The protagonist of the novel, Duddy is the younger son of a taxi driver, occasional pimp, and widower, Max. Duddy is a problem student in school, harassing peers and teachers. Showing no academic promise, Duddy just manages to graduate high school and then proceeds to carve out a unique path for himself. He takes odd job after odd job, always on the lookout for the big opportunity that he feels will launch him into the prosperous future he richly deserves. He is willing to break the law and to test the limits of his relationships, all to feed his ego and fulfill his individual dreams.

Duddy is a static character; he never really learns his lesson or grows as a person. He becomes more slick and world wise, discovering how to keep the company of not just gangsters but also real estate moguls and wealthy factory owners. But he never really learns what matters most in life. Though offered devotion and love by kind-hearted friends, Duddy is willing to exploit their dedication to make a buck. Though he ends up the financial success he dreamed of being, his celebration is derailed by his grandfather, who is ashamed his grandson has gotten ahead through dishonest means and refuses to even set foot on Duddy’s

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