There appear to be any number of different conflicts that
occur in this masterful short story by Washington Irving. These are mainly external
conflicts, that is conflicts that are between people rather than internal conflicts.
Note how the conflict between Tom Walker and his wife is
characterised:
They were so miserly that they even conspired to
cheat each other.
The element
of satire and exaggeration here renders this description of their marriage as being
hilarious, and also gives us a certain sense of satisfaction at the fate of Tom Walker's
wife and Tom himself. However, the conflict is not limited to Tom and his miserly wife.
Indeed, both Tom and his wife have a conflict with the Devil, or "Old Scratch," though
the conflict between his wife and the devil ends up badly for the wife. Likewise, Tom's
practice of usury leads him into conflict with his fellow men. Lastly, of course, Tom's
conflict with the Devil is concluded when he is snatched and ridden away with the Devil
on horseback, never to be seen again.
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