Seize the Day Lesson Plan

How does Wilhelm describe the way people talk in New York? What does this tell us about both society and Wilhelm in particular?

Wilhelm is distraught about the convoluted ways in which people talk these days, especially in New York City. He says, "If you wanted to talk about a glass of water, you had to start back with God creating the heavens and the earth; the apple; Abraham....then war and Lenin and Hitler." This is surely related to Dr. Tamkin's pseudo-intellectual way of framing everything in order to sound impressive and obscure his intentions. The heart of the problem appears to be that it's very difficult to ask for help - Wilhelm says it's impossible for people...