Meaning: Actions never go without long term consequences, but one must not allow them to dictate one’s life.
· A snowball Boy threw as a child, led to his death.
· Dunstable’s affair with Leola as a youth, contributed to her sickness and eventual death.
· The idea of “Fifth Business” relies on groups of characters relying on each other.
· Dunstan’s tone as the narrator is full of reflection on the consequences of his actions.
· The letter being written is a consequence of one careless news story.
Narrative Voice: The narrative voice in Fifth Business is the character of Dunstan Ramsay, because it is written in first person. Dunstan is very reflective and aware of many facets of his life.
Quote 1: “’…get on with your own life and accept the possibility that it may be purchased at the price of hers and that this may be God’s plan for you and her…’” (Davies 165). Blazon says that although Dunstan may have some responsibility for Mary Dempster’s condition, he must not spend his life obsessing over that failure, because it was part of God’s plan, which he cannot possibly comprehend.
Quote 2: “…the inevitable fifth, who was the keeper of his conscience and keeper of the stone” (Davies 252). The fifth is of course Dunstan, and this describes his relationship with Boy. It also highlights that for most of his life, Dunstan was merely an assistant. He did not accomplish many things personally, rather he aided others.
I feel like your interpretation of the meaning doesn't take account of all the Jungian soul searching, you should also mention the archetypes present.
ReplyDeleteI would consider the aspects of myth and religion as well. The meaning as I know it is along the lines of "Only by uniting all the aspects of one's personality and creating your own personal mythology can one find fulfillment in life. Take into account how Leisl and Padre Blazon seem to be the only characters that truly know themselves and are happy (except for maybe Mary Dempster).