(Gabrielle)
The fourth quarter of the book really creates a breaking point in the story. Duddy's business was going well and he was starting to make a name for himself. But, the sudden disappearance of Friar, his cameraman, as he had taken with him all the cinematographic material, announces the beginning of his downfall. Friar had proposed to Yvette, faced with her rejection, he had decided to leave. Even considering the fact that Yvette is seen by Duddy as only his Friday Girl, he shows absolutely no emotion towards Friar's proposal to his unofficial girlfriend, he even laughs about it. I believe this is a specific element of the fourth quarter, as Duddy makes it clear to Yvette that it is inconceivable to him that she could ever marry someone.
The story continues as Duddy is forced to go to Toronto to look for his Aunt Ida because his uncle Benjy is very ill and has cancer. He is very surprised to see his aunt in this small apartment with a very young man. At first, she firmly refuses. But, as Duddy manages to convince her, she spends the further trip to Montreal explaining to him how horrible Uncle Benjy is. In his words, he is an absolute coward. Duddy learns that his uncle Benjy was never impotent, his aunt Ida was the one infertile. Ida says she initially believed Uncle Benjy was kind and supportive for covering up her disability by saying it was his. But later she realizes that in fact, Uncle Benjy just wanted to make her feel guilty. He never did it for her own good, he did it for his own interests. Ida states that Uncle Benjy never wanted a child, he wanted to be the child. She says he will always be in the shadow of his domineering father. He will remain oppressed. As for me, this passage had a very big impact on my perception of the book. I think this clearly shows that not all families are perfect. As good as appearances may seem, Uncle Benjy's father, Simcha, was in fact recognized as a highly respected man, known for being successful in life and showing great values. Yet with his own children, he clearly failed to perpetuate this love and build a healthy relationship. This situation seems to be described in the following quote:
“That’s not our role here, provide our parents with a “success story” to share at gatherings.
Our role here is to contribute the best we can to the society. Use our talents and make sure we add the greatest value possible to other people’s lives.”
― Lukasz Laniecki
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/controlling-parents
I believe Uncle Benji acted the way he did because he was in perpetual search of approbation from his father. An approbation that he obviously did not receive back in his childhood. And he repeats this behaviour that he received from his father, toward his wife Ida. It also shows that the development of children is clearly affected by the problems at the roots of their family. This obsession for success is also familiar with Duddy's situation. In fact, later on in the fourth part, things are evolving quickly. Virgil, who is epileptic, a condition known by Duddy when he hires him as a driver, suffers from a massive epileptic crisis while he is on the road for delivery. The crisis causes an accident that unfortunately seriously injured Virgil, who ends up being paralyzed from the torso to his feet. Yvette takes Duddy as responsible for the incident since he knew the condition of Virgil, she is mad at him for the way he treats his supposed friend. Things aggravate between these two as arguments seem to multiply every day. Ultimately, after some violent episodes with Duddy, Yvette decides to leave him, quit his job as her secretary also and go to Ste-Agathe to become the caregiver of Virgil. After the departure of Yvette, things really went downhill as Duddy stop talking with his clients and everyone in fact. He is obliged to declare bankruptcy. The death of his uncle after fighting against cancer is the final blow: Duddy enters a nervous breakdown.
https://hydromedbali.com/hypnotherapy-save-mental-breakdown/
https://fineartamerica.com/art/mental+breakdown?page=2
The following part of the story, as Duddy is feeling really ashamed of himself and almost shutting every possible interaction with the external world, created in me a weird feeling. I believe the visual supports above are very representative of that weird feeling. During that passage, the author had a way to describe the mental status of Duddy that made us understand how sad and lonely that character actually was. Duddy, behind his selfish face, was in fact a hard-working young man, he had a dream and devoted his entire self to his dream. Aside from the fact that he wanted to acquire a land, he wanted to make his grandfather proud, he wanted to be somebody. Unfortunately, in the process, he loses most of his closest friends and family members and is left to himself. That is what the painting and the picture above illustrate. We can see through those images the feeling of being lost and abandoned, not knowing how to get out of the state of pain and anxiety we are going through. That seems to me as a common situation among many teens of my age, having the deal with the pressure of society to accomplish a big and successful career or at least be financially stable and independent in life is something that can be exhausting. I know for a fact that many people suffer from mental issues, this is why that aspect of the book was really significant. Not the mention the environment that COVID-19 had created that I believe to be even more favourable to nervous breakdowns, anxiety, depression and the list goes on.
Coming back to the story guidelines, Duddy also experienced in this fourth quarter a trip to Ste-Agathe as he visits Yvette and Virgil. During that stay in the little house, he experiences a very different reality from the one that he had back in the city. The way Duddy pleasantly enjoys his stay and seems to gain force and consciousness gives the impression of a peaceful environment.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/520939881887835288/
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/AY09rLOF7Moe8RqBb2p4LvmhSQEZCkdFmdRZjBsj4ek9cCv7qVRCq2s/
The pictures above impersonate my vision of this peaceful stay that Duddy experienced in Ste-Agathe. This may not be very representative of the actual region of Ste-Agathe, but this is how I viewed it as I was reading the book. I believe those images communicate the atmosphere during this passage, but also the duality of the campaign and the city.
Finally, after Duddy has convinced Virgil and Yvette to come back with him in Montreal and to live in the house of his deceased uncle as it’s the heritage this one left for Duddy with the condition that it could not be sold. During his stay in Ste-Agathe, Duddy had seemed to have changed his mind and to be now more focused on keeping his relationships which was making Yvette really happy. But this situation was short-lived. When Duddy learns that the last part of the land that he wants to acquire is up for sale. He quickly found again his appetite for success and try in every possible way to raise the necessary amount of money. Despite all his efforts, he failed. So, he goes for his last option: Virgil. Since Virgil was his friend, I believe at first Duddy had no intention to betrayed him. He just knew that he needed the money quickly since Dingleman was also after the land and that he had the necessary means to buy it. In consideration of this, after the refusal of Virgil to lend him money which was following the promise previously made to Yvette. He falsified a check for himself from Virgil's chequebook and went to get the money at the bank. He then bought the entire land. At first, he was glad of his success, but Yvette informs his grandfather of the dishonest ways Duddy raised the money. Thus, when Duddy brought his grandfather to his land, he was expecting a great reaction but was left with nothing, not a word from his grandfather. He later understood what Yvette did, but it was too late already. He had already lost them.
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
―Cynthia Ozick
https://www.therandomvibez.com/quotes-about-being-taken-for-granted/
As it is portrayed in the book and certainly in the quote above, Duddy had one main goal which was to acquire a land. But on the journey of his success, he took for granted many people including Yvette. I believe Yvette played a way more important role in Duddy’s life that the character was willing to admit. She was the first and probably the only woman that ever believed in him and in his capability of success. Duddy just like his uncle Benjy were two persons in desperate need of approbation and gratification from their paternal figure. Which was Simcha and also Max for Duddy. Yet, Uncle Benji never succeeded neither did Duddy. His dishonest ways took everything from the strong-minded and devoted little boy Duddy was and he lost the respect of his grandfather, one very thing that he cherishes. Brief, this left me with the feeling that success is not everything and we shall not forget the ones that were always there since the beginning to support us.
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