Summary
The main character, Tommy Wilhelm, goes to meet his father, Dr. Adler for breakfast at the hotel they're staying at. Tommy meets his father for breakfast every morning, but there was something about this particular morning that felt different for Wilhelm. There was a change in routine as far as where Wilhelm would meet his dad, and he felt that this change was a sign that something bad was coming. Wilhelm also tells about his life. He mentions how he lost his job so he's suffering financially. He also expresses how much he wishes that he had his father's help. Dr. Adler is rich and had the circumstances to help Wilhelm, but despite him expressing his financial troubles his father does not volunteer to help him. Wilhelm has tried to get his money by gambling but he has not proved successful in doing such. Wilhelm also talks about his sister who graduated from Bryn Mawr college and his mom who passed away. Wilhelm also talks about when he disappointed his parents by dropping out of college and moving to California to go to Maurice Venice, the talent scout. But when he gets there he finds out that the talent agency that was a cover up for prostitution. Tommy Wilhelm also changed his name and his real name is Wilhelm Adler. Wilhelm pleads to God begging him for a helping hand. Dr. Adler disapproves of Wilhelm and says that he should be at home with his wife and children. Wilhelm also causes the reader to lose respect for his father because he doesn't even remember the death of his wife, so it seems as if he doesn't even care. When Tommy finally meets his father a man named Mr. Perls joins them and this upsets Tommy because he feels that his father did that because he would be embarrassed being alone with his son. After breakfast his father expresses his disapproval for Wilhelm's behavior by saying he has disgusting habits such as smoking and popping pills. Eventually Wilhelm tells his dad that he expects his help and needs his help financially, but his father refuses to send him any money.
After breakfast Wilhelm is left blaming himself and his father for his situation. But he recalls a time when he had dealings with a guy named Dr. Tamkin when he signed over some of his money to him. He mentions how confusing his dealing with Dr. Tamkin was because he had moments where he felt he could truts him and then other times when he felt that Dr. Tamkin was lying to him. This helps him draw the conclusion that every human has a real person and a fake human being inside of them and also how humans don't have freedom because of the pretender part of their soul. Tamkin gave Wilhelm a poem that was inspired by him called "Mechanism vs Functionalism/Ism vs Hism." The poem is about someone who doesn't see their true potential, but how instead he should seize the day and see the power he has inside. This poem gets Tommy to rethink about his life and where it is heading.
Quote
"Seek ye then that which art not there
In thine own glory let thyself rest.
Witness. Thy power is not bare.
Thou art King. Thou art at thy best" (Bellow 58).
Reaction
When I read this I thought it was a nice way of saying that you have good potential you just don't see it. Another reason is because I like old english better than the english we speak now. Language and the way people drove a point back then just sounded so much better than the way people speak now. But I found Wilhelm's reaction to this poem rather interesting. He seemed offended by this poem. He had no idea what the purpose was but he was but he was damning him to hell. He was saying that the man was trying to kill him with this poem. I'm not sure if Wilhelm really believes that Tamkin was trying to cause harm with this poem or if he's just not used to someone telling him to believe in himself considering his father doesn't and he doesn't have his mom. Wilhelm is always looking at the bad in himself and how he let his parents down, but Tamkin was trying to tell him that despite his mistakes he still has good potential and he can still be successful.
