The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitzby Mordecai RichlerIn the novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Mordecai Richler punishes Duddy for his wrongs against others in several ways. Each punishment fits the crime, and each has an irony. The three punishments given to Duddy at the end of the novel are the loss of Simcha's love, the loss of his friends, and the lack of funds to build on his property. The loss of Simcha's love is a devastating blow for Duddy. This is evident when Duddy confronts Yvette and asks her, "Why did you go to my grandfather?" Of all the peoples of the world, he is the only one” (Richler, 1959: 313). Duddy did everything he could to get this land because his grandfather said, "A man without land is no one." Duddy, in his mind, did everything for Simcha, to earn her love and respect and in the end, he got neither. The loss of Simcha's love did not happen for nothing. This is due to the way Duddy acquired his land. Yvette told Simcha, and Simcha didn't approve. He was, in fact, extremely disappointed in Duddy. His disappointment is shown when he tells Duddy, “I can see what you have planned for me, Duddel. You will be nice to me. You will give me everything I want. and it would calm your conscience when you go out to defraud others. (Richler 1959, 312) Yvette's betrayal, her conversation with Simcha, and the loss of her and Virgil's friendships also punish Duddy. They are the only two people in the world who loved him for himself and wanted nothing more than his love in return. In the loss of their friendships, Duddy is punished for his rotten treatment of others, even his only friends. Duddy may not even know what he has lost, but he will one day, when he misses someone to share his accomplishments and failures with, as he has done so far. The loss of human things is not the only punishment given to Duddy. . He also finds himself without money to build anything on the land he purchased. It's punishment for all the low, underhanded things he had to do to get the money to buy the land. The irony of the situation is that after doing everything imaginable to get his money, such as an attempt at blackmail, the sale of his uncle