Hotel Gloriana in Seize the Day
Seize the Day is a notable literary work by Saul Bellow. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the main text, key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary Devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Seize the Day.
Answer
Write a short note about Hotel Gloriana.
“Seize the Day” is a novel by Saul Bellow (1915-2005), published in 1956. One of the key settings in the novella is the Hotel Gloriana. Tommy Wilhelm, Dr. Adler, and other retired elderly people live in this hotel. A vast population of New York City’s upper class lives here. Wilhelm’s story starts at the hotel as he comes down to the lobby from the 23rd floor on an elevator. Thinking about his financial and emotional struggles, Wilhelm sinks down both metaphorically and literally as the elevator goes down.
Setting: Located in New York City, the Hotel Gloriana is the novel’s setting. The hotel is the temporary home for Tommy Wilhelm. Almost all of the events that occur in the present time of the novel happen right on Broadway: in the rooms, lobby, dining hall, baths, etc., of the Hotel Gloriana.
A Microcosm of Modern Society: In “Seize the Day,” Hotel Gloriana becomes a microcosm of modern society. We notice emotional isolation and detachment between characters living in the hotel. Tommy Wilhelm desperately seeks his father’s help and sympathy, but his father refuses to give either.
We also find manipulative characters like Dr. Tamkin. He deceives Tommy Wilhelm and snatches his last savings. All the characters at the hotel are busy fulfilling societal expectations. They are busy ensuring financial stability. Throughout his stay at the hotel, Wilhelm wrestles with feelings of isolation, regret, and the realization that he is not living up to his own expectations.