Human Intent and the Aftermath of It

Human Intent and the Aftermath of It

     Washington Irving, in writing "The Devil and Tom Walker", and Stephen Vincent

Benet, in writing "The Devil and Daniel Webster" illustrate to the reader the

consequences of man's desire for material wealth and how a person's motivation for a

relationship with the devil affects the outcome of the "deal".  In these two different, yet

surprisingly similar narratives, the authors present their beliefs about human intent and

motive.

     In "The Devil and Tom Walker", the story is seen of a stingy man and his nagging

wife who "...were so miserly that they even conspired to cheat each other" (128). In the

story, one sees a man make a deal with the devil, who in the story is known as "Old

Scratch", for the sole purpose of personal gain.  Tom Walker, seeing only the possible

wealth that he could achieve, bargains with the devil and finally reaches an agreement

which he sees to be fair.  Tom does not see the danger present in bargaining with such

a powerful force for so little gain.  There is a note of humor present in the narrative,

which adds to the sense of danger that is present making deals that one does not

intend to keep.  Commenting on the story, Larry L.   Stevens notes that "This tale,...,

comically presents the results of valuing the dollar above all else."  This story does a

very good job of conveying a message to the reader about human values.

     In the story Tom is seen as a very self-centered man who cares only for himself and

his own well being.  He is not even phased when he discovers the remains of his wife

hanging in a apron in a tree; "Tom consoled himself for the loss of his property with the

loss of his wife" (132).    Tom is portrayed in the story as being typical of many of the

citizens who lived in the town, many of who's names Old Scratch had carved into the

bark of a tree near the Indian Fort.  When the devil shows Tom a tree for a greedy

townsperson, he fails to see that he is very much like that tree when he "looked in the

direction that the stranger pointed and beheld one of the great trees, fair and

flourishing without, but rotten at the core" (130). 

     As time passes after Tom has made his deal with the devil, and he is working as a

usurer in Boston, squeezing every last cent out of the unlucky speculators that walked

through his door, Tom begins to wonder whether he made the right choice when he

dealt with Old Scratch:  "He thought with regret on the bargain he had made with his

black friend, and set his wits to work to cheat him out of the conditions" (134).  Tom's

decision to attempt to cheat the devil becomes his downfall.  Tom now begins a routine

of attending a Church service and praying loudly for everyone to hear, and he outfits

himself with two Bibles which he thinks will protect him to the end.  In a great irony

Irving tells of how Tom will put down his Bible for a few minutes while he forecloses a

mortgage of some poor borrower, and the resumes his reading when he is finished.

Stevens recognized this irony and noted that "Irving has a keen eye for the ironies and

contradictions of human behavior."  Irving presents the reader with the difficulty that

can arise when intentions are based solely on personal gain.  In the story, one sees

how Tom Walker's actions contradict each other in their meaning and purpose.  It is

seen in the story how Tom walker would show his devotion to the Church and to God,

when he was truly only trying to protect himself from when the devil came to collect

what was due.  Stevens summarized Tom's actions by noting that "...the tale clearly

satirizes those who make a public show of devotion while retaining meanness of spirit". 

     Irving does a very good job of demonstrating the ill consequences that can and most

likely will be a result of man's lack of caring, and possibly ignorance.  Had Tom Walker

thought upon the deal more thoroughly, instead of jumping right into it, he most likely

would not have suffered the terrible outcome of the deal.  If he had realized that the

wealth that he would achieve would be useless to him in the end, he would probably be

living in his old house, unhappy and without a wife, but at least he would have had his

dignity, for he could know that he did not sink to such lows as to give up his soul for a

few years of unhappy wealth.  The humor present in the tale does help to add a bit of

liveliness to the narrative, keeping it from being completely dreary and having a

melancholy-like mood.  "While the selling of one's soul and the inhumane

consequences of greed are significant, they become subjects for laughter through

Irving's character portrayals and his use of ironic understatement", insightfully noted

Stevens of this, one of Irving's finest works.

     In "The Devil and Daniel Webster", the reader learns the story of an extremely

unlucky New England farmer named Jabez Stone, who like Tom Walker, makes a deal

with the devil for personal gain.  In the narrative,  Jabez is frustrated with the illness of

his wife, the condition of his animals, and his unproductive crops.  Jabez inadvertently

summons the devil and makes a deal with him, stipulating that Jabez would have great

success in all his undertakings, and that in seven years time, he would relinquish his

soul to the devil, known in this story as "Scratch" or "Mr.  Scratch".  However when the

time comes for Jabez to give the devil what is legally his,  he manages to bargain for a

three year extension.  When that time is almost over, Jabez employs the services of the

notes speaker Daniel Webster, who, in the end, wins for Jabez stone his freedom and

makes the devil put in writing that no New Hampshireman will be bothered by him again

until "doomsday".

     There is one striking difference present between the two stories, and it is a very

significant factor when analyzing the outcome of each character's separate bargains.

That is the intentions that each one had when they made their deals.  In "The Devil and

Tom Walker", Tom Walker bargains with the devil strictly for personal gain, without

considering the needs of others.  He does not see how his miserly ways are ruining him

and he suffers severe consequences because of it.  In "The Devil and Daniel Webster",

Jabez Stone signs a contract with the devil to save his family from starvation.  He was

thinking of others when he signed the contract, and not himself.  That is what leads to

Webster's strong point for his defense of Jabez Stone, "Then he turned to Jabez

Stone...an ordinary man who'd had hard luck and wanted to change it.  And, because

he'd wanted to change it, now he was going to be punished for all eternity" (641).

     The story is truly a credit to the true Daniel Webster, as David Peck eloquently

noted: "The story tapped America's love for folklore and legend,..., it re-created the

story of a genuine American hero."  A "genuine American hero" is what Webster is truly

portrayed as in this narrative.  Peck also noted that "The story is praise not only for

Daniel Webster, however, but also for his country, for the two are inextricably

intertwined."  This story also hints to the fact even though people may seem to be cruel

and hard on the outside, they can be truly caring and compassionate.  The political and

spiritual lessons to be learned from "The Devil and Daniel Webster" are those which

are very important to the existence and survival of every human being alive today.

     Both "The Devil and Tom Walker" and "The Devil and Daniel Webster" both are

beautifully written masterpieces of American literature that will undoubtedly be

cherished for generations of readers to come.  This beauty comes from each authors

uniquely different American heritage which adds a certain flavor to each of the works.

This is all summed up by Edward Wagenknecht in his "Washington Irving:  Moderation

Displayed", in reference to the book in which "The Devil and Tom Walker" was

published:  "'The Devil and Tom Walker' is,..., the finest narrative in this part of the

book".

Works Cited

Adventures in American Literature.  Ed.  Fannie Safier et al.  Athena Edition.  Austin:

     Holt,  1996.

Benet, Stephen Vincent.  "The Devil and Daniel Webster".  in Adventures in American

     Literature.  Ed.  Fannie Safier et al.  Athena Edition.  Austin:  Holt,  1996.  635-643.

Discovering Authors.  Macintosh.  CD-ROM.  Detroit:  Gale Research,  1993.

Irving, Washington.  "The Devil and Tom Walker".  in Adventures in American

     Literature.  Ed.  Fannie Safier et al.  Athena Edition.  Austin:  Holt,  1996.  128-135.

Masterplots II:  Short Story Series.  Ed.  Frank N.  Magill.  Vol.  2.  Pasadena:  Salem

     Press,  1989.

Peck, David.  Masterplots II:  Short Story Series.  Ed.  Frank N.  Magill.  Vol.  2. 

     Pasadena:  Salem Press,  1989.  575-578.

Stewart, Larry L.  Masterplots II:  Short Story Series.  Ed.  Frank N.  Magill.  Vol.  2. 

     Pasadena:  Salem Press, 1989.  579-581.

Wagenknecht, Edward.  "Washington Irving:  Moderation Displayed".  Oxford UP. 

     1962.  233.  in Discovering Authors.  Macintosh.  CD-ROM.  Detroit:  Gale

     Research,  1993.  3.