Comment on the funeral scene in “Seize the Day.”

Answer

Comment on the funeral scene in “Seize the Day.” [NU: 2020, 22] ★★★

Or, What is the significance of the funeral scene of “Seize the Day?” [NU: 2018]

Saul Bellow’s (1915-2005) “Seize the Day” (1956) is the story of Tommy Wilhelm. He lives in New York. He faces loss, pain, and failure. The funeral scene is the climax. In the crowd, Wilhelm finally breaks. It is tragic but also full of meaning.

Wilhelm’s Personal Pain: Wilhelm is full of worries. He loses money with Dr. Tamkin. He fights with his father, Dr. Adler. He feels lonely in Broadway. He cries to God, 

“Oh, God… Let me out of my trouble.” 

His wife, Margaret, also rejects him. At the funeral, all his hidden pain rises. He sees the dead body of a stranger. But he feels his own death inside. This shows that Wilhelm carries his life’s burden everywhere.

The Funeral Crowd and the Stranger: The funeral happens in New York. Wilhelm stands among strangers. Nobody knows him. The coffin belongs to another man. Yet Wilhelm cries louder than the family. This funeral becomes Wilhelm’s mirror. He feels his wasted life. He cannot control himself. The crowd looks at him, but he does not care.

Symbol of Renewal and Humanity: The funeral scene shows both death and new life. Wilhelm accepts his weakness. He cries openly. He says, 

“For all the time I have wasted I am very sorry.” 

This shows repentance. He joins human suffering. He feels part of life’s truth. Through death, Wilhelm touches reality. It is the turning point. He learns to seize the day and live in the present.

The funeral scene is the heart of “Seize the Day”. It gathers Wilhelm’s pain, the crowd, and the lesson of life. In New York, among strangers, Wilhelm finds both defeat and hope. It is tragic, but it is also deeply human.