Tom Walker initially meets "Old Scratch" as he takes a
shortcut through the swamp. When Tom reaches the site of an old fort that is said to be
abandoned, he kicks at a skull on the ground. When an unknown voice tells him to leave
the skull alone, Tom turns to find someone sitting on a stump. The mysterious figure is
dressed strangely, is of unknown origin, and possesses "great red eyes." Because he is
covered in soot, the unknown man appears to be completely black and carries an
ax.
While most people would be terrified to encounter the
devil, Tom Walker is not frightened at all. He observes Old Scratch and the work being
done (trees symbolize souls and are being cut down and burned), then correctly
identifies him.
Old Scratch and Tom Walker have "a long
and earnest conversation together, as Tom returned homeward. At this time, the devil
tells Tom of hidden treasure that can be his for a certain price. The price of finding
the treasure is not revealed to the reader, but Tom refuses to make the agreement
without thinking it over. Before parting from Old Scratch, Tom questions whether the
devil is being honest with him. The devil replies by marking Tom Walker's head with a
black fingerprint.
No comments:
Post a Comment