With a population of nearly eight million people in the 1950s, New York City might not seem like an easy place to feel isolated. But for a man like Tommy Wilhelm—on the outs with his father, separated from his wife, and unsure if his one and only friend is a savior or a crook—no amount of people can stop him from feeling totally alone with his troubles and cares. In Seize the Day, Wilhelm feels like one of millions of nameless strangers in the crowd, and he doesn't know where or to whom he can turn for help. It's true—he has nobody for his own.
Questions About Isolation
- Throughout his life, Wilhelm has often depended on total strangers for help and support. What does this suggest about his character?
- Why does Tamkin's lesson about the "true soul" and the "pretender soul" hit Wilhelm so hard? What does Wilhelm's "true soul" really need?
- How long does Wilhelm hold on to his feeling that the people of New York are part of a "larger body" that cannot be ripped apart?
Chew on This
Although Wilhelm is surrounded by people, he feels totally isolated from the common kindness and mercy he craves. Seize the Day is a flawless dramatization of the old saying: 'Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.'
Wilhelm will never see it, but his isolation stems from his own selfishness, not the meanness of others. Wilhelm demands more from others than he is able and willing to give in return, and that's why they aren't willing to help him in his time of need.