How did Tommy Wilhelm get his freedom in “Seize the Day?”

Answer

How did Tommy Wilhelm get his freedom in “Seize the Day?” [NU: 2018]

Or, Examine the ending of “Seize the Day” and explain whether or not Tommy Wilhelm finds consolation and salvation at the end.

In “Seize the Day” (1956), Tommy Wilhelm is a man trapped in the cycles of poor choices, familial rejection, and financial ruin. Throughout the novella, he struggles to find freedom from these burdens. The ending of the novel offers a glimpse into Tommy’s emotional release. Here, he finds a moment of freedom, although it remains ambiguous whether it leads to true salvation. This essay will examine how Tommy achieves his freedom. It will also explore whether he finds any lasting consolation or redemption by the end.

The Burden of Failure: Tommy Wilhelm feels overwhelmed by the weight of his past decisions. His failures in his career, family, and financial life have left him emotionally drained. The following lines show this clearly.

“The peculiar burden of … existence lay upon him … That must be what a man was for.” 

This quote reflects Tommy’s view of his life as a constant struggle. His identity is tied to his roles as a father, husband, and son, but he fails in these roles. 

Search for Help: Tommy desperately seeks help throughout the story, turning to his father and Dr. Tamkin. However, both fail him in significant ways. His father rejects him with cruel words: 

“You … make yourself … my cross … I’ll see you dead … before I let you do that to me.”

Dr. Tamkin also deceives him, making false promises of financial success. In the absence of real support, Tommy becomes increasingly desperate, leading him to act impulsively.

Illusions of Freedom: Tommy briefly finds a sense of freedom in the illusion of financial success. Dr. Tamkin promises a lucrative investment that could resolve his financial troubles. Tamkin tries to encourage Tommy in this way: 

“Only the present is real—the

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