How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Yes, it had been a stupid thing to do, but it was his imperfect judgment at the age of twenty which should be blamed. He had cast off his father's name, and with it his father's opinion of him. It was, he knew it was, his bid for liberty, Adler being in his mind the title of the species, Tommy the freedom of the person. (1.104)
When Wilhelm decides to move to Los Angeles—against even his own better judgment—he also chooses to change his name. He wants to carve out a different path than the one his father took, but that path leads him straight to a dead end.
Quote #2
After a long struggle to come to a decision, he had given him the money. Practical judgment was in abeyance. He had worn himself out, and the decision was no decision. How had this happened? But how had his Hollywood career begun? It was not because of Maurice Venice, who turned out to be a pimp. It was because Wilhelm himself was ripe for the mistake. (4.15)
The novel's narrator tells us that Wilhelm wears himself down before choosing to give Tamkin the last of his savings. Do you think that Wilhelm really planned to make this decision all along?
Quote #3
Through such decisions somehow his life had taken form. And so, from the moment when he tasted the peculiar flavor of fatality in Dr. Tamkin, he could no longer keep back the money. (4.15)
We here at Shmoop like to think that "the peculiar flavor of fatality" tastes something like bananas. But seriously, folks: what's up with Wilhelm? Is he addicted to the rush that comes from looking into the abyss?