Question

What satirical statement does Washington Irving make about Tom Walker and society in this excerpt from "The Devil and Tom Walker"?

He insisted that the money found through his means should be employed in his service. He proposed, therefore, that Tom should employ it in the black traffic; that is to say, that he should fit out a slave ship. This, however, Tom resolutely refused: he was bad enough in all conscience, but the Devil himself could not tempt him to turn slave-trader.

Answer 1

In the excerpt from "The Devil and Tom Walker," Washington Irving makes a satirical statement about Tom Walker and society by highlighting Tom's refusal to become a slave-trader.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the excerpt from "The Devil and Tom Walker," Washington Irving makes a satirical statement about Tom Walker and society by highlighting Tom's refusal to become a slave-trader. This satirical statement criticizes the greed and immorality of society during that time period. Tom's rejection of slavery, even though he is already morally compromised, exposes the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of the society in which he lives.

Answer 2

​The answer is "He was bad enough in all conscience, but the Devil himself could not temp him to turn slave-trader. Satirical is a synonym for sarcastic. So when the Author says that Tom Walker could not be tempted by the Devil he does not literally mean "The Devil" but he means that he is too morally upright to become a slave-trader.