Key Characters: Dunstan Ramsey, Boy(Percy) Staunton, Mary Dempster, Paul Demptser(Magnus Eisengrim), Liesl
Plot: The whole novel is a letter to the Colbourne College Headmaster as an angry response to his incorrect send off. The opening scene describes Percy hitting Mary Demptster with a snowball with a rock causing her to go into premature labor. This begins his overwhelming guilt. Soon he finds himself in love with Mary Dempster and befriends her son Paul, teaching him magic. Mary has sex with a tramp causing an uproar in the community. Mary brings back Dunstan's older brother. Dunstan believes Mary is a saint and thus begins his love with Hagiology. Dunstan goes to war and sees an illuminated statue of Virgin Mary and Child and takes it as a sign of Mary Dempster. Dunstan continues to live a life for others, meeting a jesuit Padre Blazon. In a sort of extreme series of events, Leola attempts to kill herself. Again Dunstan is a just a supporting character. Dunstan again meets with Paul(now Magnus Eisengrim) and joins the Magic Show. Liesl(seen as the "devil") tells Dunstan that his life is Fifth business and he is just there to be a character in other stories. Dunstan then makes love to Liesl. The book ends with Boy being killed by the rock that caused Mary Dempster to go into premature labor.It is important to remember that the piece is letter persuading the Headmaster that his life is meaningful. He constantly emphasizes the physical appearances of females and even states misogynistic opinions, except for Mary Dempster. Dunstan is considered a non-believer but his Presbyterian roots cause him to carry a tremendous amount of guilt which later defines who he is and can possibly explain his love for Saints(humans who make a difference not divine spirits). To me, Dunstan is a fool-saint because as he acts purely, he does bring unluckiness and tragedy to wherever he goes.
Theme: Mankind writes its own story. Dunstan accepted the role of fifth business and made it his story, figuratively and literally.
Author: Robertson Davies does a great job with this book. His use of Carl Jung archetypes adds an interesting aspect to the novel. Certain archetypes and tarot cards like the Magician and the Devil are seen through out the novel as portrayed in the characters of Magnus Eisengrim and Leisl. Mary Dempster parallels Virgin Mary and is considered a fool-saint. Dunstan is almost the namesake of the novel because he is "Fifth Business". There is a sort of irony in writing a story about having no story. Robertson uses the stone as a symbol of the circle of life, uncertainty and karma. Essential the stone embraces its very shape, a circle. It starts the novel and ends it as well starting Paul's life and ending Boy's.
Quotes
“by himself, by the woman he knew, by the woman he did not know, by the man who granted his wish, and by the inevitable fifth, who was the keeper of his conscience and the keeper of the stone.”
By far the most important quote in the novel. Who killed Boy? Well it has no concrete answer. Only that the members of his story would some way be a part of it. But, isn't that the case with anyone. You could argue that any member of ur life in some way shape or form can lead to your death. I think that's almost the point. In the end, it's just him having to deal with his conscious and karma for the way he treated the ones in his story.
"Percy had been throwing snowballs at me, from time to time, and I had ducked them all; I had a boy's sense of when a snowball was coming, and I knew Percy. I was sure that he would try to land one last, insulting snowball between my shoulders before I ducked into our house."
Thus is the center of all the guilt in Ramsey's life. He thinks of this moment as being responsible for his fifth business role. While he was just doing what he always did, avoid the snowball, the guilt is almost unbearable for him. This moment marks the goal of his life: repay his guilt.
Once again i think you could probably elaborate on the plot especially with this novel that is not only long in itself but holds so much important information for example i think one of the most important things that you missed are the name changes that are very significant as the characters change and mature and also the second meeting with the tramp after he has become a religious figure and he renames him as a saint and gives very valuable insight into the background of saints. Additionally i think the relationship between Mary and Dunny could be elaborated upon because i feel as if that's the most crucial dynamic in this novel.
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