Fifth Business

 Fifth Business is a novel by Robertson Davies. The setting changes throughout the novel, encompassing most of the globe. It takes place in the years shortly before and about fifty years after WWI.

Dunstan- The main character of the novel. Introverted. The novel takes the form of a letter written by him, to outline the exploits of his life, and proof that he mattered.

Percy Boyd Staunton “Boy”-  Ramsay’s foil. Extroverted. Kinky.

Mary Dempster- A woman Dunstan believes to be a fool saint.

Paul Dempster- Son of a saint. Christ figure. Evolves into Magnus Eisengrim.

Diana Marfleet- Nurse who cares for him after his injuries, falls in love with him.

Leola Cruishank- Woman Dunny falls in love with. She eventually chooses Boy, much to his chagrin.

Liesl- A (anti-)babe that teaches Dunstan who he really is.

                The point of view in the novel is unreliable first person. The unreliable first person is fitting because one of the major themes of the novel is the difference between myth, belief, faith, and spirituality. The questioning of Dunstan’s word makes us question what we really should believe, just like Dunny does this throughout the novel. The style of this book is characterized by a veneer of objectivity, with emotion, bias, and humanity hidden beneath the surface. Prominent symbols in this novel include the saints, the statue he sees before he gets hurt, and the rock that hits Mary Dempster. Dunstan unintentionally creates a pretentious, obnoxious tone through “his” prose style.

                The novel begins with Mary Dempster being hit by a snowball that was intended for Dunstan, which forces her to have her baby extremely premature. The Dempsters then become reliant on the help of Dunstan’s family. Dunstan teaches paul his first magic trick. Mary allows a homeless man to “copulate” with her, and her social standing is forever ruined. Mary Dempster brings Dunny’s brother back to life. Dunny’s mom starts driving him crazy so he runs off to join the army. Does valiant things at the battle of Passcheandale( no idea how to spell that) and is awarded the Victoria’s Cross. He sees a statue of the Virgin and Child before he blacks out on the battlefield. Dunny is then nursed back to health by Diana Marfleet, who falls in love with him. She teaches him how to love physically but never falls for her. Gives him the name of Dunny. Returns to his hometown of Deptford to find Boy and the first girl he loved engaged.takes it will. Leaves Deptford.

                Studies at the University of Toronto. Boy blossoms into an incredible man, still finds time to take care of Dunny financially. Dunstan morphs into an eccentric teacher interesting in hagiology.  Finds the whereabouts of Mary dempster and determines she is a fool saint. Travels to Europe and happens upon paul, their first reunion. Paul steals his wallet. Boy gets ever richer, this time from his company doing well during the depression. Starts taking care of Mary Dempster again. Writes some books having to do with saints. The Staunton household collapses and Leola professes her love for Dunny, then attempts suicide. Dunny has the awkward job of patching things up. Gets appointed Headmaster, then forced to step down, with the caveat that he gets to take a sabbatical. Goes to Mexico city, meets paul for the second time, only under the name Magnus eisengrim. Leisl makes love to Dunstan and shows him who he truly is, Fifth Business. Mary Dempster dies. Boy remarries, tries to get into politics. Boy dies in a car crash, and Dunstan suffers a heart attack. Thus prompting his retirement and the letter.

“I had been sledding with my  lifelong friend and enemy, Percy Boyd Staunton.”

This quote is important because it establishes the two characters as foils and sets the stage for a life time of contrast. They have considerable similarities, but Boy is the classic extrovert with Dunny being the classic introvert.

“And that Headmaster, is all I have to tell you”

This quote was funny because it commented on the arrogance of Dunny. How could you possibly end a letter like that, when the letter ran more than 250 pages? It is the final reaffirmation that Dunstan is a seriously unreliable narrator, and his motives need to be examined when reading his account of his life.

Theme: Myth and the truth are inevitably intertwined.

Dunstan explores this through analyzing the saintly occurrences in his life to great detail. Davies explores this through the use of Dunny as an unreliable narrator, the reader needs to constantly try to derive the truth from the myths and truths presented by Dunny.