Irving uses his characterization of Tom and his wife to satirize greed, self-centeredness, and impulsiveness. Tom and his wife are so stingy that they won't share with one another, and glory in the other's misfortune (Tom's wife wants him to barter away his soul in order to receive financial benefits, and Tom doesn't seem to care when he finds out that his wife was most likely killed by the devil--he's more concerned about the items she "stole" from the house).
Later, when Tom becomes a usurer (a high-interest money lender), he cares nothing about his neighbors' and fellow church members' financial struggles; instead, he concerns himself with piling up as much money as possible for himself.
Irving's satirical tone toward and descriptions of the Walker, Old Scratch, and some of the town leaders (through the scene in the forest with the devil) demonstrate greedy, fickle human nature.
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