Evaluate Seize the Day as a modern tragedy.

Answer

Evaluate Seize the Day as a modern tragedy.

Saul Bellow’s (1915-2005) Seize the Day (1956) is a modern tragedy about an ordinary man named Tommy Wilhelm. It tells the story of one painful day in his life when everything goes wrong. He loses money, hope, and peace. But at the same time, he finds the truth about himself. The novel shows the tragedy of modern man, not caused by fate or gods, but by his own weakness, loneliness, and search for meaning.

A Common Man as the Tragic Hero: In classical tragedy, like Oedipus Rex or Macbeth, the hero is noble and powerful. But Bellow’s tragedy is different. His hero is an ordinary man. Tommy Wilhelm is not a king or a warrior; he is a failed salesman and actor. He lives in a modern city, not in a palace. His tragedy comes from daily life—job loss, family problems, and emotional pain. This makes the novella a modern tragedy. Wilhelm represents every man who struggles to survive in a hard, selfish world.

Conflict Between Emotion and Reason: In a modern tragedy, we find the conflict between emotion and reason. Wilhelm’s tragedy grows from his inner conflict. He is a man of emotion, while his father, Dr. Adler, is a man of logic and pride. Wilhelm needs love, understanding, and sympathy. He 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.

The same conflict appears between Wilhelm and Dr. Tamkin. Tamkin speaks sweetly and acts like a friend, but he cheats Wilhelm and runs away with his money. Both men, his father and Tamkin, cause his downfall in different ways.

Failure and Loneliness: Like every tragic hero, Wilhelm suffers because of his own weakness. He is too emotional, too trusting, and too dependent on others. He wants success but does not work hard for it.