What is the ‘American Dream’?

Answer

What is the ‘American Dream’? How does Wilhelm become a victim of it? 

The ‘American Dream’ is a concept rooted in the idea that everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to achieve success, wealth, and happiness through hard work and determination. It is the belief that anyone can climb the social and economic ladder and reach a better life in America.

However, in “Seize the Day,” (1956) Saul Bellow (1915-2005) shows how this dream can also lead to disappointment, frustration, and even failure. Tommy Wilhelm becomes a victim of this ideal.

Wilhelm’s Ambitions and Early Failures: Tommy Wilhelm’s life reflects the struggle for the ‘American Dream’. From a young age, Wilhelm had ambitions to be rich and successful. He dropped out of college and pursued an acting career in Hollywood, hoping fame and fortune would follow. Tommy Wilhelm feels pressure to be financially successful. The narrator says:

Everyone was supposed to have money … They’d be ashamed not to have it.

However, he quickly realized that success was not so easy to achieve. His acting career failed, and he ended up working as a salesman. Wilhelm’s early failure represents how many people who chase the ‘American Dream’ often end up in jobs that do not match their aspirations. It leaves them feeling unfulfilled.

Risk and Its Consequences: Wilhelm’s belief in the ‘American Dream’ is partly what drives him to make risky decisions. He believes in the promise that if he works hard and makes bold moves, he can turn his life around. This hope leads him to trust Dr. Tamkin and invest his last savings in the stock market. Tamkin manipulates him with his mantra –

Only the present is real—the here-and-now. Seize the day.

Wilhelm wants to achieve financial success and solve all his problems quickly, but instead, he loses everything. It shows how chasing wealth without understanding can lead to disaster.

Wilhelm and His Father: Another way Wilhelm becomes a victim of the ‘American Dream’ is through his relationship with his father, Dr. Adler. Dr. Adler embodies the traditional success associated with the American Dream. He worked hard, built a successful career, and now enjoys a comfortable retirement. However, instead of supporting his son, Dr. Adler looks down on Wilhelm’s failures. He refuses to offer his son support. Tommy realizes:

The money makes the difference.

Speaking to his father, Dr. Adler, Tommy Wilhelm identifies money as the divisive force between himself and his father. Hence, he chases after quick success.

Financial and Emotional Struggle: Wilhelm’s struggle also shows how the ‘American Dream’ focuses too much on material success. Wilhelm’s problems are not just financial; they are emotional and psychological. A 44-year-old man estranged from his wife and children, Wilhelm knows he is running out of time and options. He is desperately searching for meaning, connection, and peace in his life. Wilhelm considers the obligations of his roles as man, father, son, and husband. The narrator says:

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

However, his sense of success leads him further away from happiness. In the end, Wilhelm’s pursuit of the ‘American Dream’ leaves him with nothing but disappointment. He is broke, estranged from his family, and emotionally lost.

In short, when  people like Wilhelm base their entire self-worth on achieving financial success, they become vulnerable to failure and exploitation. “Seize the Day” illustrates the harsh reality that the ‘American Dream’ is not always attainable, and chasing it blindly can lead to more harm than good.