The story I chose to write my essay on The Devil and Tom Walker by Washington Irving. The Devil and Tom Walker is about a small town fable, involving a mysterious hidden treasure chest. Tom Walker is a selfish man who has just as selfish and greedy of a wife. When Tom comes across a skull, he has to make a deal with the devil, no deal with the devil can ever be won.
The story “The Devil and Tom Walker” is told by Geoffrey Crayon, who is talking about a story he was told of a local legend, of Tom Walker. This is a strange narrative choice that not many authors make. In doing this, however, the story sounds even more like a hometown fable that would be told to friends and family. Another story choice the author made in this story was that the old man’s wife was never pronounced dead. Leaving the readers guessing if she truly did die, or came across an animal’s liver and heart, wrapped it up, and ran off with the treasure for herself.
The narrator begins the story by giving background about the treasure hidden by “Kidd” the pirate. The story behind Kidd the Pirate is that he died at sea and never returned to retrieve his treasure. Tom Walker believes that if he is cunning enough that he can talk the devil into making a deal that will be best in his interests. Seeking help he asks his wife for advice, being greedy she told him to take it regardless of what may happen to him or his soul, and she wanted the treasure for herself. When Tom told his wife no, she went out to seek