Personality in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai RichlerEach person has a distinct and identifiable personality. These personalities are the foundation of who we are and how we live our lives. As we grow up, these personalities are formed through associations and manipulation of the personalities of others. This is clearly evident in Mordecai Richler's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. In this novel, we follow the life of Duddy Kravitz from early adolescence through adulthood. Throughout the novel, signs are given as to the development of Duddy's good and bad personalities. Even in the beginning, Duddy's uncle Benjy was the only one who could identify them and know what the end result would be. Despite all of this, we see these personalities grow to the point where they begin to dominate each other and eventually, only one will remain. As a young student, Duddy began life making friends and increasing his status. This is seen when he manifests himself as a person who opposes authority. This gives him the appearance of a bold and daring individual; someone who should be admired and respected. Duddy's charisma also came from made-up stories that were used to make other people interested in Duddy. This is evident when he refers to his brother "Bradley"; "He's going to take me to South America. We're going to buy a yacht. I mean, all he has to do once he's out there is dig up that buried money and —". Duddy tells these stories as if they were real, just like his father Max does at the local café on rue Saint-Urbain. Max, meanwhile, tells the stories of the infamous "Boy Wonder" Jerry Dingleman, who is a local legend among the residents of Rue Saint-Urbain. Although these stories are not real, Duddy uses them to help him manipulate others into believing what he wants as well. This becomes an invaluable asset as Duddy leaves school and begins to strike out on his own. In addition to Max being a major influence on Duddy, Simcha Kravitz, Duddy's grandfather, had another major influence on him. Unlike Max or Duddy, Simcha was truly respected. He did not need to create elaborate stories to captivate and intrigue the minds of his listeners in order to gain their respect. He acted properly in the community and eventually came to be known as "a man of singular honesty and a certain wisdom ».".