Robertson Davies’ FIFTH BUSINESS Class Notes Author Background

Robertson Davies - Quick Write Journal What is your understanding of what it means to be Canadian? Be specific! Take five minutes to respond to this question thoughtfully—and try to support your ideas with specific support!

Robertson Davies - Background Notes Robertson Davies was a passionate Canadian. Born in 1913 in Thamesville, Ontario, Davies died in 1995. He was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor, and one of Canada's best-known and most popular authors. His books often examine the Canadian identity.

Robertson Davies - Background Notes Fifth Business is actually part of a trilogy of novels called the Deptford Trilogy. Other books are called The Manticore and World of Wonders.

Robertson Davies - Background Notes Davies once claimed that in writing Fifth Business he was trying to record the bizarre and passionate life of the Canadian people—a nation that, in Davies’ mind, was misunderstood as a country made up of dull, ordinary and emotionless people who overall are most concerned with being “nice”. We’re usually nice people. Until hockey comes on.

Robertson Davies - Background Notes The book shows the “bizarre and passionate” life of Dunstan Ramsay that lays concealed beneath his apparent personality—that of a doddering old schoolmaster. Perhaps Canadians appear to be dull, but have an inner life that is exciting and vibrant—and beneath the surface of outward appearance.

Robertson Davies - Background Notes A central theme concerns guilt as an especially compelling force in a person’s life. Dunstan Ramsay’s entire life is shaped by a bizarre experience in his early childhood, and which worked to shape his identity.

Robertson Davies - Background Notes Create a cluster web with GUILT in the centre and web out as many details as possible that connect to this word. Now, add discussion as to how Dunstan’s identity is shaped by this feeling of guilt. Be specific. As a thesis, what could you say about the theme of guilt as a compelling force?

Robertson Davies - Background Notes Dunstan explains early on he has played the role of “Fifth Business” (see opening quotation), where he has not played a leading role in life’s drama. He passionately feels, however, that the role of “Fifth Business” is of crucial importance in connection to others, and he takes great pride in fulfilling this role.

Robertson Davies - Background Notes Where do you see Dunstan playing such a role in developing other people’s identities?

Robertson Davies - Background Notes Davies believed a person’s true identity could only be fully understood by appreciating not only the facts of that person’s life, but also the “mythic” stories that shaped that individual. Davies was a proponent of the Edward Bloom philosophy from Big Fish, meaning he appreciated what lay beneath the surface (often communicated in story) as much as the objective facts of that person.