Essay about Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of...

Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz Cunning though he is, Duddy Kravitz fails to learn the tricks of his trade and, consequently, fails to become a whole person. In Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Duddy’s peers succumb to his antics, thereby becoming deficient as Duddy’s teachers. Duddy’s amoral business associates are masters of ruthlessness and deceit, and his family members are enfeebled by the society they live in. Trained at the hands of these cripples, Duddy Kravitz is unable to complete his apprenticeship. Duddy Kravitz’s apprenticeship takes place where the boys grew up dirty and sad, spiky also, like grass beside the railroad tracks. (The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, 46) At†¦show more content†¦With strength gained from the weakness of his peers, Duddy learns to cheat stamp companies and sell pornography and stolen hockey sticks. After Duddy graduates from school, he is lead further astray by his peers in his apprenticeship. The McGill boys whom Duddy works with at Rubin’s Hotel teach him to be ruthless by playing pranks on the young boy. Irwin, without much conscience himself, not only makes life miserable for Duddy, but also enlists his girlfriend Linda to cheat Duddy at his roulette game. Losing his entire summer savings, Duddy realizes the truth about Linda and says to her, I thought you went out with me because you liked me. Boy, was I ever a sucker. (94) While working in Uncle Benjy’s dress factory, Thà ©rà ¨se encourages Duddy to follow Adà ¨le into the washroom, thus getting the young girl into trouble. This sets in motion the part of Duddy’s apprenticeship that deals with women. Mr. Friar is right when he says Duddy is callow†¦he hasn’t the first notion of how to treat a woman. (163) Yvette is crippled in that she is submissive like many of Duddy’s peers. Sh e suffers verbal abuse from Duddy such as you little fool (98) and knows that he is using her to buy land, as he is underage. When Yvette mentions romance, Duddy laughs, I don’t get it. Imagine guys getting married and tying themselves down to one single broad for a whole lifetime when there’s just so muchShow MoreRelatedEssay on Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz932 Words   |  4 PagesStreet in the ghetto of Montreal, Duddy Kravitz, the main character in Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, is budding in a society where people with wealth and power are highly respected. However, the complexity of a person’s character, like Duddy’s, is influenced immeasurably through his family. The main three people who manipulate Duddy, and also give insight into his character, are his grandfather Simcha Kravitz, his older brother Lennie Kravitz, and his Uncle Benjy. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;WealthRead MoreWomen in Mordecai Richlers The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz556 Words   |  3 PagesIn The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, a book written by Mordecai Richler, women are represented as if they are of a lower status than men. The women that are presented in this novel include Yvette Durelle, Minnie Kravitz, Ida Kravitz, Linda Rubin, and Sandra Calder. Minnie Kravitz is the mother of Duddy. She didn’t really get a chance to have any relationship with Duddy, as she passed away while Duddy was still young. The memories Duddy has of her are next to none; and he is unsure of whetherRead MoreEssay on The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz - Duddy is No Monster2760 Words   |  12 PagesThe Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz - Duddy is No Monster I think youre rotten, says Yvette at the end of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, I wish you were dead (Richler 318). This sentiment is echoed throughout a substantial amount of the criticism of Mordecai Richlers tale. At best, we question whether Duddy has learned anything during his apprenticeship; at worst, we accuse him of taking a tremendous step backwards, of becoming an utterly contemptible human being. When Duddy stealsRead More Comparision of Duddy Kravitz and Jay Gatsby Essay2020 Words   |  9 PagesComparision of Duddy Kravitz and Jay Gatsby Mordecai Richler’s The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz certainly provides a stark contrast to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. While Fitzgerald epitomizes descriptive writing techniques, Richler is far more reserved and subtle in terms of description when juxtaposed. However, both writers are able to successfully reveal the precarious journey of, essentially, the same character. Richler’s Duddy Kravitz and Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby, exemplifies