Question

What satirical statement does Washington Irving make about Tom Walker and society in this excerpt from "The Devil and Tom Walker"? A. He insisted that the money found through his means should be employed in his service. B. He proposed, therefore, that Tom should employ it in the black traffic; that is to say, that he should fit out a slave ship. C. This, however, Tom resolutely refused: he was bad enough in all conscience, but the Devil himself could not tempt him to turn slave-trader.

Answer 1

"He insisted that the money found through his means should be employed in his service" is the satirical statement among the choices given in the question that Washington Irving make about Tom Walker and society in this excerpt from "The Devil and Tom Walker". The correct option among the options given is option "A".

Answer 2

I believe the answer is: c. This, however, Tom resolutely refused: he was bad enough in all conscience, but the Devil himself could not tempt him to turn slave-trader.

Washington irving want to emphasis how evil it is the act of slavery. Tom walker is described as the most morally bankrupt person that Irving knew in his life. But even that morally bankrupt man cannot put himself to be involved in slave trades. That's the satirical statement on how bad slavery is.