Seize the day Chapter 1-2

The introduction Wilhem into the novel gave the impression that he was an ordinary guy, that there was nothing especial about him, also it gave me the impression that something was about to change. I couldn't imagine this novel being the type of novel at which nothing really changes and in which there's just a small and pointless description of a character's life. Apparently they are near the depression since there are references to being in the late 1920s and as the author says " "There's money everywhere. Everyone is shoveling in to it” …”Pg6. I also found a resemblance between Dr. Alder and Dr. Urbino from “El amor en los tiempos del Colera”. The description of these two characters is similar because they are both pictured as strict, traditional and elegant old men who carry a reputation of good workers and impeccable men.
This novel deals a lot with the deception of parents because of their children. Wilhelm constantly has to confront himself with his dad and sees how his father is disappointed and somewhat ashamed of his condition since when he talks to others about Wilhelm he goes as the following:" My son is a sales executive. He didn't have the patience to finish school. But he does all right for himself. His income is up in the five figures somewhere.""(pg 10). Dr. Alder is afraid to admit in front of his friends or the ones he knows that his son is bankrupt and has asked him for money. Sometimes the parents thinks they are judged by how their children look and what they become, because of this I think Dr. Alder always tries to hide his son's true image and his situation from the ones he knows so that his reputation isn't harmed.
I found it very sad when Wilhelm was described as the guy who got stood up by the girls and felt sorry for him because all his life he had been a “nobody” and had received no recognition from anyone. I understood Wilhelm perfectly in this chapter when he said that he felt sorry for his life and his mistakes and the deception he had caused to his father. I felt that I just like him wanted a different life since there were too many troubles and mistakes from which it would be hard to get out from and would be very relieving if you could just start over.
I thought it was very strange how the book portrayed exactly what each character was thinking and how they were reacting to what each other said. They didn't like each other, they weren't sincere, they were skeptic, cautious trying not to fall in the trap that the other might be setting at them. After taking into consideration their thoughts and going over what was happening I realized that we always do that as we are in a conversation no matter with who we are, however, it is strange how Bellow points out those thought which at first seem weird but explain better how the relation between Dr. Alder and his son is. As I continued reading I realized Wilhelm must have a huge resentment against his dad. Everything that Dr. Alder does or doesn't do is a problem; I realized this especially as I read how Wilhelm found flaws in Mr. Perls just because he was with his dad for that day. Wilhelm had been repressed against his dad for a long time, maybe since his mother's death or before as he narrates angrily how his father had never wanted any of them. The anger Wilhelm carried about himself made me feel sorry for him but also made me feel that I was very similar to him.