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Quest Motif in Saul Bellow Seize The 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 [email protected] 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 Quest Motif in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day: Ritu Rani Page 951 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. Quest Motif in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day: Ritu Rani Page 952 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 Quest Motif in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day: Ritu Rani Page 953 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 Quest Motif in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day: Ritu Rani Page 954 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- Quest Motif in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day: Ritu Rani Page 955 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. Quest Motif in Saul Bellow’s Seize the Day: Ritu Rani Page 956 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.
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