The Devil and Tom Walker Essay Introduction
Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker,” first published in 1824 as part of *Tales
of a Traveller*, follows Tom Walker, a miserly New Englander who encounters a
mysterious figure identified as the Devil in a swamp. The Devil offers Tom wealth in
exchange for his participation in a morally corrupt bargain, and Tom eventually accepts
after negotiating the terms of the deal. His newfound fortune does not lead him toward
generosity or contentment; instead, he becomes increasingly obsessed with money and
condemns others for the very behavior he practices himself. Through satire, supernatural
elements, and the contrast between wealth and morality, Irving criticizes greed and
hypocrisy while showing the destructive consequences of valuing material prosperity
above ethical principles.
