Character Analysis
Imagine Ebenezer Scrooge had a hopeless son who kept messing up his life and making terrible decisions. Or, better yet, imagine Scrooge McDuck having to watch over and over as his hapless nephew Donald makes himself look like a fool.
Dr. Adler is Wilhelm's dapper, elderly father, and he doesn't get a lot of love in Seize the Day. Wilhelm is sure that his father despises him because he's poor, but that isn't strictly true—if Dr. Adler despises his son, it's because he thinks he's dirty, lazy, ill-mannered, a self-indulgent whiner, and a man who never makes good decisions. Dr. Adler may not have long for this world, but he's determined not to let his kids suck all his life and money away from him before he goes.
Unlike Dr. Tamkin, Dr. Adler is a bonafide medical doctor. Before he retired, he worked as a diagnostician, and taught internal medicine. Even in his old age, he's handsome and well-respected, and the other residents of the Hotel Gloriana have nothing but good things to say about him. Just listen to the novel's narrator dish out the compliments:
The handsome old doctor stood well above the other old people in the hotel. He was idolized by everyone. This was what people said: 'That's old Professor Adler, who used to teach internal medicine. He was a diagnostician, one of the best in New York, and had a tremendous practice. Isn't he a wonderful-looking old guy? It's a pleasure to see such a fine old scientist, clean and immaculate. He stands straight and understands every single thing you say. He still has all his buttons. You can discuss any subject with him.' (1.39)
When you compare people's descriptions of Dr. Adler to their impressions of Dr. Tamkin, it's easy to see that the two men are foils. Whereas Tamkin likes to make people think that he knows a little something about everything, people really do respect Dr. Adler's ability to "discuss any subject." And, whereas Wilhelm suspects that Tamkin doesn't bathe very often, Dr. Adler is clean and immaculate.
That's two for two in Dr. Adler's favor, but when it comes to being a kindly father figure to Wilhelm, it's Tamkin who comes out ahead. Neither man is able (or willing) to help Wilhelm with his money troubles in the end, but at least Tamkin knows how to show a little sympathy.