d separated from his wife. He feels that he has lost control over his own life. This loss of identity is an important existential problem. Wilhelm feels like a stranger in his own world. Through him, Bellow shows how modern society forces people to live by others’ expectations, not by their own true selves.

Loneliness and Emotional Isolation: Wilhelm lives in the same hotel as his father, Dr. Adler. But still feels completely alone. His father is proud, selfish, and unwilling to help. 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’s wife also only wants money from him. Nobody gives him love or understanding. This emotional isolation makes Wilhelm feel empty inside. Bellow uses this loneliness to show how modern American society has become cold and self-centered. This shows the human need for connection, which existential thinkers say is missing in modern life.

Materialism and False Values: Another major problem in the novel is materialism. Everyone around Wilhelm values money more than emotion or morality. Dr. Adler is respected because he is rich and successful. Even Dr. Tamkin, who pretends to be a philosopher, cheats Wilhelm for money. The narrator says:

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

This shows how deeply society is ruled by materialism. In such a world, people are ashamed if they do not look wealthy. This world of money and lies makes Wilhelm feel lost. He invests in the stock market, hoping to solve his problems, but he only loses more. Wilhelm’s failure shows that the pursuit of material success cannot give peace or meaning to life.

The Search for Meaning and Self-Understanding: Throughout the story, Wilhelm struggles to understand who he is and what life really means. By the end, when he breaks down at a stranger’s funeral, he finally accepts his own emotions.

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

This breakdown is not only sadness but also spiritual awakening. He realizes that he cannot escape from his own self. He must accept life as it is — with pain, failure, and truth. In this way, Bellow shows that the solution to existential problems comes only when a person faces reality honestly and finds meaning through inner understanding.

In conclusion, Saul Bellow presents the deep existential problems of modern American life — loss of identity, loneliness, materialism, and the search for meaning. Through Tommy Wilhelm’s pain and awakening, Bellow shows that real life cannot be measured by wealth or success. True freedom and peace come only when one dares to face life’s truth and, in his own way, learns to “seize the day.”