In "The Devil and Tom Walker," Washington Irving shows just how little Tom cared about his wife when he describes his reaction to her disappearance and death. He is more concerned about the safety of his silverware, which she had taken with her. Even when he finds her “remains” in her apron, he expresses more sympathy for the devil:
"Egad," said he to himself, "Old Scratch must have had a tough time of it!"
The text makes it evident that Tom does not consider his wife’s death a great loss:
Tom consoled himself for the loss of his property, with the loss of his wife, for he was a man of fortitude. He even felt something like gratitude towards the black woodsman, who, he considered, had done him a kindness.
In this way, Washington Irving uses humor and irony to show the lack of love between Tom and his wife.
