The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Duddy's obsession with land lies within his grandfather, Simcha. When Duddy

was small, he spoke those unforgettable words to him, "A man without land

is nobody."

When it seemed as if nobody cared or respected him, Simcha did. Duddy did

not receive the same kind of love from his father or uncle as Lennie did.

When Duddy comes back from work at, he asks, "Why [Max] didn't answer any

of [his] letters?" He replies he wasn't "one for letters."

"But Duddy remembered that when Lennie had worked as a camp counsellor one

summer his father had written every week. He had driven out to visit him

twice."(pp. 104 & 105)

Duddy did not have the same kind of affection and devotion Lennie and Max

shared. The same situation came from his uncle, Benjy. At first sight,

Benjy described him as having a "thin crafty face, the quick black eyes and

the restlessness_the grain so shrewd and knowing, all made a bad impression

on Uncle Benjy." (p. 61) Benjy supported Lennie, giving him money for his

education. With the exception of Simcha, he had no other parental support

which is the reason why Simcha words had such a great effect on him.

Duddy gains what he had wanted in its acquisition, respect. Everyone except

Simcha, Mr. MacPherson, and Uncle Benjy thought he was going to be a nobody.

He wanted so much to prove them wrong and he has. We may say he has

gained self assurance, restating the fact he was a somebody important.

Since his days at Fletcher's Field High School, he ran a gang based on

respect, not friendship. Things do not change when he becomes an adult.

Virgil is just one of the people Duddy uses to get money for his land. He

feels no grief for hurting his so called friends because he has never

experienced true friendship. His purchasing of land would push him into

higher step in society. What he gains is nothing compared to what he loses.

Duddy has lost his innocence. No longer is he the pure and na‹ve boy as

before,