Dunstable Ramsay Character Analysis

Intimate relationships are a part of the human experience,every person is a product of their relationships. These relationships change who people become, some add to a person's character and other take from it. Regardless of the effect these relationships have on a person, each relationship ultimately shows through in a person's personality. Robertson Davies thoroughly understood this concept showing the emotional development of a man through his intimate relationships. Through the use of influential female characters in the novel, Fifth Business, Robertson Davies reveals the development of the man Dunstable Ramsay. Dunstables intimate relationships with Mrs Ramsay, Diana and Liesl at various times throughout his life, help to shape his character.

“I knew then ... that nobody not even my mother was to be trusted in a strange world that showed very little of itself on the surface” (Davies 36). As a result of Dunny’s broken relationship with his mother Dunny is thinking that he will not be able to trust anyone enough to have a intimate relationship with them again. Since he has only had one intimate relationship he is deciding to place all other relationships aside without giving them a chance. Dunstables strained relationship with his mother can be seen once again when it becomes too much for him to handle and he exclaims that he never wants to have another intimate relationship with anyone.“I had no intention of being anybody’s own dear laddie, ever again” (Davies ). During this moment it becomes overwhelmingly evident that Mrs Ramsay has caused Dunny severe emotional damage. This can be understood because he is making a firm statement that for the rest of his life he will never be on an intimate level with another

Diana helps to give Dunny a new beginning so he can get away from his reservations built up by his mother. “Let me rename you….Why don’t you change it to Dunstan.” Renaming Dunny gives him a feeling of freedom for the first time in a long time, and is a big step in allowing him to start opening up. A new name for dunny is like an entire new identity, because it completely removes his mother from himself. Most importantly this new identity gives Dunny the opportunity to experience intimate relationships again. Another positive influence that Diana gives Dunny, is his first sexual experience. “... it was the night of November 12, in a house in Eaton square… that I first slept with Diana”(Davies 76). This moment in dunny’s life is a prime example of how Diana has started to change him. Diana is giving him the most intimate relationship anyone can give. In giving him this relationship Dunny is allowed to see that relationships can add to people instead of destroy them as his mother