, or all of the above. In this story The Devil and Tom Walker, it shows how evil people can be and the crooked things they can do. Irving uses Tom, the Devil, and Tom’s wife to express how disgruntled the characters are. Tom’s wife exemplifies how demanding, violent, and greedy she is. He tries to get Tom to steal treasure after she screams and abuses him. Irving says “Tom's wife was a tall termagant, fierce of temper, loud of tongue, and strong of arm.” (230) He also says “Her voice was often heard in wordy warfare with her husband; and his face sometimes showed signs that their conflicts were not confined to words.” (230) This exemplifies hoe violent and demanding she was. Yes, she was not an easy person to get along with. That is why when Tom’s agreement with the Devil did not go as planned, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Tom is a poor puny man who did not show any signs of fear or remorse. His wife constantly bothers and frustrates him, but that has no effect on him. Irving says” One would think that to meet with such a singular personage in this wild lonely place, would have shaken any man's nerves:…show more content… In the story he goes off and tries to get Tom’s soul to trade him the treasure. Irving says that “The Devil presided at the hiding of the money, and took it under his guardianship; but this it is well known he always does with buried treasure particularly when it has been ill-gotten." (239) The exemplifies the sneaky and dark characteristics of the Devil. He also brags about he has control of all evil doings. When the Devil introduces himself to Tom he says “I am the great patron and prompter of slave dealers, and the grand master of the Salem witches." (232) This is hoe the the Devil boast about having control. The Devil is an extremely dark person and enjoys taking people
