Comparative Analysis Of Mark Twain’s The Celebrated Jumping Frog Of Calaveras County And Washington Irving’s The Devil And Tom Walker

Mark Twain’s “The Celebrated jumping Frog of Calaveras County”, which focuses on the idea that one doesn’t have to be intelligent, makes allusions. Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker”, however, better explains how greed can lead moral corruption through symbolism and allegory. The story of “The Celebrated Jumping frog of Calaveras County”, which begins in Angels Camp, California’s mining settlement. A man from the East visits. Simon Wheeler, a friend’s request, asks the narrator to look for Leonidas W.Smiley. Wheeler, rather than giving the requested information to Wheeler, launches into a long tale about Jim Smiley. Jim Smiley would put his money on any proposition. This story demonstrates that intelligence does not require education. Smiley had bet Andrew Jackson to death and Wheeler said, “It wasn’t necessary to be educated to be clever.” This tactic won him many dogfights, and he eventually was paired with an unrelated dog. This dog, which most people believed was worth nothing, proved them wrong. Not by his incredible education, but his intelligence during fights. Twain is a clever use of allusion when he names the dog Andrew Jackson after the 7th president, and former general. Both Jackson and the dog were well-known for their toughness and unstoppable fighting spirit. Andrew Jackson’s intelligence was not what made him famous, but his determination and perseverance, especially during his presidency. Smiley had already collected a frog from the stranger and filled Smiley’s frog with Quail Shot. Wheeler then spoke of Smiley. “Then he said, ‘One, two, three jump!’ Dan’l give a high-pitched heave. Smiley was surprised. He was also disgusted. However, he did not know what the matter. Twain introduces the theme with this quote. Smiley is shown to be completely unaware of how he was being trained for 3 months and leaving his frog. The story does not mention the education of the stranger, but he is very intelligent. The stranger won the bet by putting the quail shot in Dan’l Webster. Smiley thought it was smart to place a bet on the abilities and winnings of his frog. But he was fooled by the stranger who was training him. Smiley didn’t even realize what was happening until his frog ate some quail shots. At that point, it was too late. Twain alludes by calling the frog Dan’l Webster to refer to American statesman Daniel Webster. Twain uses this allusion because the frog as well the statesman are both known for being brilliant. The intelligence and mastery displayed by the frog, as well as its ability to quickly learn and acquire skills, could have won the bet against the stranger. However, Smiley’s ignorance and blindness ultimately cost him the win. The devil has taken the form of many people since Kidd’s passing and guards its hiding spot. Irving then refers to Tom Walker, who Irving calls a “miser”. He is a complete jerk to everyone, even his wife. His wife, who is equally miserable, is verbally abusive. Rumours are that Tom is physically abusive to his wife. Tom, on his way home from work, decides to walk through the swamp. He sits down on a log and rests. Soon Tom is confronted with an old man with a pale face, identified as Old Scratch. He offers Tom money in return for “certain conditions.” Tom returns home to discuss the offer. He is convinced by her. Tom, who is miserly, hesitates to accept the invitation because he doesn’t want any of the wealth to be shared with his wife. She is furious and decides to go to “Old Scratch” by herself. After a few days, she decides to leave. Tom searched the woods until he came across her heart, liver, and apron. Tom is pleased about the death of his wife because he will be able to make his “Old Scratch’ deal and not share any wealth. Tom accepts the offer to become a corrupt usurer after his conversation with Satan. He is wealthy and corrupt, and he departs Boston. Tom visits church to seek forgiveness years later, fearing that he will be punished for his actions. Tom carries a Bible with him everywhere, in an attempt to ward off the old scratch. Tom is taken to the Indian fort and thrown on the horse. The story’s core theme is about greed and moral corruption. Irving uses symbolism and allegory to reveal the theme. The devil is a symbol of temptation. Tom and his partner are symbols for greed. Later, Tom will symbolise hypocrisy following salvation at the church. Irving then shows how Irving will punish him. Tom’s conscience is symbolized by the murky woods and quagmires he encounters with the Devil. His greed makes it easy for the devil to tempt him. The story begins by stating that Tom had a wife who was as selfish as he; they were so naive they conspired to cheat one another. Irving illustrates the dangers of greed in damaging relationships. Tom Walker and his partner, Mary Walker, were terrible to each other and had terrible thoughts about their greed. As Tom was being taken to hell on the horse by the devil, he said these last words: “The Devil Takes Me if I Have Made a Farthing!” Irving illustrates the theme through this quote. It shows Tom as a liar. A cheater. A miser. And a man who has lost all his morality. Tom calls out to the devil for redemption at this point.

“The Devil & Tom Walker” was better at developing the theme of greed can lead moral corruption than “The Celebrated Judging Frog Of Calaveras County”. “The Celebrated Jogging Frog Of Calaveras County tried to integrate its theme in two different ways. The story ended with the dog losing a battle. Even though the dog was not well-educated, his death showed how simple things can fool even the most skilled. Irving used a variety of literary devices to create the theme and then incorporated them all into the final product to make it clearer and more understandable to the reader. While Tom Walker is presented as someone who has been morally corrupt from the beginning, “The Devil & Tom Walker” shows how moral corruption breeds further moral corruption and escalates to the worst form of corruption: a pact. Tom’s decision to sell his soul to Satan is a difficult one, but he does pause to think about the after-life. Another act of moral corruption is his conversion of religion to serve his own interests rather than God’s. Tom is unable to escape his fate. Irving also makes clear that Irving’s story is a “story” but that its truth “isn’t to be doubted.”

Mark Twain’s book “The Celebrated, Jumping Frog from Calaveras Country” is beautiful in illustrating the theme. It is only surpassed by Washington Irving’s novel “The Devil and Tom Walker”, which demonstrates how greed can lead corruption of morals through allegory and symbolism.