Tom Walker's house mirrors the decay of Tom and his wife's
relationship. They are abusive to each other, lazy, and let their horses starve because
of their own greed. The lifeless trees and forest surrounding the Walker house symbolize
the fruitlessness of Tom and his wife's marriage--they have no children. This adds to
the loneliness and isolation of their marriage.
The
pirate's treasure that the devil offers Tom is supposedly buried in the swamp. In order
to acquire the treasure buried in the swamp, Tom has to work for the devil. The swamp
represents Tom's immoral services (becoming a usurer) for the
devil.
The darkness adds to the ominous mood of the story
and represents the evil and hypocrisy of people like Tom, his wife, and others in his
New England town. Although Tom comes to believe he can outsmart the devil, he is never
out of the darkness, which symbolizes the devil's
influence.
At the end of the story, just before the devil
comes for Tom, Tom is ready to foreclose on a man's house. Tom had spent his latter
years being outwardly religious by going to church, praying loudly, and carrying a
Bible. The Bible being under the foreclosed mortgage shows Tom's true nature--that he
cares more about material wealth than about his fellow man. Tom's actions contradict the
Biblical principles that he obviously knows nothing about. He cannot trick the devil
with his outward display of religion.
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