Duddy adopts the dream of his immigrant grandfather, Simcha: land ownership. The land he wishes to own becomes the driving force of his ambitions. He envisions himself as more widely respected, especially by more affluent society members, once he is in full possession of the lakeside land. In fact, the first thing he does when officially made owner is to kick old adversaries such as Dingleman and Linda off for trespassing. Duddy longs to be a king, and with the tract of land, he can truly have his own fiefdom.

Duddy joins a film club on a lark, envisioning that discussing film is something more affluent people do. It is surprising then that his business becomes filmmaking, given his limited experiences and interest. Movie making is just something he can use to turn a profit. The films that Friar, his partner in this endeavor, produces for him are artistic and strange, and Duddy doesn’t even understand the product that he’s selling. Duddy’s lack of appreciation for art and filmmaking and tremendous success in the industry illustrate his shrewd business sense and his true lack of culture.