fifth business :: essays research papers

There is one human emotion that can paralyze us, lead us to lie both to ourselves and others, to take action that we dont like, and to stultify any rational thought processes. It is self perpetuating if allowed to get out of control. Its gradient effects are either anger, aggressiveness or fear and reclusiveness. Its symptoms are irrational behaviour, lying, anguish, lack of self-esteem, and in extreme cases, thoughts of suicide. It is guilt. In The Fifth Business, by Robertson Davies, guilt is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel and is a study force in ones life. Davies demonstrates this by having one image feeling guilt while another who does not. Davies introduces the reader with Dunstable Ramsay and Percy Boyd Staunton. They are interpret as friends yet rivals at the same time. This is shown when Dunstable had a sleigh that was sudden than Percys. Of course Percy who is the spoiled rich boy becomes jealous, and starts calling Dunstable names. Knowing that Percy hate s it when he is being ignored, Dunstable provokes Percy and ends up with him being chased with snowballs. Eventually someone gets ca-ca and its not Dunstable, rather it was Mrs. Dempster whom he had ran around of cover. This is where the whole range of a function of guilt starts right after this incident. Dunstable feels guilty for this because the snowball who was supposed to discharge him, ended up hitting Mrs.Dempster who was pregnant at that time.He feels even guiltier when he hears about the premature birth and infancy of capital of Minnesota Dempster, which gives him a loathly feeling. As well Dunstable was raised in a strict family and has been support to feel guilt even in the smallest of matters. From that day onward Dunstable was a changed individual who became a responsible person to Mrs. Dempster and was a loyal one. passim his life he becomes a better person because of the guilt which he accepts and tries to resolve.When Paul Dempster grows up and learns about his yields demise, he himself feels guilty. When he grows older and understands things clearer, he blamed himself for causing his mothers illness, because he was told that his birth had caused it. His guilt is amplified when the residents in the town keep their distances from him. After his mother was caught with the tramp performing sexual acts and being discovered by the townsfolk, Paul gets taunted and teased by his schoolmates who make rude comments towards his mother.