...Erio Zucchet Mrs. Zakowski ENG 3U1-07 Monday, May 30, 2011 Fifth Business: Origin, Nature and Burden of Guilt In Robertson Davies’s Fifth Business, the concept of guilt is an important component in the development of many major characters within the novel. Guilt is defined as a feeling of responsibility for some offense or crime. Throughout the novel, Robertson Davies utilizes the motif of guilt in order to express the feelings of certain characters. He also employs the logic behind their decision-making. The concept of guilt influences many characters, especially in the lives of Percy Staunton, Paul Dempster, and Dunstable Ramsay. The way in which these characters cope with the guilt they have combined in their lives, is also an essential part in their rebirths. In Robertson Davies’s Fifth Business, the concept of guilt directly influences the events, characterizations, decisions, and transformations of Percy Staunton, Dunstable Ramsay and Paul Dempster. The element of guilt proves to be properly portrayed through the description of Percy Staunton. Percy Staunton is an important figure in emphasizing the importance of guilt within the novel. It is also a prime example in showing how guilt influences a person’s decision-making process. During the first stages of the book, guilt is introduced when Percy throws a snowball at Dunny, which ends up hitting Mrs. Dempster. This shows the reader the moral...
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...Fifth Business Essay There are paths that many people can take throughout their lives. “Fifth Business”, a story written by Robertson Davies, focuses on one person, and that is the main character, which is Dunstan Ramsay. In the novel, he takes the path of the Canadian hero, which helps his personality/character change by doing the following: searching for little Madonna; going through the underworld; and leaving his old life behind to begin a new one, and to discover who he truly is. These are the different steps to be taken by the hero and Dunstan follows his path by completing each step. One way that Dunstan’s personality/character changes is by going on a search for little Madonna. His journey begins when he gets his call for adventure. The call for adventure lets the him know that his life is about to change. Dunstan’s call for adventure comes when he leaves for Europe for the second time to search for the little Madonna. The little Madonna was what called him to come back to Europe. “The little Madonna was a bee in my bonnet; I wanted to see her again, and quite unreasonably (like a man I knew who lost a treasured walking -stick in the London Blitz and still looks hopefully in every curiosity shop in case it might turn up) I kept hoping to find her” (pg. 123). Dunstan had to leave the life he was living in order to begin his journey. Even though he knew he might never find the little Madonna again, he had to keep looking. While searching for the little Madonna...
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...Fifth Business: More Than Meets The Eye Jeffery Soy Carl Jung’s literary archetypes determine the structure of literary works. In the novel Fifth Business, by Robertson Davies, many of Jung’s archetypes are reflected in the characters. These archetypes include the Eternal Boy, the Wise Old Man, the Hero, the Maiden, and the Persona. The characters of Boy Staunton, Dunny Ramsay, Paul Dempster, Mary Dempster, and Leola Cruikshank symbolize these archetypes and support the overall theme of appearance versus reality in Fifth Business. Upon analyzing Carl Jung’s archetypes, one would find that Boy is the most obvious example of the Eternal Boy archetype. Over the course of the novel, Boy grows physically, but he acts very childish. He constantly denies throwing the snowball that struck Mary Dempster. He tries to prove to Dunny that he is better than him in every way. As kids, he ridiculed Dunny’s old sled and wool mitts (Davies, 3). In the future, he even goes as far as waving Leola’s naked photos in front of Dunny’s face (Davies, 148). Boy never grew mentally. Boy symbolizes the appearance of things, directly conflicting Dunny’s values of reality. And while many may believe that Dunny is the Hero of Fifth Business, he is better suited to the archetype of the Wise Old Man. The Wise Old Man acts as uses his personal knowledge to help offer guidance.To support this claim, one could take the example of his teenage years when he worked in a library. Dunny became focused on his...
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...Fifth Business Essay The extent to which a character’s past contributes to his or hers success or failure in a work place studied in the course. In Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, the past of Deptford for Paul Dempster, Boy Staunton and Dunstan Ramsay created their biggest accomplishments but nevertheless, created their biggest downfalls. Specifically, Dunstan’s obsession with Mary Dempster and his overbearing mother made him a successful author and historian but made him unable to make real connections with people, Boy’s need to be the best led him to his empire he has today, but not without scarifying his humanity along the way, and finally, Paul’s ridicule as a child turned him into the most influential magician of his time, in addition his hatred for Deptford made him into a cold hearted killer. To begin with, Dunstan’s Deptford life consisted of his obsession with Mary Dempster and the conflict of his overbearing mother. Dunstan’s obsession with Mary Dempster influenced his search of saints, which in turn created many books making him relatively successful. In addition, his mother’s overbearing role forced Dunstan to join the army. Thus, earning him the most respectful award in England a Victoria Cross. However, the two dominating women, who were his focus in life, restrained him from being able to commit to other women. In a sense, Mary Dempster is the creator of the man he grows into. This inhibits a motherly sense to her as she becomes the essence of everything...
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...In Robertson Davies novel Fifth Business the main character Dunstable (Dunstan) Ramsay struggles to understand his unconscious mind, thus having trouble being an individual. This novel outlines his journey for self-knowledge, happiness, and fulfilling his role as Fifth Business. Throughout the novel, Dunstan begins discover and understand himself. He does this through his interactions with the people he meets upon his travels. From a young child, Dunstan has trouble truly understanding who he is but as he grows older he matures and becomes his own person, as he is psychologically reborn. The person that Dunstan meets that makes the biggest contribution to help him start to understand himself is Liesl. Liesl works as part of a traveling circus as a ‘Truth Teller’, also modernly known as a fortuneteller. Dunstan describes Liesl as “the ugliest human creature” (Davies,196) he has ever seen, she wears mans clothing, has short hair and has a “huge, jutting jaw” (Davies,196). On the contrary he explains that she has a beautiful voice and she speaks very intelligently, due to this, Dunstan felt very comfortable with her, which is what allowed him to open up to Liesl. This is the first way Liesl helps Dunstan begin to understand himself, allowing Dunstan to open up for the first time in a long time released a lot of bottled up emotions. Dunstan describes Liesl as “a gargoyle! And yet never have I known such deep delight or such an aftermath of healing tenderness!” (Davies,218)...
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...I have chosen to analyze the novel “Fifth Business”, written by RobertsonDavies. I selected this novel as the title had initially intrigued me the most in comparison to the other available options. I have also read the novel “The Manticore” written by him as well, I thoroughly enjoyed it due to his writing style and was keen on reading “Fifth Business” as a result. Robert Davies is a Canadian author, playwrighter, journalist and professor whom is from Thamesville Ontario. I will prove that within the novel “Fifth Business” the theme of psychology is identified. Psychology influences not only the life of the protagonist named Dustan, but it also touches on the lives of the antagonists within this novel as well. I will prove that this theme exists by showcasing the connection it has with the characters in the novel. For example Dunstan lives his life trying to understand himself through the eyes of others. I will prove that Dunstan foreshadows the theme Psychology as he is a introverted young boy with characteristics of a confident young boy. This strange combination of archetypes is shown throughout the novel as Dunstan reflects on his life. The second character known as Davies is proven to be the opposite of Dunstan, he is a young extroverted boy that has a simple understanding of what his motivations are in life. Lastly the character known as Mrs.Dempster is a middle aged woman that represents the archetype of a sacred yet profane feminine woman. She poses an obstacle to Dunstan...
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...van Eeghen 1 Petra van Eeghen 23 October 2014 The Consequence of Guilt Repressed guilt will unavoidably destroy a man. This was surely the case in Fifth Business, by Robertson Davies, a novel that demonstrates how guilt can easily corrupt someone’s life. Three main characters that battle through the emotion of guilt are Paul Dempster, Percy Boyd Staunton and Dunstan Ramsay. Paul does not confront his guilt, Percy pushes away his guilt and Dunny allows himself to be absorbed by guilt and feel sorry for everyone around him. The ways these characters deal with guilt greatly impact their lives. Davies uses the theme of guilt to shape the characters lives. Paul Dempster grows to become immune to the feeling of guilt due to the situations he is put through at a young age. As a child Paul is guilty about his mother Mary Dempster. He blames himself for his mother becoming simple-minded. He has been told by many people in the town of Deptford that it is his fault and they stay away from him, “Paul was not a village favorite, and the dislike so many people felt for his mother-dislike for the queer and persistently unfortunate-they attached to the unoffending son” (Davies 32). Paul was always frowned upon based on his mother’s van Eeghen 2 actions such as her having sex with a tramp. He felt as though every poor decision his mother made was a consequence to her having pre-mature labor to him. Rude jokes were made about Mary Dempster but Paul’s father, Amasa Dempster, told...
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...In the novel Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, Davies uses Fifth Business to show that every character in a novel is significant in their own way, no matter the impact they make. Dunstan Ramsay, lives an ordinary life, with events occurring around him that are extravagant. In each event he plays an essential role, but he never directly causes anything. Fifth Business is defined as “the one who knows the secret of the hero’s birth, or [the one] who comes to the assistance of the heroine when she thinks all is lost… or may even be the cause of somebodies death if that’s part of the plot” (Davies 218). Davies uses a variety of riveting plot points in Dunstan’s journey of life to portray him as Fifth Business, this can be seen through the lives...
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...Shadows in Fifth Business Incidences that occur in one's childhood tend to affect them possibly for the rest of the rest of their life. This applies to the novel Fifth Business and the characters Dunstan Ramsey and Boy Staunton. Throughout the lives of these characters Dunstan lives in the shadow of Boy due to feelings of guilt and responsibility as a result of one winter evening in the town of Deptford. As Boy and Dunny grew up together they were each others best friends and also worst enemies, but they were on basically equal terms in their childish trials of life. This remained to be true until that winter day in Deptford when Mrs. Dempster was struck with a snowball that was meant for Dunny. Since that point in time Dunny, being the more caring and excepting of responsibility for other peoples problems, of the two, has not lived up to par with the life of Boy Staunton. Ever since the snowball accident Dunny has been preoccupied by worrying over Mary Dempster, and now her son Paul. At the age of sixteen the small town of Deptford becomes too much for Dunny to handle so he decides to drop out of secondary school and join the Army. Dunny needed a change in his life, something to get his mind off Mrs. Dempster and the guilt he felt for her. Leading up to his departure to the War he never really saw much of Mary, mainly because Mr. Dempster told him to stay away, but also because every time him saw her he couldn't hold back feelings of guilt and remorse...
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...Origin of Consternation: Development and Beating within Fifth Business Fifth Business is a novel, based in archetypes, about character development, specifically developing all sides of one’s person and not leaving any side “raw”. The main character, Dunny, is subject to this experience of developing largely due to an incident where Dunny steals an egg from his mother, and she, in turn, attacks him viciously (as all friendly mothers do) and beats him. This experience is pivotal in the story because it helps open up Dunny to the notion that people have more than 1 side to them, spawns Dunny’s distrust and lack of understanding of women, and makes Dunny a more “raw” and underdeveloped character which originates Dunny’s need for development....
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...Organization An organization that innovates quickly and acquires knowledge to remain sustainable in a rapidly changing environment is a learning organization (Business Dictionary, 2013). There are many criteria that must be met for an organization to be a successful learning entity in a global environment while remaining sustainable. The organization must learn and change to continue to survive is this ever-changing global arena. Peter Senge describes five learning disciplines that guide organizations toward a learning environment, and he creates the concept label learning organizations (Cropper, 2013). This paper portrays the characteristics or criteria an organization needs to become a learning organization in a global environment. This paper will also display Peter Senge’s Five Learning Disciplines and how they create tools and practices for building and sustaining learning leadership ability in organizations (Cropper, 2013). Characteristics of a Learning Organization Organizations must create a culture that supports and encourages ongoing employee learning (Business Dictionary, 2013). The organization must take risks, encourage critical thinking as well as promote new ideas from every member. Organizations should value employee’s contributions and provides for mistakes while experimenting and learning from experience (Business Dictionary, 2013). A true learning organization will disseminate the new knowledge throughout the company or corporation and include the knowledge in their...
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...Learning Organizations: Fad or Future? By Marty Jacobs Published in the September 2007 Issue of Vermont Business Magazine When Peter Senge’s book, The Fifth Discipline was first published in 1990, the term “learning organization” joined the business lexicon. Senge was able to distill years of research and practice in the field of organization development into a clear and concise theory for creating profound organizational change. So, are learning organizations the wave of the future or will the theory fall by the wayside like so many other business and management fads (management by objectives, reengineering, etc.)? The answer to that question is a resounding, “It depends.” It depends on an organization’s willingness to commit the time and energy to changing its behavior. Before delving into the area of changing organizational behavior, however, let’s first define a learning organization. Learning organizations are those that are able to integrate the following five disciplines: • • Personal mastery: Personal mastery is the ability to continually clarify and deepen personal vision, focus energies, develop patience, and see reality objectively. Mental models: Mental models are deeply ingrained assumptions or generalizations that influence how we understand the world and how we take action. Working with mental models involves surfacing and examining organizational assumptions, in order to understand organizational systems better and to develop more effective solutions. Building...
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...environment. This trait is becoming more common within the workplace as it is a necessity to make the effort in order to understand and reciprocate typical thought processes, feelings and actions within a business institution. Article Summary Corey Jamison suggests a pattern of guidelines that shows how to make efforts efficiently for adjustment within a client based business. She stresses the importance of the assessment of organizational needs, and recognizes the identification of organization pattern; as well as the concept of living in a client system. She also points out the importance of understanding and appreciating the distinctive qualities and specific needs of working effective change within a client-organization. She refers to this process of coming to know an organization or business as “living in”. She suggests that "living in" a client system informs the change agents what they must be aware of in order to understand the target organization or business and their relevance to it. It also enables them the ability to discern the nuances of the system itself. (2001) Corey Jamison’s recommendations Mrs. Jamison poses several questions that are instrumental to the message of her article. Such as: How one is able to better effectively understand the particular business system being observed? In your own opinion what parts of the system do you like best; as you “live in” and understand it, how you will appreciate and love it? Who within the company can you follow...
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...Who is Peter Senge ? Peter Senge is a Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Sustainability at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management Peter Senge 2013. He is the author of the management book The Fifth Discipline (1990). Senge Change Management Model Senge’s theoretical framework focuses on delivering organizational change and development through the establishment of a learning organization (Senge 1999). His book, The Fifth Discipline, outlines the five elements of learning that within an organization are all connected. It is a notably different approach to other change management theories as it focuses on the longer-term issues of sustaining and renewing organizational change Cameron and Green 2012. 1. Personal Mastery – Senge (2006 describes Personal Mastery as the undertaking by all within an organization to use all available resources to seek more of what truly matters to them. This requires an organisation to make it safe for people to create visions, where inquiry and commitment to the truth are the norm, and where challenging the status quo is expected Senge 2006. By continually growing an employee’s capacity to create their own future through Personal Mastery, an organisation’s learning will continue Flood 1998. 2. Mental Models – Our mental models are our internally held views on how the world operates based on key assumptions about the outcome Senge 1992. In seeking to establish a new organizational structure, if an organisation’s...
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...The assigned chapter for the week in the Northouse text proved a timely resource in the topic of introducing and maintaining leadership development in the organization. According to Northouse (2010), the psychodynamic approach to leadership emphasizes the importance of the leader, and follower I might add, becoming aware of their personality types and their implications on work and relationships. One cannot improve what one does not work on. This takes intentional effort. Especially as the landscape of the organization and subsequently, leadership has changed in recent times. Macoby (2007) argues for the notion of social character as a way of looking at leadership in terms of the psychology of followers. He defines social character as "macro personality based on the emotional attitudes and values shared by people in a certain context." Maccoby (2007) contends that there has been a shift in the social character of our times which has resulted in movement away from an industrial economy to a knowledge-based one. Here, formal hierarchical organizations are giving way to networks, collaborations and more of a horizontal structure. Persons in organizations today no longer want to be mere followers but collaborators in a joint effort between leaders and "what were once followers" (Northouse). They favor continual improvement and creativity as opposed to stability. Given the mindset change and expectation as regards leadership and the organization, the only logical conclusion is to...
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