The Manticore

In both novels The Fifth Business and The Manticore by Robertson Davies, guilt is a reoccurring theme throughout the novels and is a major force in one’s life. Davies demonstrates this by having both character feeling guilt. While both novels demonstrated themes of guilt, Guilt comes from terrible Childhood experiences is a topic that keeps running all through both The Fifth Business and returns throughout the following book in the series, “The Manticore”, and its effect on the lives of the characters

Out of all the mythical creatures on my list, the manticore is the most dangerous, which is what I encountered today. Although manticores were originally from Persia, they could be found in underground caverns around the world. There had been rumors of a pack of Manticores living in the Theopetra cavern, so that's where I headed. I knew I had to be very careful around manticores, because of all of their defense mechanisms. First they were said to have the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion

Fifth Business Essay: Guilt Guilt is a powerful emotion that can greatly affect the course of a person’s life. Dunny’s character, in Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business, first experienced guilt at an early age due to a tragic accident. A snowball that was meant for Dunny hit a pregnant woman, Mrs. Dempster, causing her to go into premature labour. Although her child, Paul Dempster, survived, the guilt that Dunny experienced from his part in the situation would stay with him for the rest of

Boy Staunton, the antagonist in the novel Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, is a very successful business man. Boy Staunton is motivated by self-distraction in life which he believes will rid himself of remorseful feelings. Although it may appear that he is “living the dream,” the guilt from traumatizing childhood events slowly torture and eventually destroy him. Boy’s decision to commit suicide is greatly influenced by Mary Dempster, Leola Cruikshank and Dunstan Ramsay because they are constant

In a universe consisting of billions of people, the existence and purpose of an individual can be contemplated. How can one small person, in a universe as big as this, have such an influence? Such a character can be thought of as someone watching from the sideline, having an unknowing effect on another’s life, and it is those characters who are in the background who are often overlooked. Although such characters may not have carried out significant actions, their role can be vital to another’s story

In Fifth Business, Dunstan Ramsay's mother, Fiona Ramsay, greatly impacted who he became. Fiona Ramsay was a clean, strict and controlling parent. She was greatly praised by the community around her as she seemed to be the perfect housewife. She participated in her community, did good for the community and donated to charity. However, what the community does not realize was the dualistic nature of Fiona Ramsay. Even though she seemed to be a good person by donating to charity, she did so not out

What is guilt? Guilt is defined as "the fact or state of having done wrong or committed and offense." (Definition, 5) In Fifth business Guilt is considered to be a theme placed within the pages of the Novel, Fifth Business. It is shown through main events taking place, as well as being shown through the main characters of the story. For many guilt can be a powerful emotion, leaving people to question the fact on why they are feeling "Guilty". It can be considered as the "price we pay" (letting

Seeing a character's life as a journey in search of truth or meaning may help us to understand a central theme of the work. By studying Dunstan Ramsay's journey towards happiness in Fifth Business, it can be said that guilt must be managed, and not forgotten. Dunstan is motivated by guilt towards happiness during his interactions with Mrs. Dempster, during the First World War, and by the various romantic interests in his life. Davies writes the story of Ramsay's journey in a way that emphasizes the

Does seeing the life of a character (within the context this work of literature) unfold before one's eyes mean that one could be made to understand the themes presented with ease? Robertson Davies' world famous novel Fifth Business follows this template in an attempt to present the themes within the text. For the purposes of greater specification only the lives of Dunstable Ramsay and Percy Boyd Staunton will be analyzed in depth due to length constraints held upon this essay. Furthermore, through

There is a little bit of darkness in everyone, but if you accept it and learn from it, you can grow, but if you repress it and never deal with it; then there will be severe consequences. By examining Robertson Davies’ novel, Fifth Business, one can see that Dunstan’s perspective of the snowball incident, Boy’s encounter in the gravel pit, and Willie’s death, demonstrate Dunstan’s struggle with the psychological truth behind literal events, resulting in Boy and Dunstan’s dark desires to reveal themselves