Read the passage from “The Devil and Tom Walker.” Which of the following words describes the relationship between Tom and his wi
fe? From “The Devil and Tom Walker”
He was not prone to let his wife into his confidence; but as this was an uneasy secret, he willingly shared it with her. All her avarice was awakened at the mention of hidden gold, and she urged her husband to comply with the black man’s terms and secure what would make them wealthy for life. However Tom might have felt disposed to sell himself to the Devil, he was determined not to do so to oblige his wife; so he flatly refused, out of the mere spirit of contradiction.
This is the word that best describes the relationship between Tom and his wife. It is clear that this is not a healthy relationship. We learn in the passage that Tom does not usually trust his wife, and instead, he tends to keep secrets from her. We also learn that he refuses to give in to whatever his wife wants, simply to contradict her. These attitudes show that the relationship between the couple is a conflicted one.
