Overcoming Guilt In Fifth Business By Robertson Davies

In Robertson Davies' Fifth Business, guilt develops as the major theme that is connected to each significant occurrence in the story. Davies portrays the various ways a character reacts to the feeling of guilt. The story perfectly captures the human mind, how much impact an event can have on a person’s mindset. Davies shows the struggles Paul and Dunny deal with because of their guilt, while character’s like Percy, ignore the guilt and shift the blame towards someone else. The message of Fifth Business explains the hardships of guilt and how to overcome it. Davies displays progression towards character’s negatively affected while showing regression towards character’s who neglect it. Robertson Davies's Fifth Business explores how different

As Dunny later on joins the Army to serve for his country, the guilt stays within him, following him like his shadow. The significance of Mary Dempster and Dunny’s guilt is used when Dunny loses his leg when fighting in the war. Near Death’s door, Dunny looks up to see a statue of Virgin Mary holding her child, which symbolizes Mary Dempster and her child Paul. After going unconscious, Dunny was shocked, stating “But what hit me worse than the blow of shrapnel was Mrs. Dempster’s face (Davies, 68) ”. Davies uses this to show Mary Dempster's influence on Dunny is still holding on strong, his guilt carries on especially when close to death. Even after his time in the war and being awarded for his heroism and bravery, Dunny perceives the loss of his leg as an atonement for the sins he committed. After his time in the war, we see Dunny stumble across Mary Dempster again and her wealthy aunt Miss Shanklin. He started visiting them once a week for a couple of years, and after the news of Miss Shanklin’s death. Dunny is proposed with the idea of being Mary Dempster’s legal guardian, taking care of her again, just like he did when he was a child. The guilt Dunny had thought vanished after the loss of his leg, had gained its spark back. As his reaction to the news, he directly states “But the guilt had only been thrust away, or thrust down out of sight, for here it was again, in full strength, clamoring to be atoned, now that the opportunity offered itself.” (Davies, 148). The guilt had come back to haunt Dunny. Through the sacrifice of his leg, his relief of guilt was lies to convince himself. Davies proves the guilt returns as Dunny accepts the offer, being the protector of Mary Dempster, still feeling guilty of his actions. In accepting the role of Mary Dempster's guardian, Dunny