Tom Walker is portrayed as the Devil's ideal 'victim' in 'The Devil and Tom Walker' due to his overwhelming greed, miserly nature, and moral corruption, which are vividly described in the text. His eagerness to engage in a Faustian bargain with the Devil and his subsequent actions as a usurer clearly mark him as a person susceptible to the Devil's manipulation.
In “The Devil and Tom Walker,” Tom Walker is depicted as the perfect “victim” for the Devil largely due to his greed, miserliness, and moral corruption. Tom’s eagerness to make a deal with the Devil, whose offer involves Tom profiting from the misfortune of others, directly showcases his greediness.
The text provides evidence of this through descriptions of Tom’s initial encounter with the Devil and his subsequent actions following their agreement. Additionally, his poor relationship with his wife, characterized by mutual selfishness and acrimony, which drives her to seek out the Devil as well, highlights their shared moral decadence and further cements Tom as an ideal target for the Devil’s manipulation.
Moreover, the story also illustrates Tom’s miserly behavior. He becomes a usurer, taking advantage of desperate people, which aligns perfectly with the Devil’s character of exploiting others’ weaknesses.
As Tom amasses wealth through these unscrupulous means, it underpins the theme of the story that wealth gained by immoral methods does not bring true happiness and can lead to one’s downfall. Tom Walker’s story ends with him being carried off by the Devil, a result of his own wrong choices and inherent flaws, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked greed and moral corruption.