The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Richler's depiction of Duddy's ambition feels both vivid and unsettling. I wonder what personal or cultural influences shaped this drive.

His moral compromises are hard to stomach, but also a reflection of the pressures faced by young men trying to make it. How did others interpret his actions?

The city feels like a character itself, shaping Duddy's opportunities and limitations. Was this an intentional reflection of the cultural landscape?