Fifth Business 2ty3z

Fifth Business: By Robert Davies

Davies employs many different techniques and themes in the writing of Fifth Business. He illustrates many themes in the novel, and perhaps one of the most important is revealed through the paradox of Spirituality vs. Religion. By spirituality, Davies articulates his social commentary on how religion is not necessarily integral to the idea demonstrated by the corrupt Reverend Leadbeater who integrates money and the bible to exhibit God’s work. Percy and Reverend Lead beater have a very strong spiritual narcissism or spiritual materialism. These are used to describe individuals which turn the pursuit of spiritualism into an ego building and a confusion creating endeavor. Percy is one of the wealthiest men in Canada. The readers see the growth and character development of Percy as a young child Percy had a big ego, due to his upbringing of wealth where he put his life and others on the line just to ensure Dunny felt the consequence “because his fine new Christmas sled would not go as fast as my old one” (pg.1) which lead to Percy throwing the snowball at the back of Mrs.Dempester’s head. Raised with an abundance of materialism, Percy ran away from aiding Mrs. Dempester in a time of hardship and Dunny was left to clean up his mess due to his religious upbringing by his mother. This was the initial stage that Materialism was represented by Percy and Spirituality was represented by Dunstan. They meet for the first time to set the tone for the book and themes to come. Percy’s ego grows with his materialism when his business of sugar beets grows and he becomes a very good business man and acquires more materialistic things in his life. Percy refers to religion as a business, “He isn’t like any other preacher you’ve ever met”, said Boy. “Honestly, you’d wonder how old dugouts like Andy Bowyer and Phelps ever have the nerve to stand up in a pulpit when there are men like Leadbeater in the business.”(pg.119). Davies presents the impact that materialism plays in Boy’s life when he compares Jesus to a wealthy business man. This is where the reader sees the internal struggle of spirituality and materialism in Percy’s life, where he has an abundance of wealth but is still empty and still wants more. Percy’s business affairs and prosperity in the great depression and overflow of success, yearns Percy’s hunger for more materialistic things to make his life complete which never occurs due to his lack of spirituality in his life.( Percy’s life is not balanced, Materialism out weighs his spirituality). Boy speaks to Dunstan and says “undoubtedly

a designer and a manufacturer, in of those days.” “Otherwise, how did he make his connections? You know, when he was traveling around, staying with all kinds of rich and influential people as an honored guest----- obviously he wasn’t just bumming his way through Palestine; He was staying with people who knew him as a Man of substance(signifies Materialistic imagery) who also had a great philosophy.” (pg.119) the dominant themes explored in Fifth Business are spirituality vs. materialism. Boy is a successful businessman who succeeds at everything he tries but has little time for inclination for spiritual matters. Dunstan, meanwhile, teaches at a high school his whole life and writes books about saints. Dunstan finds intellectual stimulation and meaning in the inner life and dedicates his whole life teaching students about saints. Percy’s and Dunstan’s characters contrast in many ways. The most prominent ways in which they contrast is their values. Dunstan values spiritual things, while Percy only values materialistic things; this is the result of the Dominant figures in both Dunstan and Percy’s life that had a big role, in the shaping of their values has Men. Mrs. Ramsay a strong spiritual woman instilled in Dunstan in a young age the spiritual aspect of life by taking him to church every Sunday which increased his faith and awareness that GOD was in his life. Percy’s father, a rich Doctor in the Deptford village valued materialism were his purist for money and want for more influenced Boy were he learned form representation.