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Fifth Business
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 his guilt. Guilt and lack of guilt can clearly be seen through character's
lives, relationships and philosophies. The guilt felt by Dunstan altered the way he lives through his
complete devotion for Mary Dempster. Dunstan's guilt is the...show more content...
"It was characteristic of Boy throughout his life that he was always the quintessence of
something that somebody else had recognized and defined" (Davies 113). He believes that he is
in control of every situation, but inside he cannot control his guilt that is still buried deep inside
himself. Contrary to Dunstan who feels responsible for problems, Boy runs away from his
problems by keeping himself busy. The death of Leola, his wife, clearly shows Boy's fear of
facing problems, for his does not show up for her funeral, "Boy was in England, arranging
something or other connected with his Ministry, and duty and the difficulty of transatlantic
flights in wartime kept him there"(Davies 194). Boy still yearns for fulfillment even though he
achieves greatness in terms of his financial success and his outward appearance. He says, "I feel
rotten. I've done just about everything I've ever planned to do and everybody thinks I'm a
success... But sometimes I wish I could get into a car and drive away from the whole damned
thing." (Davies). Boy knows that deep inside he is very unsuccessful. As he gets older, he is
supposed to be wiser, but his commitment to achieving the external greatness has stopped him from
being fully satisfied. There is an immense difference in the lives of Boy and Dunstan. Boy's focus
on his external being causes him live an unfulfilled life, like a 'boy' who cannot see that there is
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Fifth Business

  • 1. Fifth Business 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 his guilt. Guilt and lack of guilt can clearly be seen through character's lives, relationships and philosophies. The guilt felt by Dunstan altered the way he lives through his complete devotion for Mary Dempster. Dunstan's guilt is the...show more content... "It was characteristic of Boy throughout his life that he was always the quintessence of something that somebody else had recognized and defined" (Davies 113). He believes that he is in control of every situation, but inside he cannot control his guilt that is still buried deep inside himself. Contrary to Dunstan who feels responsible for problems, Boy runs away from his problems by keeping himself busy. The death of Leola, his wife, clearly shows Boy's fear of facing problems, for his does not show up for her funeral, "Boy was in England, arranging something or other connected with his Ministry, and duty and the difficulty of transatlantic flights in wartime kept him there"(Davies 194). Boy still yearns for fulfillment even though he achieves greatness in terms of his financial success and his outward appearance. He says, "I feel rotten. I've done just about everything I've ever planned to do and everybody thinks I'm a success... But sometimes I wish I could get into a car and drive away from the whole damned thing." (Davies). Boy knows that deep inside he is very unsuccessful. As he gets older, he is supposed to be wiser, but his commitment to achieving the external greatness has stopped him from being fully satisfied. There is an immense difference in the lives of Boy and Dunstan. Boy's focus on his external being causes him live an unfulfilled life, like a 'boy' who cannot see that there is Get more content on HelpWriting.net