Irving, Washington: 1783-1859

The Devil and Tom Walker, 1824 - Thematic Parallels: Moral Corruption

Irving, Washington: The Devil and Tom Walker, 1824
The short story centers around greed and moral corruption. It explores how the desire for wealth can lead people to make immoral choices — even to the point of making a deal with the Devil..
The following books are thematically simliar. Having read "The Devil and Tom Walker," the following texts lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel: Young Goodman Brown, 1835, ~10pp
  This allegorical short story features a journey into the forest where Goodman Brown meets the devil and faces moral corruption.
  Both works use the figure of the Devil to expose the underlying moral corruption in society, though they diverge in tone—Hawthorne emphasizing internal spiritual crisis and Irving delivering a satirical external punishment.
- Lawrence, D.H.: The Virgin and the Gypsy, 1930, ~90pp
  The book explores the conflict between societal expectations and personal desire through the story of a young woman, who feels trapped in her repressive upper-class family life and is drawn toward the free-spirited lifestyle of the gypsies.
  Both works explore temptation and moral conflict. "The Devil and Tom Walker" is a clear moral allegory about greed and damnation. "The Virgin and the Gypsy" is a more nuanced, symbolic story about sexual and personal liberation from social constraints. The “devil” in Irving’s story is literal and punitive; in Lawrence’s, it’s metaphorical and liberating.
- McCabe, Patrick: The Butcher Boy, 1992, ~210pp
  The book examines moral decay and psychological manipulation, which connects to the manipulation and moral decay themes present in “The Devil and Tom Walker.”
  Both works exploref moral corruption, social criticism, and the consequences of alienation and evil. Both invite readers to reflect on human nature’s darker side and societal failings.
- Wyndham, John: The Chrysalids, 1955, ~180pp
  Deals with intolerance, fear, and moral dilemmas in a dystopian society, echoing the consequences of rigid values and the dangers of moral corruption.
  Both works explore human nature, morality, and the consequences of choices. They critique human flaws like greed, intolerance, and fear of the unknown, though "The Chrysalids" focuses more on societal rigidity and persecution, while "The Devil and Tom Walker" focuses on individual moral corruption and damnation.
List of general discussion questions on Moral Corruption (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Moral Corruption (pdf)