So, the narrator says:
“Everyone was supposed to have money... They'd be ashamed not to have it.”
But Wilhelm’s dream of becoming an actor failed. He could not find success. He then worked as a salesman, which he did not enjoy. His job did not match his dreams. He felt unhappy and unfulfilled. Many people like Wilhelm follow the American Dream but end up in jobs they do not like. They feel like failures.
Risk and Consequence: Wilhelm believes in the American Dream, so he takes big risks to get rich. He thinks that if he works hard and makes bold choices, he will succeed. This hope leads him to trust Dr. Tamkin. Wilhelm invests his last savings in the stock market. Tamkin tells him:
“Only the present is real—the here-and-now. Seize the day.”
Wilhelm wants to solve all his problems quickly by making money. But instead of becoming rich, he loses everything. This shows that chasing quick wealth without knowledge can bring disaster.
Wilhelm and His Father: Wilhelm’s father, Dr. Adler, is a successful man. He worked hard and now lives a comfortable life. He represents the traditional American Dream. Wilhelm wants help from his father, but Dr. Adler refuses to support him. Dr. Adler feels Wilhelm is a failure who should fix his own problems. Wilhelm realizes:
“The money makes the difference.”
He sees that money has created distance between him and his father. To gain his father’s respect, he tries to get rich quickly.
Financial and Emotional Struggle: Wilhelm’s story shows how the American Dream focuses too much on money. Wilhelm’s problems are not just about money. He is also lonely and feels empty inside. He is 44 years old, separated from his wife and children. He knows time is running out for him. He wants to find peace and meaning in life, not just money. Wilhelm thinks it is his duty as a man, father, son, and husband to carry family burdens. The narrator says:
“The peculiar burden of... existence lay upon him... That must be what a man was for.”
But Wilhelm’s belief in success pushes him further away from happiness. He feels more lost and unhappy. Wilhelm’s chase for the American Dream leaves him with nothing. He is broke, alone, and emotionally crushed. His dreams of success lead to disappointment and suffering.
In conclusion, “Seize the Day” shows that the American Dream is not always true. Chasing it blindly can hurt people more than help them. Many people, like Wilhelm, believe that their worth depends on getting rich. This makes them easy targets for people like Tamkin. They end up failing and feeling even worse.
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