Experience of Alienation

Introduction

The concept of alienation is understood as the deprivation of the individual and his loss of control of its own forces for the benefit of another (individual, group or society in general). It thus refers frequently to the idea of in authenticity of life experienced by the individual alienated. Alienation has also been used in literature. Many writers have accommodated the subject of alienation in their stories. This paper discusses the individual's experience of alienation in the novels 'Seize the Day' and 'Lolita'.

Discussion

'Seize the Day' has been written by Saul Bellow and was published in 1956. 'Lolita' has been written by Vladimir Nabokov and was published in 1955. Both the novels have been beautifully written and tackle the subject of alienation. Following is the individual's experience of alienation in both novels.

Seize the Day

Seize the Day presents a several-hour experience of a middle-aged man who has lost his job, is estranged from his wife and children, and deserted by his father. Based on the theories of alienation and de-alienation, this thesis aims at a better understanding of Seize the Day and Bellovian fable by analyzing the protagonist-Tommy Wilhelm's alienation and his successful efforts to get rid of it. The entire novel is based on the core theme of loneliness and alienation. Tommy Wilhelm sense of alienation is not only from New York City, from people, but from himself, as well. The piercing revelation of Tommy Wilhelm's alienation is a distinguishing feature of Seize the Day. Bellow believes in the greatness of human spirits; and his protagonists can usually get rebirth in defeats and tears. Tommy Wilhelm is such a figure.

The story opens with Tommy feeling isolated from the world of exploitation, selfishness and money. This world does not contain significance of emotions, feelings and framework. Tommy, forty four years of age, is depressed and is in the state of ignominy. He lives in the same hotel as his father but, they live apart. The feeling of alienation of the main character is strongly felt in the first few pages of the novel when Tommy is getting his newspaper from Rubin and they started talking. Even though, they talk for a while, they do not proceed to critical issues. They do know the personal details about each other but still steer clear from asking anything person and instead talk about the weather, gin game etc. As the author says, “None of these could be mentioned, and the great weight of the unspoken left them little to talk about (Bellow, 78).” Tommy also thinks, “He (Rubin) meant to be conversationally playful, but his voice had no tone and his eyes, solace and lid-blinded, turned elsewhere. He did not want to hear. It was all the same to him (Bellow, 108).”

The thing that further increases the alienation of Tommy is that his father, Dr. Adler, refuses to interfere the desperate loneliness of his son. Dr. Adler is merely a physical presence in Tommy's life with no emotional involvement. Even after appealing from ...