DAVIES, Robertson: Fifth Business.

 

1. Robertson Davies' writing has a powerful undertow of descriptive narration that is very beautiful. However, his book Fifth Business contains an erroneous philosophy about man's fallen nature, a negative and contused depiction of Christianity, particularly Catholicism, as well as a preoccupation with sex.

2. The message conveyed by this story is a liberal attitude towards sin and its consequences. It portrays human beings correctly as being fallen but incorrectly dictates that in order to remain 'human', men and women must discover that sin is unavoidable. The Character of Liesl, the most amoral character in the story, who is portrayed as a noble romantic with Faustian allure, tells the main character, Dunstan, that in order to be fulfilled he must shake hands with his devil. This confused idea of self-knowledge as a sinner, makes no effort to state that sin damages the individual. In fact, in the words of Liesl, sin is "a whole great piece of your life that is unlived, denied, set aside." In other words the author tries to justify man's weakness and lusts by saying that men who try not to trespass into the realm of sin deny themselves fulfilment and self-knowledge. Liesl encourages Dunstan: "Why don't you do something inexplicable, irrational, at the devil's bidding, and just for the Hell of it?" This nonchalant treatment of evil and the part it plays in the human story is disturbing. It should be understood by the readers that while man is capable of falling into sin he is equally capable of avoiding and triumphing over sin.

Besides, Liesl's exhortation to sin is contradicted by a later incident in the story wherein the character of Paul Dempster murders Boy Staunton, the novel's antagonist. He feels completely justified in doing so because Boy has been, in the lives of many, the source of all the evil. In fact, this character represents the devil in the novel. The question then presents itself. Is this murderer who would rid the world of evil, incapable of ridding his own life of personal sin? It is seen again in regards to the sexual sins of both Dunstan and Boy. Those of Boy are depicted as being evil, as opposed to those of the more 'likable' characters of the book. There is no moral difference between the protagonists and antagonists in the story, in the way they live their lives, yet the author insists that we judge and condemn the actions of Boy Staunton, while smiling upon those of Dunstan on the grounds that he is simply being adventurous, discovering himself. The way the author presents the murder contradicts and practically disproves the story’s message about the legitimacy of sin.

Throughout the narration there is expressed a confused and negative perspective on Catholicism, its clergy and the Christian faith. Liesl, in the end of chapter five says: "Oh this Christianity! Even when people swear they don't believe in it, the fifteen hundred years of Christianity that has made our world is in their bones, and they want to show they can be Christians without Christ. These are the worst, they have the cruelty of doctrine with the poetic grace of myth." At first glance it seems that Christianity is being praised here but actually it clearly states that the story of Christ is a myth, that any kind of religious laws and doctrine are cruel, and that the devil is the only Christian belief that is a reality.

The author speaks a lot about the Catholic faith but it becomes clear that he is uninformed. The Catholic faith is presented as 'solvent' or incapable of saving souls along with the rest of the Christian faiths. The celibate state of priests is generally looked upon in the novel with amazement mixed with pity and scorn. The priests in the story, especially Father Blazon are in on the erroneous thought. Father Blazon finds no fault in Dunstan’s submission to the devil, because he concludes that the devil knows more about us that Christ. There is, amidst all the confusion, one idea that rings true, and that is the discoveries made by Dunstan while studying the saints. He decides all human beings need something greater than themselves to offer homage and petition to, to admire and be in awe of. A similar acknowledgement is made by the character of Paul Dempster when he is designing his magic show, but he is only thinking of himself. Dunstan's fascination with the Catholic belief in saints leads to a rather beautiful discovery on his part, that is that saints were just as human as he is, in the sense that they were sinners, and had failings. He discovers that their sainthood comes from their triumph over these personal sins. He greatly admires the piety of the Catholic laity who ask the saints for favours, although there are also moments in which some of the saints and their miracles are made to look a trifle ridiculous and absurd. The instance of Dunstan beginning to have private devotion to Mary Dempster, his 'saint' is confusing but stems from Dunstan belief that anyone can be saint including madmen. Father Blazon encourages Dunstan's devotion, contrariwise the catholic priest in Deptford warns Dunstan against a 'fool saint' and the disastrous consequences of virtue tainted with madness.

While the underlying theme is the legitimacy of sin, another connecting factor is sexual sin. The novel is thick with the description of sexual experiences, all extra­marital, and one particularly disturbing lesbian affair. All are vivid enough to be equally as graphic as if they were shown on film and are presented as permissible and good, honour and decency only confuse and complicate things. This distasteful use of talent is a frequent occurrence throughout the story and it seems to be simply a sensational glue that cements the story together.

3. The story, on the whole, contains a message that really doesn't make any sense to the human mind or soul, and leaves people confused as to what is true or not to human nature. And yet while the author tries to maintain his message, there naturally appears through his characters the human abhorrence of the evil the author is trying to justify. Written with brilliance, the book is thought to be a masterpiece, but it's allure lies only in its typically rebellious attitude towards doing good, that Christianity cannot be explained or lived, and the frequent sexual imagery. If a summary can be gotten, it is probably the best route to take in studying this book.

 

S.H. (2002)

 

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