Saul Bellow (1915)
Seize the Day

Synopsis of the Story

Tommy Wilhelm is temporarily living in Hotel Gloriana in New York. He is in his mid-forties, large and blonde, with a heavy and strong back and big shoulders. His father has been living in the hotel for several years. Rubin, an agent at the newsstand, praises his strong and large features, but Wilhelm expresses self-pity by calling himself “a fair-haired hippopotamus” because he thinks that his good appearance has been the cause of his failure.

In a back-flash, Wilhelm’s past life is narrated. He did business in the commodities market with Dr. Tamkin, a deceitful man, a so-called psychologist. The business involved him in the loss. He also tried his luck as an actor in Hollywood but was a failure there. He is now utterly helpless.

Wilhelm prays to God that He might take him out of his trouble, and let him do something better.

He receives the mail, and bills for his rent. He has no money to pay the bill. His father Dr. Adler, a very rich man, talks about their family members, Wilhelm’s strained relationship with his wife Margaret, and two children, who are living separately from him. Wilhelm has to bear their expenses. His father introduces him to Mr. Perls, a hosiery wholesaler, and tells lies to him about Wilhelm in order to keep up the prestige. Referring to Dr. Tamkin, his father expresses doubt about his being a psychologist. Mr. Perls takes part in the discussion of the depreciation of Dr. Tamkin.

Then Dr. Adler asks him why he has a bad relationship with his wife, why he was dismissed from his job with Rojax, and if he had any relationship with any woman. Ultimately he asks Wilhelm what he casts from him. Wilhelm tells him he expects help from him. His her refuses to help him and advises him to have nobody on his back.

Wilhelm gets out of the dining room of the hotel, extremely tired. He feels angry with his father who did not even seem to have sympathy for him, let alone give him monetary help. He meets Dr. Tamkin in the lobby. He wonders what type of man he is, but he has no way to get rid of him now because he has already signed a power of attorney authorizing him to speculate with his seven hundred dollars – the only money that he had. When he proposes going to market, Dr. Tamkin launches a philosophical disquisition, advising him to “seize the day”, forgetting the past and the future. Dr. Tamkin also offers him a poem he wrote the previous night in which he referred to Wilhelm as “King”.

Tamkin thus infused hope and inspiration into Wilhelm’s mind, but Wilhelm still has doubts about his integrity. In the market, Wilhelm sought help from Mr. Rappaport, a chicken dealer, regarding the estimate of the lard and rye market, but in vain. Tamkin again began his philosophical lecture in order to divert his mind from the thought of selling rye immediately.

They both go out to lunch. Tamkin has a heavy lunch, whereas Wilhelm cannot even swallow his yogurt; his chest is painful. Tamkin talks about a lot of things again; his purpose is not clear. They start for the market, but Wilhelm has no chance to sell rye and lard because their price has fallen meanwhile. In the market, Tamkin disappears from Wilhelm’s sight. Wilhelm tries to find him. He now Healizes that Tamkin is the man on his back. Wilhelm goes back to e hotel, and tries to phone him, but cannot find his whereabouts. goes to his father with his problem, but he rudely rejects Wilhelm. He receives a telephone message from his wife Margaret complaining that he sent her a post-dated cheque.

Very upset, Wilhelm hurries into the street. He decides to divorce Margaret and sell his car to pay off the hotel bill. But he finds himself in the funeral procession. The dead is an unknown person, but he bursts into tears. People think he must be someone dear to the dead.