Duddy's Character Analysis

o achieve success so that he can gain the approval he wants from his family. Ironically, Duddy at the conclusion of the book, with his actions, disappoints them, making his search pointless. With his eldest brother, Lennie, in university to study medicine, the competition that Duddy has – especially because he is the unfavoured child - makes it difficult to win the approval of his father, Max, (pg 118). Duddy believes that if he achieves success, he will gain his father’s approval. Unfortunately, Duddy does not realise the means he wants to gain this approval will gain him the opposite reaction. Furthermore, Duddy treats Yvette, his girlfriend, poorly throughout the novel, since the beginning of their relationship. Yvette is often used by Duddy
like a tool, (quote 1) & (quote 2), in order to get what he wants - usually money and, of course, to secure land that French-Canadians would not sell to a Jew but to one of their own. This is a clear demonstration of the lack of regard Duddy has for his friend and how little he cares for her, only keeping Yvette around so that he can achieve success to impress his family. The last, and final, blow is that in his desperation to prove success in purchasing land, Duddy forges Virgil’s signature to secure money, ‘pg. 364’. In forging the signature, Duddy shows how he’s willing to give up his friend’s confidence in him so that he can purchase the land to prove to everyone that he is successful. In the end, this demonstrates Duddy’s willingness to give up his friends, all for the sake of success and his family’s approval, but doesn’t realise that in the end, all he has gained is their disapproval due to what his actions.