The Devil and Tom Walker Characters Analysis

Tom Walker - He is the protagonist of the short story, which truly begins with a meeting with the Devil. Tom accidentally runs into the devil as he is taking a shortcut through the swamp, and his behavior piques the devil who offers him untold amounts of wealth in return for his soul. Tom accepts the deal but he eventually comes to regret this decision. Tom becomes a wealthy and religious man but his greedy nature continues to lead him towards damnation.

Old Scratch - The devil introduces himself using various names including, The Miner, The Black Woodsman, and finally, Old Scratch. He is described to be black in appearance but not African or Native American, yet he is described to be wearing Native American clothes. He identifies himself as a venerated deity of Native Americans, and the patron of slave traders. He shows up, in the end, to carry Tom Walker off to hell, despite all of his attempts to avoid damnation in later life.

Tom Walker's Wife - She is described to be a tough woman who is just greedy and miserly as her husband. It is also indicated that she frequently unleashes the force of her arms upon him during their arguments as evidenced by the bruises on his wife. Tom Walker refuses to go through with the Devil's deal after his wife tries to pressure him into it. So she tries to engage the Devil on her own, but she ends up losing her life in that process. Although it is indicated that she caused the devil to experience some of the same violence that Tom Walker was used to withstanding.