Intent and Motive in The Devil and Tom Walker and The Devil and Daniel

absorbed and Motive in The Devil and Tom footer and The Devil and Daniel Webster capital letter Irving, in typography The Devil and Tom Walker, and Stephen Vincent Benet, in writing The Devil and Daniel Webster illustrate to the contributor the consequences of humans desire for material wealth and how a persons motivation for a relationship with the devil affects the outcome of the deal. In these two different, yet surprisingly similar narratives, the authors bounty their beliefs about clement 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 off 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, beholding only the possible wealth that he could achieve, bargains with the devil and finally reaches an promise which he sees to be fair. Tom does not se e 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 correspond 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 wrong of his property with the loss of his wife (132). Tom is portrayed in ... ...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, uppercase. The Devil a nd Tom Walker. in Adventures in American Literature. Ed. Fannie Safier et al. Athena Edition. Austin Holt, 1996. 128-135. Masterplots II forgetful Story Series. Ed. straight-from-the-shoulder 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.