Providing a fascinating and meticulously crafted first-person insight into the effect of the various relationships formed between humans, Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business is a magnificent exploration of both the positive and negative consequences that interpersonal relationships can have. Davies’ protagonist Dunstan Ramsay- known also by alternative variations of the name such as his given “Dunstable” and affectionate “Dunny”- reflects upon the interpersonal relationships he has navigated throughout the course of his life. With the aid of age and experience, he is able to consider how these relationships have affected his own intrapersonal introspection. Though Dunstan’s tale is one of immense guilt and self-discovery, the driving forces between …show more content…
Regardless of the form in which it exists- be it romantic, familial, or platonic- the love and many relationships which manifest between people functions as a defining factor in the development of all individuals in both an intrapersonal and interpersonal context.
In his thoughtful retelling of his own life, Dunstan introduces the Headmaster- to whom his autobiography is addressed- to Mary Dempster. He is meticulous in this introduction, informing the Headmaster that his “lifelong involvement with Mrs. Dempster began at 5:58 o’clock p.m. on December 1908” (1). Already, Dunstan has provided some insight into the nature of his relationship with Mrs. Dempster; by reciting the moment this involvement began with such precision, Dunstan emphasizes just how deeply the events that would follow with this woman would affect him. This hauntingly specific reference also appears to foreshadow the guilt that a young, ten-year-old Dunstan could never have predicted he would carry with him; by reciting this exact period of time, Dunstan acknowledges just how deeply his obsession with his own guilt runs. Though it is the incident in which Mrs. Dempster is struck by a snowball aimed at Dunstan that bestows a lifelong sense of guilt and debt to Mrs. Dempster upon him, it is the
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Diana functions as a teacher to Dunstan, and he refers to her as being “a very educative experience” (74). Not only does she teach him social customs and manners- to which he will periodically refer throughout the novel- but she shows him a sexual side of love that was previously foreign to him. Dunstan refers to this experience as being “an important step towards the completion of that manhood,” but it is with this completion that Dunstan finally outgrows his relationship with Diana (76). Dunstan alludes briefly to the myth of Oedipus as he considers his relationship with Diana, for in many ways Dunstan is ‘reborn’ through her; she helped him learn to walk again, to function in society, and to grow as an individual- much like a mother figure. Yet, it is Dunstan’s own strained relationship with his late mother which inhibits him from furthering a relationship with Diana: “I had had one mother… I was not in a hurry to acquire another” (79). Having grown a great deal in this relationship with Diana, Dunstan acknowledges that there is no further growth to do amongst her, and resolves not to fall victim to a relationship that would only hold him back. At this point in his life, though, Dunstable Ramsay no longer exists; hence, Diana- in one last act of mothering- renames him Dunstan
The novel Fifth Business by Robertson Davies does away with the stigma that Canadian literature is dull and boring. A master of his art, Davies creates a cast of vivid characters and skillfully weaves them into a story about love, guilt, myth and redemption. With the effective use of first-person narrative, Fifth Business is written as a fictional memoir of the character Dunstable Ramsey, who grows up in the small town of Deptford in Ontario, Canada. As a boy, Dunstable was unmistakably very intelligent, gifted with an uncanny ability to read others. He was raised in a Scottish household by strict Presbyterian parents, who into him hammered several religious canons and tenets. Thus, Dunstan understood the importance of respect and moral responsibility from a young age. There would seem to be no reason for such an exemplary youth, gifted with an intelligence exceeding of his small-town upbringing, to not go onto to lead a happy, satisfying life. Yet there is a single incident in Dustan’s boyhood that would define the rest his life. While in a quarrel with his friend and rival, Percy Boyd Staunton, Dustan evades a snowball in which Boyd had hidden a stone. The snowball misses Dunstan and strikes the pregnant wife of the town’s Baptist minister, Mary Dempster, causing her to give birth prematurely and subsequently slip into madness. This marks the beginning of Dustan Ramsey’s lifelong involvement with Mary Dempster, and the beginning of his lifelong struggle with guilt. As he is faced with the outcomes of his actions, Dustan’s core values are called into question. Throughout Fifth Business, Dunstan fails to understand both his true values and true self, which develops as a cons...
The book Fifth Business by Robertson Davies is written from the point of view of the narrator; a man named Dunstable Ramsay. From the readers’ perspective, we see him to be the main character, but as the novel progresses, he and those he encounters start to see him as a fifth businessman. The novel shows and follows Dunstan Ramsay in his pursuit of self-knowledge, and ultimately fulfilling his role as ‘Fifth Business’ in the eyes of a number of people. It is evident that throughout the novel, he reminds himself and the reader that in fact his life and the lives of those who are close to him do not necessarily revolve around him however he still plays a large part in influencing their respective lives. The novel constantly shows instances where guilt and competition play roles in shaping a character’s decisions.
He never would’ve thought ducking under a snowball would change his life completely. After getting argument about who sled was faster, Percy, Dunstan’s spoiled childhood friend fires a snowball at Dunstan. After dodging it, the ball struck Mary Dempster, the town’s priest’s wife. This launches a whole chain of events, starting with Mrs. Dempster becoming simple, then the premature birth of her son, Paul Dempster. It causes Dunstan’s whole life to revolve around looking after Mrs. Dempster. It sets him on paths that he otherwise may not have taken, such as traveling to Europe to study saints or going to war. Without this incident Dunstan’s wouldn’t of met the people he did who helped him create and gain knowledge about his mythology. Life would be completely different for people from Deptford, people like Paul, Mary, Surgeoner and in the end Boy all would’ve had different lives. This is the first story that beings to shape Duntan’s life and is the starting point of Dunstan’s personal
Two classical themes in literature are concealed guilt and confessed guilt and in many instances the reader sees the affects of these on individuals. In the examination and exploration of The Scarlet Letter and Macbeth the necessary comparison for both is provided. The guilt in The Scarlet Letter is seen in the minds and outward appearance of each main character, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. In Macbeth the readers sees an obvious guilt in the main character, Macbeth.
Love and affection is an indispensable part of human life. In different culture love may appear differently. In the poem “My god my lotus” lovers responded to each other differently than in the poem “Fishhawk”. Likewise, the presentation of female sexuality, gender disparity and presentation of love were shown inversely in these two poems. Some may argue that love in the past was not as same as love in present. However, we can still find some lovers who are staying with their partners just to maintain the relationship. We may also find some lovers having relationship only because of self-interest. However, a love relationship should always be out of self-interest and must be based on mutual interest. A love usually obtains its perfectness when it develops from both partners equally and with same affection.
Arthur Dimmesdale presented himself as an uncorrupted man by his social status. Inside he felt unworthy and corrupt form the sin he has committed. The town’s people looked up to Dimmesdale as a man who could commit no grand sin. “People say that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very seriously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation.” (48). Little did they know that the scandal that Dimmesdale took to hear was the fornication that happened between Dimmesdale and adulteress Hester Prynne. His sinful ways was affecting his health greatly. “Some declared, that, if Mr. Dimmesdale were really going to die, it was cause enough, that the world was not worthy to be any longer trodden by his feet.” (106). The town’s people respected him so much so that they figured it was the world that is corrupt and not Dimmesdale.
In choosing to contain his deep sin as a secret, Mr. Dimmesdale suffered from a festering guilt that plagued him until his death. After Hester was sentenced with the punishment for her act of adultery, Mr. Dimmesdale remained silent in refusal to confess to his inclusion in the sin. Over time, feelings of remorse gnawed at Mr. Dimmesdale’s conscience and left him in a self loathing state for his own hypocrisy. Dimmesdale felt excessive guilt in allowing Hester to undergo the entirety of the ridicule and punishment alone while he maintained a positioned of respected and idolized authority, yet could not find it in his heart to expose the sin. Looking upon his situation with the Puritan perspective, Mr. Dimmesdale “…loved the truth and loathed the lie, as few men ever did. Therefore above all things else, he loathed his miserable self” (136). Mr. Dimmesdale felt he was living a lie for he, the very man who preached to the community about living a pure life, was living one tainted with...
Intimacy and love are important factors to interpersonal relationship but as a foundation to not governing and controlling society. Consider a situation of three-person group, or also known as a triad, intimacy and love is not successful majority of time (Freidkin 05/20/10). Take for example, a family of three, a father, mother, son or daughter, has unconditionally love for each other. However, as the teenager grows up, he or she may not always agree with the parents' decisions about their life; and/or vice versa, in which the parents may not like the teenager's lifestyle. This shows that we tend to hold other with high regards and respect when we love another. Also, when we love others, we want the best for them and help them make better decisions to have better relations with the party. In relation to society, intimacy and love are not ideal features because they are too personal; not everyone will let others control their lives and surroundings willingly for strangers. For those who have conflicting beliefs with higher personnel will feel that some choice...
The human psyche is formed by conflict. The mind is in a constant state of figurative war – subconscious antitheses and opposites vying for control of the conscious self. Psychic cohesion relies on the resolution and balance of these opposites. In his essay On the Nature of the Psyche, Carl Jung delves into the conflict within the psychic spectrum. The most base level of the unconscious (he uses the Gnostic term “hylic” to describe it) focuses on the instinctual and the immediate, temporal world. It exists in direct contrast to the highest level, the pneumatic (another Gnostic title), a “supraconcious” wherein spirituality and intellect reign. Robertson Davies’ novel Fifth Business symbolizes this antithesis in the characters of Boy Staunton and Dunstan Ramsay. Boy represents the materialistic, sex-obsessed lower psychic realm. His attitude towards woman, guilt, and mythology illustrate the manifestation of the hylic level of the psyche. Dunstan is the direct counterpoint to Boy. Where Boy demonstrates a fixation on physical sexuality, Dunstan distances himself from any material sensuality. Where Boy only worships a capitalist god created in his image, Dunstan pursues a world of saints and spirituality. Dunstan is evidently a representation of the pneumatic complex. As the characters personify this psychic contrast, their respective failings reveal another crucial concept of the mind. When consciousness primarily exists in one specific psychic dimension, the psyche is no longer complete. The opposite half goes unrecognized. At the end of the novel, Dunstan eventually has a revelation that continues to elude Boy: establishing equilibrium betw...
	Robertson Davies’ novel, Fifth Business, revolves around guilt, competition, and two men who are foils of each other. Although Dunstan Ramsay and Percy Boyd Staunton are parallels to each other, they contrast in a great number of ways. Their awkward relationship plays a significant role in the number of elements which make Fifth Business such an interesting story.
Near the end of the story Dunstan is characterized as “fifth business” by a magic show manager named Liesl. Fifth business is an opera term for a specific character, usually a baritone. This character has no female opposite, is considered the odd man out, and knows the secrets of the lead characters. (214) Fifth business is a perfect characterization of Dunstan and perfectly sums up his life to this point. Liesl goes onto say, “This is the revenge of the unlived life, Ramsay. Suddenly it makes a fool of you” (Davies, 213). Dunstan and Liesl continue to talk throughout the whole night and eventually go onto have seemingly meaningless sex. I say seemingly because it was meaningless in the context of Liesl and Dunstan as partners, but it meant a very large contradiction in Dunstan’s character. Although this is near the end of the story, it is the beginning of Dunstan’s appreciation for life. Dunstan had lived a very empty life up unto this point, which is why a random sexual escapade is the peak of his character arc.
Dunstan Ramsay’s family, especially Dunstan’s authoritative mother, is the epitome of Scottish Presbyterianism in Dunstan’s life. The Scots are the paragons of common sense and prudence – they are not allowed the "usual failings normally associated with the human condition,"1 and Dunstan is indeed acutely aware of any shortcomings he might have. Though Dunstan declares that "the Scottish practicality that [he has] imitated from [his] parents [is] not really in grain with [him]"2, the "chilly Presbyterian ethos"3 remain. When he dodges Percy Boyd Staunton’s snowball and it hits Mary Dempster – which causes the premature birth of Paul and the "madness" of Mary – ...
The most important social factor that people must have is the capacity to form and maintain relationships. These interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships are highly necessary for any of human to survive, learn, develop, grow, and love. These relationships take many forms, but the most critical relationship is formed at early developmental stage (mostly infant). This close interpersonal relationship that infants form with their primary caregiver, or parents, they learn most of social and emotional skills for later life.
The chapter talks about the different types of relationships you can have and how to keep them healthy. The relationships that the chapter covers are friendship relationships, love relationships, family relationships, workplace relationships, and the dark side of interpersonal relationships. Friendship relationships are relationships with another person that is “interpersonal” (DeVito), “mutually productive and characterized by mutual positive regard” (DeVito). Love relationships are a next level of friendship relationships. Love is known as the most important types of relationship, because it is a natural human desire to be loved. There are six types of love relationships; eros, ludus, storge, pragma, mania, and agape. Family relationships are the relationships between you and the people you are related to by blood and marriage. Family relationships are known as primary relationships, primary relationships are the relationships that are most prominent in your life. Workplace relationships are the relationships that you have in your workplace, with your co-workers and bosses through networking and mentoring. The dark side to interpersonal relationships is that there are negative aspects to having relationships. These aspects are jealousy, bullying and violence among other things. All of these relationships are affected by culture, gender, and
The statement "The relationships in our lives are one of the main reasons why we function as human beings.” In this text About a Boy by Nick Hornby there are elements where relationships between characters help them develop and without these relationships these characters would not be able to 'grow'. The relationship between will and Marcus and also the relationship between Marcus and Ellie proves how relationships in our lives are the reason that we function as human beings.