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 -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