Even when he was intimately close to Yvette, all he could think about was what he would do with the land: .
Duddy made love quickly to Yvette by the shore. "I feel so good,"" she said, "Do you feel good?- He could watch the lake over her shoulder and in his mind's eye [the land] was not only already his but the children's camp and the hotel were already going up. .
This first glance at the land resulted in an internal force that pushed Kravitz to irrational and extreme behaviours. Since the landowner was an anti-Semite, Duddy was unable to purchase the land himself. Right away Duddy settled an agreement with Yvette, making her feel important, and at the same time creating the illusion that he truly cared for her. He realized that "[t]he farmers would be wary of a young Jew, they might jack up prices or even refuse to sell, but another French-Canadian would not be suspect if [Yvette] helped him he would always look after her and she would get a share in the profits."" .
As Duddy became closer and closer to possessing this piece of land, he became more aggressive and desperate for money. "It took three days of lies, threats, pandering, cajoling, insult and the ultimate appeal to avarice to sell the pinball machines, but sell them he did."" Duddy even gave Virgil, an epileptic, the position of driving a vehicle for him. "I've seen you do lots of dishonest things, Duddy, but never in my life did I expect you to cheat a boy like Virgil."" As a result, Virgil had a seizure while driving, which caused him to be in a wheel chair for the rest of his life. As a consequence of Duddy's actions, Yvette discontinued their relationship. "[Virgil and I] don't want to see you again Duddy. Ever, I mean."" By constantly focusing on his land, creating false relationships, and swindling several people, Duddy acquired the land that he had craved for so long, but simultaneously drove away the people who were closest to him.
