"Duddy Kravitz" by Mordecai Richler.

Essay by bigtyHigh School, 12th gradeA-, June 2003

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Hubley 1

Tyler Hubley

ENG 4U

Mrs. Lebrun

May 3, 2003

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Duddy Kravitz was a young man who frequently found himself in trouble. This

was usually a result of his bad temper, although he also has the characteristics of

someone who was destined to succeed. He has a strong will that can be overmatched by

nothing, along with an attitude that often got himself into trouble. Duddy Kravitz

succeeds because of hard work and determination, which is why he has become a well

known character throughout Canadian Literature. The attitude of Duddy Kravitz is one of

his main vices, but it is miniscule when compared to his will to succeed.

Duddy is a man who is bound and determined to succeed, which is evident

throughout the novel as he is frequently talking about success, "a man without land is

nothing" (Richler, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, 42).

Duddy frequently finds

himself repeating these inspiring words once told to him by his grandfather Simcha

Kravitz. Even when he was very young, success was always on his mind "Duddy found

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the land he wanted quite by accident"(71). As soon as he saw this particular lake inside a

forest, he knew one day he would own it. Anna van Gelderen says "Duddy is the perfect

embodiment of the idea that in America (and obviously Canada) anybody can become

rich if only he wants it bad enough and works hard enough. And Duddy certainly works

his fingers to the bone" (yahoo.com/ shop?d=hv&id=1800028492&cf=info&intl=us). He

always had the mindset of someone who wanted to put there

name on the map.

No matter what others said, Duddy always believed in himself. He always stood

up for himself and his beliefs, "Look here Kravitz, you're a brat and an exhibitionist"(9).