The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (book)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Author | Mordecai Richler |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Bernard Blatch (design) |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | André Deutsch |
| Released | 1959 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 319 pages (first edition) |
| Preceded by | A Choice of Enemies |
| Followed by | The Incomparable Atuk |
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is the fourth novel by Canadian author Mordecai Richler. It was first published in 1959 by André Deutsch.
Contents |
[edit] Structure
For rather loose narrative purposes Richler's novel is separated into four books. The story begins when Duddy is a small boy and progresses until he is in his early twenties. Flashbacks are often used to describe older family members of the Kravitz family, though the narrative is mainly chronological and recounted in the third person.
[edit] Setting
Geographic: Setting is often used by the author to set the tone or atmosphere of a novel. Richler does this very well. The setting seems to be a reflection of Duddy himself. Elements in almost every setting are juxtaposed and contrasted opposites.
The City – Montreal': A “European city,” the city is old, dirty, crowded, divided into sections based on ethnicity and religion. The city is a stark, bustling place: “Below, the city and the river hummed obligingly under a still cloud of factory fumes” (170). There are poor districts, like St. Urbain Street, and there are wealthy districts, like Westmount and Outremont. The Jews believe that the only way to bridge the poverty gap is to be materially successful like the Gentiles. The Jews who try to bridge the gap of poverty pursue money amorally (e.g. Mr. Cohen). The Jews who are unsuccessful in bridging the poverty gap live off the success of others (e.g. Max Kravitz, living vicariously through the success of Boy Wonder).
The Poor Neighbourhood - St. Urbain Street: This is the middle of the Jewish ghetto: dirty, decaying. “To the middle class stranger…one street would have seemed as squalid as the next…Outside staircases everywhere. Winding ones…rusty and rickety ones. Here a prized plot of grass splendidly barbered” (13). There is an occasional “patch” of green grass to show that people are trying to make something of their lives. The lack of success is reflected in Duddy's grandfather Simcha’s garden: the futility of the lives of the people who live on St. Urbain street. “Each year the corn came up scrawnier and the cucumbers yellowed before they ripened, but Simcha persisted with his planting” (45). The neighbourhood does not lack life; it is the scene of many lively events (e.g. parade “The March of the Fletcher’s Cadets). The motif of decay is again present when the parade passes the senior citizens’ home. Decay doesn’t simply apply to the physical neighbourhood, but also to the lives of the people. The contrast of parade and decay can also be applied to Duddy: he can be “an intelligent young boy” or a “scheming little b**ard.”
The Wealthy Neighbourhood - Westmount / Outremont: Westmount is where the rich people live in mansions. “The higher you could climbed up splendid tree-lined streets the thicker the ivy, the more massive the mansions, and the more important the men inside” (170). Westmount is seen as “above” (above labour, poverty, etc) the hellish city. Duddy is out of place in this neighbourhood: he is from “down there.” This disparity becomes clearly evident in the conversation that Duddy has with Mr. Calder in chapter 11.
The Lake (Ste. Agathe) / Laurentian Mountains – Natural World: Yvette Durelle takes Duddy Kravitz to the lake: Yvette appreciates the beauty of nature, while Duddy only thinks about the land’s development for profit. Lac St. Pierre is Duddy’s dream. He lies, cheats, and steals to buy the land, which is equated with the Promised Land.
[edit] Plot introduction
The novel focuses on the young life of Duddy Kravitz, a poor Jewish boy raised in Montreal, Quebec. Family, friends, lovers, and teachers all contribute to Duddy's burgeoning obsession with power and money — desires embodied in the possession of land. Duddy soon believes land ownership to be life's ultimate goal and the means by which a man is made.
[edit] Characters
THE KRAVITZ FAMILY
- Simcha Kravitz
- Benjy & Ida Kravitz
- Max & Minnie Kravitz
- Duddy Kravitz
- Leonard (Lennie) Kravitz
DUDDY'S FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES
- Peter John Friar: He is an untalented film-maker who teaches at Wellington College, but is ultimately a failure. He is a drunken outcast who is amoral. Friar is one of the people who Duddy looks up to.
- Milty Halpirin: Milty is the gullible, spoiled son of a real estate agent. Milty looks up to Duddy and badly wants to be part of "The Warriors." Duddy’s gang picks on him and tricks him into destroying his mother’s flower garden by opening the tulips, which causes the flowers to not bloom. These actions further develop the theme of decay in the novel. Also, these actions reveal what kind of character Duddy and his Warriors are.
- Cuckoo Kaplain: He is a comedian at Rubin’s Hotel. Cuckoo is one of Duddy's only real friends--this friendship allows the reader to sympathize with Duddy. Without Cuckoo, Duddy would not be seen in a good light. The friendship between Duddy and Cuckoo ends when Duddy tells Cuckoo that he lacks talent.
- Virgil Roseboro: He is an American that Duddy meets in New York. Virgil sells Duddy’s smuggled pinball machines. Duddy eventually cheats Virgil out of money after Virgil’s accidents.
- Jacob Hersh: One of Duddy’s classmates, Hersh is a young communist and desires peace and order. He won a scholarship to McGill University, but dropped out to become a writer.
TEACHERS
- Mr. John Alexander MacPherson
THE FEMALE CHARACTERS
- Yvette Durelle
- Linda Rubin
- Jenny MacPherson
- Josette
- Ida
THE ANTAGONISTS
- Irwin Shubert: Irwin Shubert is a nineteen year old tall, bronzed boy, with curly black hair and sleepy black eyes. He has a mouth too lavish for his face. He is persistently bored and with a tendency to smile knowledgeably. He is an insider sworn to silence. He pushes Duddy to his limits.
- Jerry Dingleman - the Boy Wonder: 10 years ago he was a very poor, typical Jew living in Montreal. As the story goes, he collected street car transfers off the street and sold them “He’s up a quarter in 2 hours. Selling at 3 cents a piece." He didn’t donate the money to poor Jews, but instead he bet on horses and won. Over a period of time, he became rich through many business ventures and criminal activities. He rose from a poor boy to rich man. The Boy Wonder inspires Duddy.
OTHER CHARACTERS
- Hugh Thomas Calder: (Sandra’s Father) Calder hates Duddy and Lennie because Lennie performed an informal abortion on his daughter Sandra. He is a millionaire who inherited, not earned, his money. Time Magazine called him “Bland, Brilliant Hugh Thomas Calder.”
- Mr. Samuel Cohen: He ownes a scrap yard in Montreal. He is the first person to agree to buy a bar mitzvah film from Duddy.
- Herbert & Clara Shields: (Mr. MacPherson’s friends)A couple who are very wealthy from the pulp and paper business. Herbert went to school with John MacPherson. He makes fun of John for not making anything of himself.
- Mr. Rubin: (Linda’s father) He is the owner of “Hotel Lac Des Sables” in St. Agathes. He gets worried about the hotel; however, he does not worry about Duddy when he goes missing. Mr. Rubin is a greedy man who is concerned about his business and making money. His daughter, Linda, tricks Duddy out of money.
[edit] Major Themes
[edit] Related articles
- Wainwright, J.A. "Neither Jekyll nor Hyde: In Defence of Duddy Kravitz." Canadian Literature 89 (1981): 56-73.
- McGregor, Grant. "Duddy Kravitz: From Apprentice to Legend." Journal of Canadian Fiction 30 (1980): 132-40.
