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. While Dunstan Ramsay had never been too interested in competing with Percy Boyd Staunton‚ Percy from a young age saw Dunny as a
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Jungian Theories in Fifth Business The first instalment‚ Fifth Business‚ in The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies incorporates many different ideas to help the book progress as smoothly as it does. Davies’ interest in psychology heavily influenced many of the actions and ideas portrayed in the novel. By combining the psychology theories of the famed psychologist‚ Carl Jung‚ with creatively designed characters‚ Davies was able to create his finest piece of literature. Many characters in the novel
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By examining Fifth Business‚ it is clear that the characters take part in theatricizing life: they play and cast others into roles founded in archetypes. The characters feel a need to do this because it provides stability in their lives. Playing a role gives a person an identity and purpose so that‚ even in face of unpredictability‚ their self-image and future is a given constant. Imposing such roleplaying on the rest of humankind familiarizes the outside world and gives a person an escape from volatile
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Robertson Davies novel‚ Fifth Business is a first person narrative following the life of Dunstan Ramsay. Fifth Business begins with a 10-year-old Ramsay‚ who encounters life-changing incidents‚ as observed through his interaction with the characters Percy Boyd Staunton‚ Mary Dempster and her son Paul Dempster. As Ramsay’s interaction with these three characters develops‚ it is evident that guilt is a main recurring theme throughout the novel. Percy is a constant figure that has been present in
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The renaissance The renaissance was the rebirth and revival of Europe. The renaissance was a rebirth in many ways especially in learning and knowledge. It was also an age of new discoveries both geographical; exploration of the new world‚ and intellectual. The renaissance took place between the 14th and 17th century‚ resulting as a bridge from the middle ages to the modern century. NORTHERN ITALY‚ being in the perfect spot to become parts of large amounts of the early trade
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First Draft Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business explores the nature of physical appearance in relation to religious aptitude. Through the characters Liselotte Vitzliputzli‚ Padre Ignacio Blazon‚ and the narrator and protagonist‚ Dunstan Ramsay‚ Davies shows the correlation between explicitly physically ugly characters and their spiritual and religious enlightenment. Davies draw special attention to the physical appearances of these characters in his intense descriptions of them‚ using extreme depictions
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extreme conditions it demolishes one’s life‚ it is better known as guilt. Guilt is a reoccurring theme in Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business‚ and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet‚ that is demonstrated by various characters including‚ Dunstable Ramsay‚ Paul Dempster‚ Hamlet and Claudius and this essay shall compare the theme of guilt between the two literatures. In the novel Fifth Business‚ guilt is a plague that has spread throughout the lives of Dunstan Ramsay‚ and Paul Dempster; both characters are drenched
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Fifth Business: The consequences of guilt All actions have consequences. Sometimes one does not have to participate in the action‚ but only be related‚ and the crime committed can have serious consequences for everyone. The consequence‚ or lack of consequence‚ is determined by one’s upbringing. This is clearly the case present in Robertston Davies’ Fifth Business. Although Boy committed the crime‚ Dunstan feels a profound sense of guilt about the snowball incident. On the other hand‚ Boy obliterates
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may have been sacrificed to God for a reason‚ and not to dwell on it and make it his personal problem. While Dunstan doesn’t always agree with Blazon‚ his advice is certainly good for his self-examination. Leisl is the one who pegs Dunstan as "fifth business" -- a cognomen which certainly doesn’t always fit him -- and makes Dunstan consider him less the protagonist of every drama involving him‚ but possibly only a supporting character. This can make a particularly egotistical person depressed‚ but
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of Two Cities by Charles Dickens‚ the themes of rebirth and resurrection are intertwined throughout the course of events in the novel. From the beginning of the novel when the words “Recalled to Life” are uttered to the memorable sacrifice of Sydney Carton at the end‚ these themes are incorporated by Dickens in his attempt to show the effect of spiritual renewal on a character’s behavior and ambition. Charles Dickens also shows the effect of rebirth on a political level‚ namely the French mob who
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