The Importance Of Characters In Fifth Business

The Importance Of Characters In Fifth Business

In the novel Fifth Business, characters mark new chapters of their lives by changing their names. Names are used to identify people in society and they are a symbol of self. The characters, Dunstan, Boy and Paul all change their names, Dunstable to Dunstan, Percy to Boy, and Paul to Magnus. Despite the characters' attempts to change their names and personalities, Davies reveals that people will always maintain their true identities.



Throughout the novel, Dunstan plays the role of "Fifth Business" even when he embarks onto a new chapter of his life. Dunstan's major role in this book is revealing to Paul that the cause for his mother's insanity was because Boy threw a snowball with a stone in it that hit his mother. He says, "Dunstan Ramsay counselled against revelation, but Fifth Business would not hear. 'Yes, guilt. Staunton and I robbed your mother of her sanity' " (Davies 263). In this quote, Dunstan claims that he is Fifth Business because he provided information that led Paul to kill Boy. Paul was always told his birth was the cause of his mother's insanity. Her madness is what made him leave Deptford and caused him trouble during his childhood. Later on in the conversation Dunstan says, "Fifth Business insisted on being heard again. 'Would this jog your memory?' I asked, handing him my old paperweight." (Davies 264). Dunstan proves he is Fifth Business again by revealing the stone that was placed inside of the snowball. This is very important because Paul now

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