Analysis on Wilhelm’s Goodness in Seize the Day

潘琳

Abstract：Wilhelm is protagonist in Saul Bellows novel Seize the Day.He insisted in his virture and goodness，disregarding the bad influence of other people in the cruel materialistic society.He insisted in goodness in his heart，especially performing in having love in family relationship and having kind will in social relationship.He endured the pain in cold money-oriented society with his good virture.

Key words：Wilhelm； goodness； Seize the Day

1. Introduction

Seize the Day presents us the story that protagonist Tommy Wilhelm has recalled his painful experience in a most significant day.Wilhelm reached his middle age.His wife often squeezed and hit against him.His indifferent father didnt help him.Tamkin is a quack doctor，who defrauded Wilhelms trust and encouraged Wilhelm to do speculative business.Wilhelm was eager to make some money，so he gave his last money to Tamkin to do investment.But the investment failed.Tamkin suddenly disappeared.Wilhelm will be flooded in life crisis.Although there are many twists and turns in Wilhelms life，he retained goodness and virture in family and society.

2.Wilhelms Goodness

This paper analyzes the goodness in Wilhelm from two aspects：one is his love for his family，and the other is，his kindness for all the general people.

2.1 Wilhelm Persistence in Love in Family

In Seize the Day，Bellow described Wilhelms family incisively，which didnt bring love and warm to protagonist Wilhelm.The main family conflict was from his father and wife.His father and wife brought only indifference and money trouble to him.

Wilhelms father Dr.Adler，cruel and selfish，didnt show any affection and responsibilities for his family.Dr.Adler only cared about himself.Dr.Adler didnt help Wilhelm when Wilhelm was in deep trouble.Dr.Adler didnt want to see his son and feared that Wilhelm brought trouble to him.Dr.Adler forgot the year that his wife died，and didnt care the stone bench between his mothers and his wifes graves.Dr.Adler even hated his son and was afraid that his son asked him for help.He didnt act as a qualified father，never giving the help or fathers love to Wilhelm.When Wilhelm was confused in his life，Dr.Adler didnt send his advice to Wilhelm.

In this difficult situation that Wilhelm lacked of fathers love.He endured the indifference from his father.He bore his fathers temper as well as selfish and didnt hate his father.In his deep heart，he still loved his father.endprint

Greatly hurt，Wilhelm struggled however to be fair.Old people are bound to change，he said.They have hard things to think about.They must prepare for where they are going.They cant live by the old schedule any longer and all their perspectives chage，and other people become alike，kin and acquaintances.[1]11

Wilhelm showed consideration and respect to his father because he persevered in love for his father.He told himself his father is an elderly man and had better not brought trouble to his father.

I am his son，he thought.He is my father.He is as much father as I am son—old or not.[2]43

Dr.Adler didnt pay his obligations to Wilhelm but Wilhelm did not resent.He still loves his father and being the son of his father.

Wilhelm also cherished the memory of his mother.He loves his mother and always gets involved in the memory of the tender feelings for his mother.

Wilhelms wife Margaret also brought disaster to him.Wilhelm almost lost all the valuable things from his wife Margaret，who seized every opportunity to hit him.Wilhelm was a victim in husband and wife relationship and endured the endless emotional damage.However，in the deteriorative marriage relationship，he still tries to take a husbands responsibility to Margaret.Margaret was a selfish，stubborn and iron-hearted woman.She did not have job and squeezed Wilhelm constantly through marriage relationship.Margaret didnt agree to divorce，because only in this way she can ask her husband for more.Margaret took it for granted that Wilhelm should support her more and more money，no matter how tough situation he stayed in.Margaret didnt care for Wilhelms life and forced Wilhelm to reach at the edge of his life.She also urged their sons estranged from Wilhelm although he loved and missed his children.

Wilhelm，whose heart was filled with love，endured the breakdown of family life.However，Wilhelm persisted in his love and took the responsibility for family.He tolerated his wife and did not hate his life.Sometimes he recalls the warmth between he and his wife in the past days.

So in the trouble family situation，Wilhelm persisted in his love for family enduring the pain of indifference，disregarding the influence brought by his family.All the family members lost love，but Wilhelm insisted these firmly.

2.2 Wilhelm Persevere in Kind in Society

The social situation as well as these social people brought negative impaction of values and morality to Wilhelms life.The whole society is worship for money，filled with the speculation，deceit，hypocrisy，vain，hedonism，cold and self-interest etc.Everyone in this society，wearing a mask and hiding the real heart，communicated with other people.Wilhelm did not despair in such adverse situation and holds his goodness and kindness in his heart.endprint

The first important social person Wilhelm familiar with was Tamkin.Tamkin was a liar who defrauded Wilhelms trust then deceived Wilhelms last money to do Tamkins business.Tamkin has done something illegal trading，and tried many ways to make more profits.Wilhelm was in his most difficult time and struggle for his life and love，Tamkin cheated his money and disappeared in the crowd.Tamkin worsen Wilhelms terrible life，and added injury to Wilhelms heart that had been injured.Tamkin understood Wilhelm deeply and utilized Wilhelms goodness and kindness to get closer to Wilhelm.When Wilhelm suspected the intention of Tamkin，Wilhelm still followed Tamkins will because he believed the goodness and kindness in the world.Wilhelm believed thst everyone in the world has kindness.In this situation，Wilhelm endured the pain of cheating.Although followed with evil Tamkin，Wilhelm persisted in his kindness.

The second social person is Maurice Venice.When Wilhelm was a college student，Maurice Venice cheated Wilhelm to go to California to develop his career as an actor.When Wilhelm arrived in California，he found all the things Venice said was false.In fact，Venice was a pander，and the recommendation from him was a kiss of death.Venice needed more help than Wilhelm.Finally，Venice was under indictment and was put into prison.Wilhelm still cannot believe Venice can do such bad thing and cried for him.Wilhelm expressed sympathy and mercy on Venice.Wilhelm experienced the pain of failure and still believed the world is full of good will so he persisted in his kindness.

Other social persons also had influenced on Wilhelm were Mr.Rappaport，Mr.Perls and Rubin.Mr.Rappaport was an old successful businessman.Mr.Rappaport paid his intention on the speculative stock market and took it for granted that other people help him at any time，but Mr.Rappaport never thought of helping others.Mr.Rappaport was a selfish and trapped into money，ignoring anything around him.Mr.Perls was Dr.Adlers friend，and he loved money deeply.Mr.Perls was saponaceous，hypocritical，only respecting the rich people.Rubin was a servant in the Gloriana hotel.He was indifferent to Wilhelm and said few words to Wilhelm.

So many the people in the society created an adverse situation for Wilhelm.Wilhelm thinks world and people are kind and harmonious.There are also kind，ordinary，helpful people.Theyre-out in the country.[1]72 Wilhelm held the kindness in his heart tightly.a general love for all these imperfect and lurid-looking people burst out in Wilhelm's breast.He loved them.They were his brothers and his sisters.[1]84

Wilhelm endured the pain and disappointing in his heart and never followed the trend of morality in the society.He believed in the goodness and kindness.

3.Conclusion

Wilhelm persisted in the goodness which the surrounding people did not have.He persists in his faith for goodness from the beginning to the end，no matter how indifference other people towards him.In the dirty social environment，Wilhelm maintained his faith in goodness.Wilhelm felt himself integrated with all human beings，and the love for all people in his heart.

Reference

[1]Saul Bellow.Seize the Day.[C].American：Penguin Books Ltd，1956

[2]Clayton J.John.Saul Bellow：In Defense of Man[M].Bloomington：Indiana University Press，1979.

[3]Michael K.Glenday.Saul Bellow and the Decline of Humanism.[C].London：The Macmillan Press Ltd，1990.endprint