How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Yes, it had been a stupid thing to do, but it was his imperfect judgment at the age of twenty which should be blamed. He had cast off his father's name, and with it his father's opinion of him. It was, he knew it was, his bid for liberty, Adler being in his mind the title of the species, Tommy the freedom of the person. (1.104)
When Wilhelm decides to move to Los Angeles—against even his own better judgment—he also chooses to change his name. He wants to carve out a different path than the one his father took, but that path leads him straight to a dead end.
Quote #2
After a long struggle to come to a decision, he had given him the money. Practical judgment was in abeyance. He had worn himself out, and the decision was no decision. How had this happened? But how had his Hollywood career begun? It was not because of Maurice Venice, who turned out to be a pimp. It was because Wilhelm himself was ripe for the mistake. (4.15)
The novel's narrator tells us that Wilhelm wears himself down before choosing to give Tamkin the last of his savings. Do you think that Wilhelm really planned to make this decision all along?
Quote #3
Through such decisions somehow his life had taken form. And so, from the moment when he tasted the peculiar flavor of fatality in Dr. Tamkin, he could no longer keep back the money. (4.15)
We here at Shmoop like to think that "the peculiar flavor of fatality" tastes something like bananas. But seriously, folks: what's up with Wilhelm? Is he addicted to the rush that comes from looking into the abyss?
Quote #4
He had given Tamkin his last money. There wasn't enough of it to cover his obligations anyway, and Wilhelm had reckoned that he might as well go bankrupt now as next month. "Either broke or rich," was how he had figured, and that formula had encouraged him to make the gamble. (4.29)
Call us kooky, but this decision actually seems to make a little bit of sense—a very little bit. After all: if you're going to go down, why not go down in a blaze of glory? Bon Jovi wouldn't have it any other way, and what's good enough for Bon Jovi is good enough for Wilhelm too. You might even say that Wilhelm has been…living on a prayer. Heh-heh.
Quote #5
"He says there's a reason why I can't go back to my old territory, and there is. I told everybody I was going to be an officer of the corporation. And I was supposed to. It was promised. But then they welshed me because of the son-in-law. I bragged and made myself look big."
"If you was humble enough, you could go back. But it doesn't make much difference. We'll make you a good living on the market." (4.111-112)
Although Wilhelm likes to tell himself—and others—that he doesn't have the option of going back to the Rojax Corporation, Dr. Adler, Margaret, and Tamkin all tell him that he does. That's three against one, but are they right? Could Wilhelm choose to return to work if he wanted to?
Quote #6
Kiss those seven hundred books good-by, and call it one more mistake in a long line of mistakes—Oh, Mama, what a line! (4.118)
How is it that Wilhelm can see the patterns of his life, but not be able to change them? If he knows he makes the same kinds of mistakes over and over, why does he keep making them?
Quote #7
My thoughts are at an end. I feel the wall. No more. So —k it all! The money and everything. Take it away! When I have money they eat me alive, like those piranha fish in the movie about the Brazilian jungle. It was hideous when they ate up that Brahma bull in the river. He turned pale, just like clay, and in five minutes there was nothing left except the skeleton still in one piece, floating away. When I haven't got it anymore, at least they'll let me alone. (4.119)
Now we're coming to the heart of it, Shmoopers. Wilhelm seems to believe that by embracing his destruction and ruin, at least he'll put an end to the misery of trying to make things work. Has this same motivation prompted other big decisions in his life? Survey says: PROBABLY.
Quote #8
And he reflected, So? I took a gamble. It'll have to be a miracle though, to save me. My money will be gone, then it won't be able to destruct me. He can't just take and lose it, though. He's in it, too. I think he's in a bad way himself. He must be. I'm sure because, come to think of it, he sweated blood when he signed that check. But what have I let myself in for? The waters of the earth are going to roll over me. (4.129)
Wilhelm may tell himself that he took a gamble, made a choice, and did what he thought was best, but those thoughts are little comfort to him when he thinks about how hard it'll be to get by if this doesn't work out. Deep down, he can't convince himself that he acted wisely, or rationally.
Quote #9
"I don't know how many times you have to be burned in order to learn something. The same mistakes, over and over."
"I couldn't agree with you more," said Wilhelm with a face of despair. "You're so right, Father. It's the same mistakes, and I get burned again and again. I can't seem to—I'm stupid, Dad, I just can't breathe. My chest is all up—I feel choked. I just simply can't catch my breath." (7.29-30)
Cuz he is barely breathing…Wilhelm often feels as though the world (or his wife) is choking him. What's the deal? Is the universe just out to get him, or is Wilhelm to blame for his own problems?
Quote #10
Wilhelm hung his face and said, "Nobody likes bad luck, eh Dad?"
"So! It's bad luck, now. A minute ago it was stupidity."
"It is stupidity—it's some of both. it's true that I can't learn. But I—"
"I don't want to listen to the details," said his father. (7.31-34)
Why can't Wilhelm learn? What is it about his character—his motivations, his desires, his needs—that makes him do the same thing over and over? Is he just too hopeful? Too childish? Too naïve? Too Short?