Seize the Day

Seize the Day Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

Tommy Wilhelm, the protagonist in this story, believes that he is good at concealing his troubles. He had only been an extra; but even so, he believes he knows what acting is about. His appearance helps him conceal what's going on inside him-that is, when he's smoking a cigar and wearing a hat.

He lives on the 23rd floor of the Gloriana Hotel and has come down to collect his mail before breakfast. His father lives on the 14th floor, and his efforts at appearance are because of him. The people who live here are mostly retirees, Wilhelm Tommy, in his mid-40s, is out of place. We have a physical description of him here: large and blonde, big shoulders, already slightly stooped. He is out of work and his daily routine is to get up, shave, dress, come to the lobby and drink a Coca Cola or two, read the daily papers, and have breakfast with his father.

Today, Rubin, the man at the newsstand, tells him that his father has already gone in to breakfast. Wilhelm has good clothes, but he does not wear them well. However, he is good at charming people. He is out of work because he has had a falling out with his boss. Rubin tells him he looks good, but Wilhelm catches his reflection in a glass and feels that he looks like a hippopotamus.

Wilhelm has tried to distinguish himself but has failed. Because he looked good when he was young, he had been persuaded to go to Hollywood and try to break into movies. After seven years, he gave up. Because he had no education, no training for trade or business; he has struggled to make his way in the world.

He and a Dr. Tamkin have been speculating in the market with Tamkin the instructor and advisor. Tamkin's explanations make Wilhelm believe that he is an expert. Wilhelm would just like a little bit of steady income, not to make a killing. Tamkin encourages him by explaining that the way to win is to be calm and rational, to use "a psychological approach."

Wilhelm's father, Dr. Adler, has warned him about Tamkin, questioning his reliability. This hurts Wilhelm's feelings; he would just like to speak his mind to his father and ease his heart, but Dr. Adler seems too remote. On the other hand, Tamkin listens sympathetically and tries to help.

Dr.Adler has retired from a successful practice and is well-off, but he turns a deaf ear to his son's pleas for help. Wilhelm takes into account that his father is near eighty and that he, himself, is no longer a child; but he is hurt by his father's uncaring attitude. Dr. Adler is admired by everyone because of his distinguished career as a diagnostician and lecturer in internal medicine. Besides, he dresses well and is always immaculate.

Wilhelm is the only member of the family who does not have an education. He lies sometimes and tells people that he is an alumnus of Pennsylvania State. The truth is that he left before completing his sophomore year to go to Hollywood where he was lured by the glamour and the hope of becoming a star because of his good looks.

His father still brags that Wilhelm is a sales executive because he hadn't the patience to finish school, even though he knows that he has lost that job. Wilhelm thinks his father is doing the selling job just to make himself look good in the eyes of his friends. He reflects that his father was never around when he was a child because he was always busy at the hospital or the university. Wilhelm delays his breakfast with his father. He also gives up all pretense of hiding his troubles; he knows they show on his face.

Wilhelm fell for the pitch of a Hollywood talent scout, Maurice Venice, who had arranged a screen test for him. The screen test had not gone well. It was Wilhelm who pressured Vince to agree that he might as well go and try to make it in Hollywood. Wilhelm knows that Venice made no promises. The letter from the talent scout had come at a time when he was quarreling with his parents about what he should do with his life, so he jumped on it. His mother had tried to keep him from going, but he refused to listen. She encouraged him to go into medicine - his father would help him. With Vincent luring him, and without the blessings of his family, Wilhelm goes to Hollywood. When he gets there, he finds that a recommendation from Venice is a kiss of death. In fact, he's a crook. Once in Hollywood, he changes his name from Wilhelm Adler to Tommy Wilhelm, the name he still uses.

Tommy Wilhelm acknowledges that the change of name wounded his father and was merely an attempt at gaining freedom. His father still calls him Wilky. Today he is begging God to let him out of his trouble and his thoughts and to let him do something better with himself.