Success & Morality

            
             Since the beginning of time mankind has struggled with the conflict between his moral conduct and the acquisition of wealth and power. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6; Verses 19-21 - The New Open Bible), cautions the Bible. Even further we are cautioned with the biblical phrase, "for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul"(Mark 9;Verse 36 - The New Open Bible).
             In the novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Duddy, the principal character struggles with the conflict between his family morals of right and wrong and his keen desire to acquire wealth in the form of land. This character is a superb example of a person whose desire for success has caused him to abandon his morals, values, and code of ethics. The desire for success can have a negative impact on any person's moral value system and Duddy is not an exception.
             The book begins by defining Duddy's character as simply a bit of a school prankster. He made money selling stamps, and renting out lewd American comic books to other students for 3 cents a day. He sold hockey sticks, which he knew where stolen from the Montreal Forum. He continually harassed one of the long time teachers at Fletchers Field High School, Mr. Macpherson. While Mr. Macpherson was constantly trying to keep Duddy in line, he had essentially given up on life himself. The sheer contrast between the hopelessness of Mr. Macpherson's life and the ambitious life of Duddy serves to emphasize the energy that Duddy had to achieve and the disgust he had for failures like Mr. Macpherson, and even his own Father, Max. In spite of the moral lessons that Mr.