Fifth Business By Robertson Davies: Character Analysis

During the course of every individual's life their experiences help in the overall understanding of themselves. In the novel fifth business Robertson Davies uses characters experiences to shape their self-knowledge. Davies uses the themes of career, religion, and relationships to aid in their journey of finding themselves. The first theme that fifth business utilizes, is career.

Many people choose their careers based on their personality and characteristics, sometimes these characteristics can develop and increase to show the true colors of oneself. One’s career can help increase their self knowledge. Later in Boy Staunton’s life, he becomes interested in politics and marries a woman who he believes will help him gain votes and

Robertson Davies uses the relationships of characters in the novel to help shape their self-knowledge. Following the events of Leola’s failed suicide attempt, after she found out how unfaithful Boy has been to her, Dunstan describes that “Poor Leola had become more and more listless since the outbreak of war; as Boy grew in importance and his remarkable abilities became increasingly manifest, she faded… Leola had no public life and wanted none” (Davies). Leola discerns that her life is nothing without Boy, she has no self worth, she has no public life, her entire existence has been centered around Boy. The worst part about the relationship is that Boy has almost no feelings for her and finds her boring. She becomes so saddened and depressed by this fact of self-knowledge that when she catches pneumonia, Dunstan states “... Leola opened her windows one afternoon, when the nurse had closed them, and took a chill, and was dead in less than a week” (Davies). After knowing that there is no substance in her life, Leola finds no will to live and arguably commits suicide, or at the very least, sped up her inevitable death. “But you - there is a whole great piece of your life that is unlived, denied, set aside… You must get to know your personal devil… I think you are fifth business” (Davies). Liesl challenges Dunstan to embrace his inner potential and dark