Religious Figures In 5th Business

Religious Practitioner's Assignment

1. Amasa Dempster

From his professional career to his personal life, religion consumes every aspect of Amasa Dempster's life. He is known by the citizens of Deptford to impose his view of religion on everyone and everything he encounters. When Mary was sick in bed after Paul's birth his actions reveal that his feelings and religious beliefs often overtake reason. He knelt on the floor next to the bed where Mary laid and prayed feverously that it would be easier for Paul if his mother were to accompany him to heaven. Mrs. Dempster seemed unaffected by his ignorance and narrow-mindedness, but these character traits were large factors in his ostracism from the community. Amasa had tendency to drop at any time and pray with "intense passion"; Dunstan thought this was indecent and found him spooky because he was believed to walk with god.

After discovering that he had been teaching Paul about cards, illusions, and worst of all, the Catholic saints, Amasa forbade Dunstan to talk to Paul or enter their home. Dunstan was angry because he demeaned his talents to mere cheating and gambling. He also seemed to hold a grudge towards Amasa because of the way he treated Mary.

I think that Amasa Dempster is the strangest character in the novel. His actions prove he is neither intelligent nor articulate, further confirming the contrast of Baptist feeling to Presbyterian good sense. I agree with Dunstan that his sporadic praying is spooky, but I also think that his disposition is generally eerie; he is quiet and soft spoken, but every experience that the reader is exposed to conveys his creepy nature. The fact that his wife is so much younger than himself makes him seem that much creepier. He acts as though he loves his wife; even when he found her in the pits with a tramp he did not question her, only helped her. Tying your wife to a rope is inhumane and appalling, and makes her seem like a domestic animal instead of his life partner. I understand his anger towards Dunstan regarding the card playing, it is against his religious morals, but Dunstan was still a young child and he talked to him as if he should have known better. I find his character very disturbing.

2. Donald Phelps

Donald Phelps is the Presbyterian minister in Deptford who replaced Andrew Bowyer. From Dunstan's few encounters with Phelps it is noticeable that he is a much more contemporary minister than Amasa Dempster.