In the book The Devil and Tom Walker, written by Washington Irving, many different themes are shown. All of the themes in the story can connect to the choices we all might make and the consequences we might regret in our lives today. Greed and wealth are not what fulfills a person's life and gives him that “happiness” that everyone says money gives. Not thinking about one's choices that could last a lifetime can cause an endless amount of regret and Tom Walker is a great example of someone whose life is ruined by the poor choices he made for himself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Tom Walker also learns not to make dubious promises. Tom does this when he gives his soul to the devil. He doesn't think about how late he will feel from then on and what consequences it will have on his future. In the forest/woods when the devil offers him what seems like the perfect deal he accepts it. he doesn't think he'll give up on the deal he made with his black friend when he nears the end of his life. He goes out of his way to keep his promise by carrying a Bible with him everywhere he goes, making people believe he is religious. The result of choosing greed destroys many people's lives and what they become after death. When Tom first comes into contact with the devil and is offered wealth and fortune, he rejects the offer for only one reason, because he does not want to share it with his lawful wife because he sees her as a terrible person. But when he is faced with the devil's offer again, he accepts it with little to no regard for the actions, the outcome, and the things that might happen to him. It seems to have no effect. Once he becomes a loan shark in Boston, he appears as an aquatint and comes to the aid of people in need, but slowly manipulates them and then makes them have nothing. Even when a friend confronts him in a moment of desperate help, he does not change his greedy ways and does not offer pity or sympathy, but instead dares the Devil to take him. Tom Walker is then taken to hell on a black horse and all his riches are burned. At the end of the story, Tom is missing and they think he was taken by Old Scratch. The narrator is said to have told all the "moneylenders" to keep this story close to their hearts. Which many also see as a very important theme of the story. Tom and his wife were unhappy and exhausted elderly people who sought only wealth and were obsessed with acquiring materialistic objects. They hid things from each other, including money. Tom initially rejects the deal with the devil in which his wife tries to make a deal with the devil herself. Tom ends up dealing with the devil and manipulating people and becomes rich. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The story was about morality but the main theme was greed. In the 1820s, America was in what was considered the “Market Revolution,” a period in which economic and social relations around the world changed rapidly and affectively. I believe this has influenced the way this story is interpreted by its readers and the lessons that can be learned from it.