Desiring Success Hinders Morals: Comparing 'The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz' and 'The Social Network' Anonymous 11th Grade

“All men that are ruined, are ruined on the side of their natural propensities.” (Burke 402).

Here, revered statesman Edmund Burke was trying to say that a person’s character is destroyed because of their inclination to behave in a certain way. This ideology was clearly depicted and reflected on in both The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz and The Social Network through the author's use of characterization towards the protagonists. Through characterization, both authors demonstrate that Duddy and Mark’s quest for success was hindered by their unscrupulous actions, exuberant behaviours and over-ambitious goals.

Both characters are dishonest and unjust in their actions. They have a purposely very noticeable attention-seeking persona. The protagonists’ have an over ambition to reach their unrealistic goals. Mark and Duddy’s morally unjust way of reaching their goals was a factor that hindered their quest for success. In The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Duddy’s ambition to reach his goal as soon as he could, causes him to do some incriminating actions. “He forged the signature by holding the cheque and a letter Virgil had signed up to the window and tracing slowly.” (Richler 364). Duddy had a little more money he owed until he...