In the reading “the Devil and Tom Walker” there are 3 main
characters. Each character is directly
or indirectly described by the character.
The main character, Tom Walker, is indirectly described as cheap because
the author states “meagre miserly fellow of the name of Tom Walker”. I can also infer that Tom got physically
abused by his wife because the author indirectly states “his face sometimes
showed signs that their conflicts were not confined to words”. I can infer that Tom was a nosy person because
the author indirectly says it “her husband was continually praying about to
detect her secret hoards”. The second
character is Tom’s wife. I can infer
that she is secretive because the author directly states it when he says “whatever
the woman could lay hands on she hid away”.
I can also infer that she is mean because the character indirectly
affirms this “fierce of temper, loud of tongue and strong of arm”. Tom’s wife is also brave because in the passage
the author directly declares it “being of the same fearless temper as her
husband”. The last character is Old
Snatch. I can infer that Old Snatch is
the devil because the author indirectly states it when he described his
physical appearance “red eyes” “begrimed with soot, as if he had been accustomed
to toil among fires and forges”. I can
assume that Old Snatch keeps his word because the author indirectly affirms it “Tom
you’re to come for! Said the black
fellow, gruffly”. I can infer that Old Snatch
is not a good person because in the passage he indirectly states it when he
explains who he is “I am the great patron and prompter of slave dealers, and
the grand master of the Salem Witches”.
The definition of theme is the central idea of a literature work. I the passage “The Devil and Tom Walker”
there are many themes. One of those
themes is that money does not buy happiness.
Even though Tom was rich he was unhappy and scared. Another theme is that for money people would
do anything. Tom Walker sold his soul to
the Devil, just because the Devil promised Tom riches.
