Q.18. Justify the title of the novel Seize the Day by Saul Bellow. [NU. 1998, 2016]

 

Q.18. Justify the title of the novel Seize the Day by Saul Bellow. [NU. 1998, 2016]

 

Ans. The meaning of the title "Seize the Day" is "enjoy the present and don't worry about the future" which comes from carpe diem philosophy. The word "Carpe diem" is Latin for "seize the day," anaphorism found in the Roman writer Horace's Odes, this phrase has been used in English since the early 1800s. The title is justified because it represents the American dream, Wilhelm's tendency to be rich and famous, and breaks the heart to heart relation for enjoyment.

 

The title indicates the American Dream. There is much in Bellow's work that represents what it means to be America. The title of "seizing the day" is a very American concept, as part of the supposed American dream is this idea of taking ownership of opportunity and acting within the moment to make one's dreams a reality. Yet, the interesting aspect of Bellow's taking on the American dream is his examination of its failure. When we envision the American Dream, the images conjured up are those of success: Self-made, self-initiated paragons of success, skill, and a bit of luck. For every one of these visions, there has to be at least ten others that failed and these stories lack publicity. Bellow's work seems to be devoted to these stories in Tommy Wilhelm. His "seizing the day" moments, where he sought to live out his dream, have resulted in successive failures. His desire to go to Hollywood to become an actor, his commitment to it for years, his dream of playing the market, even his dream of being with another woman outside of his wife have all resulted in futility.

 

The title symbolizes the hero Wilhelm's tendency to be rich and famous very quickly. Each separate action is an integral part of American conceptions of success and happiness, actions that require a person on some level to "seize the day." Yet, where Bellow's work is uniquely American is to examine the failure in striving for the American dream. In this moment, Tommy has taken the moment and owned it. The American strategy success for life of instant fame and wealth, unparalleled success fuelled by endless optimism is called into question when Tommy weeps for his own American dreams.

 

The title elucidates the enjoyment only for the present time and devaluates the relationship among the people. Bellow furnishes that loving recognition of the natural bond between hearts is essential to a society, which seems to have lost or seems to be denying all social kinship.

 

In conclusion, we can say that the title reflects the whole meaning of the novella and it is an allusion which is a modern characteristic. So the writer is fully justified in the title.