Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Tommy Wilhelm

There's no question that Tommy Wilhelm is the protagonist of Seize the Day; the only real question is what kind of protagonist this unhappy fellow might be. Is Wilhelm a hero, or is he a fool? Is he a victim of swindlers and circumstance, or is he a man who takes advantage of others in his own subtle ways? Is he an unlucky innocent, or is he a failure who needs to lie in the bed he's made?

Whatever your take on Tommy, one thing's for sure: engaging with the depth, contradiction, and inconsistency of his character is far from boring.