The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz Duddy's obsession with the land lies with his grandfather, Simcha. When Duddy was little, he spoke those unforgettable words to him: "A man without land is a nobody." it seemed like no one cared about him or respected him, Simcha did. Duddy didn't get the same kind of love from his father or uncle that Lennie did. When Duddy returns from work, he asks, "Why didn't [Max] answer any of [his] letters?" He replies that he wasn't "one for letters." "But Duddy remembered that when Lennie worked as a camp counselor one summer, his father wrote to him every week. He visited him twice." (pp. 104 and 105) Duddy yes. not have the same kind of affection and devotion that Lennie and Max shared. The same situation occurred with his uncle, Benjy. At first glance, Benjy described him as having "a thin and shrewd face, the quick black eyes and restlessness, the character so shrewd and intelligent, all made a bad impression on Uncle Benjy." (p. 61 ) Benjy supported Lennie, giving him money for his education. With the exception of Simcha, he had no other parental support, which is why Simcha's words had such a great effect on him. Duddy gets what he had wanted by acquiring it, respect. Everyone except Simcha, Mr. MacPherson and Uncle Benjy thought it was you'll be nobody. He wanted so badly to prove them wrong and he did. We can say that he gained self-confidence, reiterating the fact that he was an important person. Since his days at Fletcher's Field High School, he ran a gang based on respect, not friendship. Things don't change when he becomes an adult. Virgil is just one of the people Duddy uses to get money for his land. He feels no pain from hurting his so-called friends because he has never experienced true friendship. Buying the land would push him to a higher rung in society. What he gains is nothing compared to what he loses. Duddy has lost his innocence. He is no longer the pure and naive