English Literature: In the Novella "Seize the Day", Discuss Wilhelm’s Character as Struggling one in Problem

Friday 1 November 2019

In the Novella "Seize the Day", Discuss Wilhelm’s Character as Struggling one in Problem

Wilhelm’s Character Struggling one in Problem  in Seize the Day

 

In Saul Bellow’s novella Seize the Day Wilhelm is a character in the midst of great struggle. Going through a midlife crisis he finds problems converging from all sides. These difficulties affect him physically as well as mentally and emotionally:

‘I just can’t catch my breath’
Seize-the-Day-Discuss-Wilhelm’s-Character

One element of Wilhelm’s character is seen with his struggles to interact in a positive way with others. One example is his relationship with his father Dr. Adler. Both  live under the same roof at the Gloriana hotel and Wilhelm and his father do not get along. Wilhelm’s father sees his son as a failure his life the result of many poor choices he has made. Wilhelm resents his father’s overall censorship and unwillingness to support his son even emotionally. Dr. Adler tells Wilhelm he would rather see his son dead than a burden to him. Wilhelm also struggles with his wife who he does not live with she will not give him a divorce. This causes him a great deal of pain as he greatly misses his sons. He is also estranged from his mistress olive and his sister further indicating how Wilhelm struggles with making positive connections with other people.
 

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