The+American+Romantic-Washington+Irving

An artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions. Elevated imagination over reason.
 * __ Romanticism __**

In New England in the early 1700’s, a narrator relates a story he has heard about a local’s man dealings with the devil. According to local legends a treasure is buried in a dark forest outside of Boston. Supposively, Kidd the Pirate left it under a gigantic tree, and that the devil was in control of hiding the money, and took it under his own responsibility. Ever since Kidd the Pirate was hung, no one has disturbed the treasure or the devil’s right of it. In 1927, Tom Walker finds himself in a dark wooded shortcut to his house. Oblivious that the treasure lays nearby Tom takes a rest and starts digging up a skull. Suddenly, Tom is excited by a stern voice. The voice comes from a man who is blackened with dirt and calls himself the Devil. The Devil offers Tom the treasure in exchange for a few conditions. At first Tom rejects the offering, and goes home. When he gets home he tell his wife what had happened, and she is frustrated he didn’t take the opportunity to be wealthy. His wife then searches for the Devil herself with valuables, so he would reappear. She later disappears. Tom goes out in search of his wife and finds her liver and heart wrapped in her apron. Tom being known for being pathetic and having miserable couple habits is eager to strike a deal with the Devil, now that he doesn’t have to share it. The Devil suggest to him to be a slave trader, but Tom declines and decides he will become a user. Tom immediately sets up a counting house and gains wealth by cheating people of their money, and charging them with great interest. With his wealth and fortune, he builds himself a beautiful home but is greedy and refuses to spend it on furnishing. Soon Tom begins to buy items but doesn’t take care of them nor does he care about all the money he is spending. Soon enough, Tom grows old and worries about the terms of the Devil, and becomes a violet churchgoer, in effort to cheat the Devil out of receiving his soul. One morning the Devil takes Tom away on a black horse, and is never seen again. All of his money and bonds that were found were burnt to the ground just like his soul.
 * __ Summary __**

In the Devil and Tom Walker, many events occur that still occur today in our society. For example Tom makes a huge decision that will change his life forever. He takes the Devil’s offering to him to being a slave trader but instead he becomes a user and moneylender and cheats people out of their own money. This is relevant to the 21st century because people use credit cards. Most people who have credit cards, for Example College students squander all their money, and put themselves in financial debt. Tom chose to take the Devil’s offering and suffered the consequence. People who become irresponsible with the money they spend can leave them suffering in financial debt that can take a lifetime for them to pay off. We as Americans are known for being lazy. Most people try to find an easier way out of something they don’t want to do. Most people who do things partly finished usually find themselves corrupted in the long run. Tom Walker did the same thing. He decided to take a shortcut home and later found himself dealing with the Devil. So it is much easier to do things the right way eliminating more work for self later down the road.
 * __ Connectivity to the 21st Century __**