Write a note on American life and society as depicted in Saul Bellow’s “Seize the Day.”

Answer

Write a note on American life and society as depicted in Saul Bellow’s “Seize the Day.” [NU: 2017, 19] ★★★

Or, Discuss Bellow’s attitude towards contemporary American society in “Seize the Day.” [NU: 2017]

Saul Bellow’s (1915–2005) “Seize the Day,” written in 1956, shows American life and society as hard, competitive, and often very lonely. The story presents the struggles of people living in a modern city. In this kind of life, people are mostly busy chasing money, success, and a higher position in society. For them, wealth and the so-called “American Dream” are the most important things. Through Tommy Wilhelm and other characters, the novel clearly shows the problems, pressures, and failures of contemporary American society.

Pursuit of Financial Success: “Seize the Day” shows that American society measures a person’s worth by money, wealth, and social position. The main character, Tommy Wilhelm, feels this pressure deeply. When he was young, Wilhelm wanted to achieve the American Dream. He left college and went to Hollywood to become a movie actor. But this dream never came true. Instead, he lost both money and opportunities. Later in life, he feels regret, sadness, and helplessness. His failure shows how chasing the American Dream can often bring disappointment instead of happiness.

Competitive Nature of Society: The novel also shows how competitive American society is. People are always fighting with each other to be more successful, whether in business, the stock market, or even in daily life. Wilhelm’s father, Dr. Adler, represents this side of society. Dr. Adler is a retired doctor. He believes success comes only through self-discipline and effort. He looks down on Wilhelm as a failure. He does not help his son. He tells him to solve his own problems. Wilhelm sadly learns that—

“The money makes the difference.”

This shows how American society often respects only those who succeed and ignores or criticizes those who fail.

Loneliness and Alienation: Another important theme in the novel is the