- Overview
- Characters
- Major Events
- Quotes / Quotations
- Terms / Vocabulary
- Questions for Study & Discussion
- Text - The Devil and Tom Walker
- Washington Irving - Profile
Tom Walker: The protagonist of "The Devil and Tom Walker." Described as "a meagre miserly fellow," he is probably Washington Irving's most despised (or least likeable) character. Despite his many unsavory characteristics, he is also memorable. Initially, Tom Walker rejects Old Scratch's offer, but he eventually gives into the Devil's "conditions"--with conditions.
Tom Walker has been compared to Faust/Faustus, a character who has appeared in countless works through literary history, from Christopher Marlowe, Goethe, and beyond.
Tom's wife: Minor character. Her name is never given, but she can be likened to her husband in her miserly nature and volatile temper. "Tom's wife was a tall termagant, fierce of temper, loud of tongue, and strong of arm. 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."
Old Scratch: Another name for the Devil. Old Scratch is described as a dark-skinned man. Washington Irving wrote: "It is true, he was dressed in a rude, half Indian garb, and had a red belt or sash swathed round his body, but his face was neither black nor copper colour, but swarthy and dingy and begrimed with soot, as if he had been accustomed to toil among fires and forges. He had a shock of coarse black hair, that stood out from his head in all directions; and bore an axe on his shoulder."
The actions of Old Scratch are similiar to other tales where he is the tempter, who offers the protagonist riches or other gain in exchange for the character's soul.
