Discuss the roles of Dr. Adler and Dr. Tamkin in Wilhelm’s life in Seize the Day.

Answer

Discuss the roles of Dr. Adler and Dr. Tamkin in Wilhelm’s life in Seize the Day.

Or, describe the conflict between the father and son in Seize the Day.

Saul Bellow’s (1915-2005) Seize the Day (1956) is a short novel about one day in the life of Tommy Wilhelm. Wilhelm is a middle-aged man who feels lost and defeated. He has failed in his career, his marriage, and his dreams. In this time of pain, two people play important roles in his life — his father, Dr. Adler, and Dr. Tamkin, a mysterious man who claims to be his friend. Both men represent opposite sides of life: reality and illusion. They shape Wilhelm’s emotional journey.

Dr. Adler—A Father Without Warmth: Dr. Adler, Wilhelm’s father, is a successful retired doctor who lives in the same hotel as his son. He is healthy, confident, and proud of his own achievements. But he has no sympathy for Wilhelm’s failures. He believes his son’s troubles are caused by his own foolishness. When Wilhelm comes to him for help, Dr. Adler refuses. He says coldly,

“You brought it on yourself.”

This shows the emotional distance between them. Dr. Adler cares more for his reputation than his son’s suffering. He wants to appear respectable before others. He feels ashamed of Wilhelm’s failure. Their relationship shows a deep generation gap. The father belongs to a world of discipline and success, while the son struggles in a world full of confusion and emotional needs.

The Father-Son Conflict: The main emotional conflict in Seize the Day is between Wilhelm’s heart and his father’s mind. Wilhelm craves love, understanding, and moral support. But Dr. Adler offers only logic and criticism. Wilhelm desperately needs his father’s help and says:

“What do I expect? … I expect help!”

But his father does not provide any financial or emotional support. Wilhelm feels unloved and alone, even when living near his father. He realizes:

“The money makes

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