Tone in The Devil and Tom Walker

In “The Devil and Tom Walker,” Irving explains that greed and selfish ambitions can destroy people through the use of tone. Irving uses the characteristic lighthearted, tones of a classic fireside poet in a humorous manner when he writes “ Such was the end of Tom Walker and his ill-gotten wealth. Let all the groping money brokers lay this story to heart. The truth of it is not to be doubted” (245). In this quotation, Irving is jeering at Tom Walker’s stupidity while also providing his theme concisely. The author does not bother with extravagant diction and instead puts his thoughts out clearly and to the point.
The fireside poet makes his story comprehensible for the younger ones but also shows his appeal to the rest of the family when he writes that “Tom looked in the direction that the stranger pointed, and beheld one of the great trees, fair and flourishing without, but rotten at the core” (239). Irving uses symbolism of the trees to capture the essence of the selfish men’s sacrifices to the devil. Irving’s message that selfish thinking is iniquitous is the same as that of the younger children’s message. The author knew his audiences were families ranging in age and therefore provided something for the entire family by using tone to characterize his story of an egotistical man who took the consequences of his actions.