proud of his own achievements. But he has no sympathy for Wilhelm’s failures. He believes his son’s troubles are caused by his own foolishness. When Wilhelm comes to him for help, Dr. Adler refuses. He says coldly,

“You brought it on yourself.”

This shows the emotional distance between them. Dr. Adler cares more for his reputation than his son’s suffering. He wants to appear respectable before others. He feels ashamed of Wilhelm’s failure. Their relationship shows a deep generation gap. The father belongs to a world of discipline and success, while the son struggles in a world full of confusion and emotional needs.

The Father-Son Conflict: The main emotional conflict in Seize the Day is between Wilhelm’s heart and his father’s mind. Wilhelm craves love, understanding, and moral support. But Dr. Adler offers only logic and criticism. Wilhelm desperately needs his father’s help and 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. He realizes:

“The money makes the difference.”

Their relationship shows how modern life weakens family bonds. In this novel, the father represents success, reason, and pride, while the son represents emotion, failure, and need. The absence of affection between them becomes a symbol of the coldness of modern society.

Dr. Tamkin: The False Friend: In contrast to Dr. Adler, Dr. Tamkin pretends to understand Wilhelm. He speaks in a friendly and spiritual way. He tells Wilhelm to trust him and invest money in the stock market. At first, Tamkin seems wise and caring. He talks about emotions and freedom. This fact gives Wilhelm a feeling of hope. Tamkin tells him to live in the present and not worry about the past or future. He says:

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

Tamkin’s advice sounds good, but it is manipulative. It leads Wilhelm to invest all his savings in the risky stock market without thinking about the risks. In the end, Tamkin cheats Wilhelm and disappears with his money. Through this, Bellow shows how lonely people often fall into the hands of deceivers. Wilhelm’s trust in Tamkin shows his deep hunger for someone who will understand and support him—a need his father never fulfilled.

Symbolic Meaning of the Two Figures: Dr. Adler and Dr. Tamkin represent two opposite worlds. Dr. Adler stands for cold reality — practical, selfish, and proud. Dr. Tamkin represents false dreams — comforting lies and emotional illusion. Wilhelm stands helpless between them. One hurts him with truth; the other destroys him with lies. Both, in their own way, push Wilhelm toward self-realization. By the end, when Wilhelm breaks down at a stranger’s funeral, he finally accepts his emotions and faces life honestly.

“He ... sank deeper than sorrow ... toward the consummation of his heart's ultimate need.”

This breakdown becomes his moment of emotional release and spiritual awakening.

In fine, both Dr. Adler and Dr. Tamkin play vital roles in shaping Wilhelm’s inner world. His father’s coldness and Tamkin’s deceit teach him painful lessons about life. The conflict between father and son shows the emotional emptiness of modern life. In the end, Wilhelm learns that to truly “seize the day,” he must stop depending on others and face his own feelings with honesty and courage.