Mythological Realism in Fifth Business :: Fifth Business

Mythological Realism in Fifth Business mesmeric like his creation Magnus Eisengrim, Robertson Davies is a wizard of the English language. Who says that Canadian literature is bland and unappealing? New York Times applauded Fifth Business the first of the Deptford triptych as a marvelously enigmatic novel, elegantly written and driven by irresistible narrative force. How true this is. Dunstable Ramsay later renamed Dunstan after St. Dunstan may be a retired schoolteacher, scarcely what an engaging narrator he is Shaped by Daviess colourful writing, Ramsay masterfully relays the story of his role as fifth business, the unobtrusive heretofore vital character in lifes drama. Fifth Business, told in the form of a letter to the schoolmaster, begins with a snowball that young Percy Boyd Staunton throws at Ramsay. The stone-in-a-snowball misses Ramsay simply hits bloody shame Dempster, causing the premature birth of Paul Dempster. Paul grows up to be Magnus Eisengrim, a mysterious an d graceful magician. Tormented by his guilt of avoiding the snowball, Ramsay makes Mary his personal saint and is weighed down by his conscience until Marys eventual death in an asylum. On the eve of becoming the lieutenant regulator of Ontario, Boy Staunton is found dead in the Toronto harbour with the fateful stone in his mouth.Though the adventures that Dunstan embarks on in Fifth Business are that of the spiritual nature, make no mistake this is not a occult novel that attempts to lure one into a religion, but a magnificently told tale of maturation. It is a story of revenge, of redemption, of becoming. Told from the perspective of being nearly completed, the novel follows Ramsay in his search for balance in his life and balance he does find when the grotesque save intelligent Liesl seduces him. With depth and breadth of knowledge in Jungian concepts, Robertson Davies draws us fathoms beneath the surface of the human personality. The audience is not left grasping for breath, b ut is enraptured by the rich dualism in this fantastical world of Dunstan Ramsay. Good and evil illusion and reality history and myth the shadows and lights of the world are overt and explored. These juxtaposing elements are never revealed under a glaring light, however. Davies uses prose that is nothing short of elegant, and weaves a mythical tale that is imbued with much realism. Real-life incidents are transfused with many amazing coincidences, pavage the path to surrealism.