International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
Quest Motif in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day Ritu Rani
Kaithal, India
ABSTRACT: Seize the Day (1956) is considered to be Bellow's masterpiece owing to its classical neatness in plot construction, in- depth study of character and deft handling of human situation leading to a meaningful resolution. As Saul Bellow considers that Seize the Day is victim literature; very much like The Victim itself. I was a little shocked at this myself after having written The Adventures of Augie March-at the slovenliness of it". Thus Seize the Day can very well be grouped with the victim group of novels, though thematically it marks a progression in the transcendence of the victim - state by its protagonist. In spite of Wilhelm's feeling of revulsion at his father's innate selfishness, his own deep rooted humanity helps him to forgive the old man for much of his selflessness. Even in desperation, he does not condemn his father but expresses an attitude of forgiveness. Bellow' attitude towards Wilhelm is not that harsh; he also joculary accepts Wilhelm's traits as schlemiel…an awkward bungling fellow. Tommy's quest for love and emotional, sustenance that he pleads to pour his misery into the deaf ears of his father but in vain, for he finds him to be terribly unconcerned towards the grief of a no-man like him. While discussing Tommy's quest for identity in this quagmire of
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
existence, we find an incessant urge in him to seek freedom from his self, knowing full well that choice is limited. He is aware that the past is irrevocable and the human nature cannot be changed according to one's own sweet will. Naturally he is guilt -ridden, aware of the burden of the piled up mistakes. Of course from suffering he progresses towards a deeper understanding of reality, a rejuvenation and liberation from suffering-a sort of reconciliation with reality. In nutshell we can say that Seize the Day ceases to be mere victim literature and it so happens that Wilhelm transcends his victim- hood by overcoming his death-in- life phase to experience a sort of rebirth.
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
Seize the Day (1956) is entrapped in the considered to be Bellow's impersonal, mechanized masterpiece owing to its metropolis appears an classical neatness in plot anomaly from the technical construction, in- depth point of view. It is however, study of character and deft typical of Bellow that he handling of human repeats the theme of the situation leading to a predicament of people like meaningful resolution. It is Joseph or Leventhal either no wonder that Frank D. dangling or besieged by McConnel observes on its guilt and depression, excellence quite amidst the vast swarming appropriately. mass of mankind in Chicago or New York. As The strangest, Saul Bellow himself starkest, most comments: " Seize the Day " classically is victim literature; very economical and much like The Victim itself. despairing of I was a little shocked at this Bellow's novels is myself after having written Seize the Day ... The Adventures of Augie March -at the slovenliness of After the picaresque mode it". Thus Seize the Day can of The Adventures of Augie very well be grouped with March with its ebullience the victim group of novels, and the sprightliness of its though thematically it innumerable episodes, the marks a progression in the compact neatness of Seize transcendence of the victim the Day with the return to - state by its protagonist. the earlier depressive themes of the lonely man
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
In Seize the Day , we find Tommy Wilhelm' quest for He had decided identity, his progression that it would be a from the narrowing question bad mistake to go of money plaguing the to Hollywood and Americans of the 30's to then he went. He many a metaphysical had made up his question apparently mind not to unanswered- the progress marry his wife, in the novel being from a but ran off and social to a metaphysical got married. stance. In this quest for (p.21) values he proceeds from a standpoint of total As a Youngman, he opted humiliation to the for a life of quick success by realization of self and of love becoming a film star and in the final scene which is left his studies halfway in assuredly illustrative of a school to the vehement redemptive vision. disapproval of his parents. However, the film test In fact, the novel portrays a flopped and, instead of single day in the life of entering the world of Tommy Wilhelm when he is Hollywood, he had to choose on the verge of breaking menial jobs for his upkeep. apart- being enable to On the whole, his life overcome the crisis. Tommy consists of series of represents the predicament blunders- blunders which of the victimized anti-hero. could have been avoided. Tommy's life is unique in this sense that he had never He is found in a terribly won. All his decisions have shaky situation, trying ended in a sort of fiasco: desperately to reminisce the
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
past, when the future constantly at odds with the appears totally bleak and dishonesty around him.” 1 the present a terrible burden for which he him- On the surface, he keeps up self alone is accountable. the pretence of a successful man, the son of the famous Tommy Wilhelm calls Dr. Adler (In fact having lost himself a hippopotamus his identity he is recognized and the narrator comments simply as Dr. Adler's son) that he more nearly but underneath there is an resembled a bear, even in immense urgency to some agonized moment of communicate, to seek guilt and vehement rage somebody's love and aimed against his own guidance. follies he calls himself “Wild bear: Dumb mule”. In spite of Wilhelm's feeling Compared with Tommy’s of revulsion at his father's misery and loneliness, his innate selfishness, his own materially successful father deep rooted humanity helps who is still vain about his him to forgive the old man money, dress and for much of his selflessness: appearance and who boasts It is difficult to agree with about his son being a sales Daniel Weiss's observation: executive-which in fact, "Tommy Wilhelm is the Tommy was sometimes ago- moral masochist, the victim appears ridiculous. Howard for whom suffering is a M. Harper Jr’s comment on modus vivendi, a means of Tommy in this regard is self- justification". Even in worth mentioning-“Beneath desperation, he does not his bizarre actions and condemn his father but mannerisms, there is a expresses an attitude of basic integrity which is forgiveness-
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
You had to to pour his misery into the forgive, first, to deaf ears of his father but in forgive yourself vain, for he finds him to be and then general terribly unconcerned forgiveness. towards the grief of a no- (p.23) man like him. In this context S.B. Cohen's Even he is afraid of statement about Wilhelm's cynicism which has become traits as a schlemiel the way of the world and appears appropriate: like Herzog he extols the value of the developed heart Bellow' attitude as opposed to mere towards Wilhelm materialism of a society is not that harsh; adoring Mannon only. As he also joculary Max F. Shulz expresses the accepts Wilhelm's idea: traits as Herzog and schlemiel...an Wilhelm each awkward accepts the bungling fellow.3 fundamental prerogative of his An adult, prostrated with heart, even despair, crushed by the though misery of his burden, and recognizing its "smelling the salt odour of obsolescence in a tears", is really an awful materialistic sight. society. 2 His reliance on Tamkin and Such is Tommy's quest for his pragmatism can be love and emotional justified by his yearning for sustenance that he pleads sympathy and fellow feeling.
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
Though the realization of a sweet will. Naturally he is deeper sense of love and guilt -ridden, aware of the belonging will emerge later, burden of the piled up when he is at the Zenith of mistakes. With an suffering, yet the Jewish overwhelming urge for sense of being rooted in the freedom, he had changed past tradition is so very his name to Tommy innate that he cannot Wilhelm by completely accept the unconventional erasing Wilky on order to and the eccentric. He escape from the shadow of reminisces with nostalgia the past as soon as his film his grand mother dressing career was aborted, him in a sailor suit- knowing full well that
And danced him Wilky was his on her knee, blew inescapable self' in the porridge (p.29) and it was for him, and said, impossible to 'Admiral you escape. must eat. (p.84) This genuine urge of the While discussing Tommy's man to renew his life an quest for identity in this avowed determination to quagmire of existence, we make amends and make it find an incessant urge in meaningful, is obviously a him to seek freedom from positive sign. Thus, the line his self, knowing fully well that he recites, that choice is limited. He is aware that the past is …sunk though he irrevocable and the human be – beneath the nature cannot be changed watery floor according to one's own (p.12)
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
grows more But he does not speak of his obscure.4 masoonistic obsession with death, because this line The Bellow protagonist in from Lycidas refers to the his overwhelming urge for immortality of soul which is an anchor in life has often certainly present in been besieged by the need Tommy's mind instead of a for money. Tommy's bleak vision of death. desperate bid to survive without money in a world There is a definite where money is all that progression in the matters, is a terrible crisis protagonist's quest as he which is something quite moves from an unparalleled in Bellow's overwhelming need for fictional world. Of course, money to a search for the Augie March and later meaning of life. Daniel Charles Citrine in Hoffman quite succinctly Humboldt's Gift are tortured traces the origin and by this need for money, development of this issue: though hardly ever do they give in to the money crazy To pre-war western man's obsession. Jewish writer life Because of this nagging was harsh but its money problem, and his meaning always genuine, need to see to the clear: money. welfare of his children, with After the war as the instinct of an circumstances impoverished. Jew, he feels grow less mentally and morally existent, the tortured. meaning of life
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
However, in an America where the Heratio Alger Suffocation or Success Myth is very much apoplexy (p.44) a reality, Tommy Wilhelm's desperation makes him a Because of the crisis, which veritable buffoon. While he cannot possibly trying to explore into the overcome. Thus, the cause of his misery, he world’s business seems to rebels against his inertness strangle him and he finds to and feels inferior to other his utter bewilderment that which makes J.J. Clayton the world is too much with infer that him. Still there is an intuitive recognition of the Tommy fact that luxuriates in his suffering. He sees …business of life’ himself as a is different from sacrificial victim.5 the world’s business and Of course from suffering he that the ‘business progresses towards a deeper of life’, the real understanding of reality, a business-to carry rejuvenation and liberation his peculiar from suffering-a sort of burden, to feel reconciliation with reality. shame and importance, to Tommy’s repeated reference taste these to his feeling of congestion quelled tears-the creates an atmosphere of only important clrustrophobia, as he business, the expresses his fear of death highest business though
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
was being It is quite true that done.(p.61) Tamkin’s words like the following will affect any His encounter with Tamkin, impressionable person: the Machiavellian, is considerably meaningful. I understand When his communication what it is when with his father fails there is the lonely person no other alternative for him begins to feel like but to come under the an animal. When Machiavellian spell of the night comes, Tamkin, the fast talker and and he feels like pseudo-psychologist. howling from his window like a In spite of his misgivings, wolf. (p.61) what appeals to Tommy most is Tamkin's apparently Like other Bellow heroes genuine concern for a fellow Joseph, Leventhal and human being in the grip of Augie before him, he desperation and agony. He distrusts the idea of craves for kindness and superimposition by others- mercy but resent Tamkin “to meddle without being meddling in his affairs. Still asked” and is convinced of the hypnotic spell of such the fact that people like Mr. observations has a Perls and Tamking are not tremendous effect on superior to him even though Wilhelm's present loneliness he is a flop in world’s as he, too is searching in business. vain for some foothold while dandling miserably. Seize the Day , like other Bellow novels presents Tommy Wilhelm, the central
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character undergoing the completely taken in by the crucible of an awesome sheer authenticity of this reality. On a single day of observation; “The past is no crisis which finds Tommy good to us. alone and rudderless, without family or friends to The future is full of anxiety, carry his burden, he learns only the present is real-the the lesson of his life- to here and now. Seize the reconcile with the hard Day and despite the fact truth. There is definitely As that Tamkin’s later Irving Howe comments performance is so deceitful when compared with his statements, where he likens …Turning points “money with murder”, his in his experience- words have a definite ring of Often a point sincerity which stimulates where he must Tommy to survive and live discover what he in expectation. Thus, really is as a through his dialogue with human being. 10 Tamkin, he learns facts about ‘the Real Soul’ and Tamkin's theory of here and ‘the Pretender Soul’ and now does not ring as false, about the theory of ‘here- but rather as S.B. Cohen and-now’ which he accepts. comments, "seem to be a parody of exercises in Tommy’s abysmal state of gestalt perception which suffering leading to a deeper Frederick Perls, Ralph perception of truth and the Hefferline and Paul reality causes him to find Goodman have described in comfort in the poetry of their book Gestalt Milton and Shelley, though Therapy". 7 Tommy is Tommy’s maturity is
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
possible through his dialogues with Dr. Tamkin Thus there is a definite and Dr. Adler, still Tommy progression in Tommy transcends the knowledge Wilhelm's quest for identity. implanted in him through Through suffering he moves these interviews. He towards a consummation of outgrows mere his heart's desire. Seize the consideration of money and Day ceases to be mere affluence, viewing them as victim literature and it so akin to greed and happens that Wilhelm selfishness and instead transcends his victim-hood seeks out his allegiance to by overcoming his death-in- the larger body as already life phase to experience a mentioned. In this context sort of rebirth. Like all other David, D. Galloway’s Bellow novels the end is statement appears quite never made explicitly clear; pertinent: “His quest rather it remains enigmatic amounts simply to an effort as Bellow views human life to reaffirm man’s humanity to be mysterious which to restore an idea of dignity cannot be simply explained to the human race. away-" The subject of the novelist is not knowable in Thus in Seize the Day , any such way. The mystery Wilhelm encounters death increases, it does not grow through the corpse of a less as types of literature strange in whom he wear out. It is however visualizes his own death as symbolism or Realism or an individual as well as a Sensibility wearing out and universal factor, thereby not the mystery of establishing his kinship mankind." 8 with the world at large-" the larger body"
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International Journal of Research (IJR) Vol-1, Issue-5, June 2014 ISSN 2348-6848
References:
1. Weiss, Daniel. “Callban and respero-a psycho-analytic study on the novel. Seize the Day, “ Psycho Analysis and American Fiction .A Dutton Paperbacks Original, New York, 1965. 2. F.Shulz, Max. Radical Sophistication. Athen: Chio University Press, 1969. 3. Cohen,S.B. Saul Bellow’s Enigmatic Laughter .Urbana, Chicago, London: University of Illinois Press, 1974. 4. Schechner, Mark. “Jewish Writers”: Harvard Guide to contemporary American Writings .” Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, etc, 1974. 5. Clayton, J.J. Saul Bellow In Defense of Man (Bloomington, London: Indiana University Press, etc. 1974. 6. Doyle Springer, Mary Doyle. Forms of the Modern Novella. Chicago, London: The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, 1975. 7. Cohn, S.B. Saul Bellow’s Enigmatic Laughter.Urbana, Chicago, London: University of Illinois Press, 1974. 8. Bellow, Saul. “Some Notes on Recent American fiction:”Novel Today Ed. By Malcolon Bradbury. Contemporary Writers on Modern Fiction .Fontana: Collins, 1972.
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