No matter where someone goes, there is always going to be another person that is better than them. Dunstan Ramsay was always seen as a necessary yet unimportant character, however he is in fact the opposite, as demonstrated in the definition of fifth business;
“Those roles which, being neither hero nor heroine, confidante nor villain, but which were nonetheless essential to bring about the recognition or the denouements organized according to the old style; the player who acted these parts was often referred to as Fifth Business” (Robertson Davies, 7). Contrary to how Robertson Davies portrays Dunstan Ramsay’s character in the novel Fifth Business, Dunstan is in fact much more than how he was represented. Dunstan is the opposite of how he is portrayed, as he is considered to be ‘fifth business’ in the novel, not a hero, nor confidante, nor villain when in actuality he is all three of those things. In the novel, Robertson Davies portrays Dunstan’s character as though he is fifth business, when in actuality he is the opposite. Davies describes fifth business as someone who is not a hero, nor confidante, nor villain. However, Dunstan proves himself to be a very heroic character in the novel. Dunstan’s heroism is demonstrated in his decision to risk his life …show more content…
In actuality, Dunstan is not ‘fifth business’ as fifth business characters are described as somewhat irrelevant and non-heroic. Dunstan is a hero because he risks his life to fight in a war and he helps Mrs.Dempster throughout her life. Therefore, Davies’ portrayal of Dunstan Ramsay was contradictory to his actual writings about the character, within the description of a ‘fifth business’ character and throughout the entire novel. Fifth business is an example revealing that there will always be someone more special, important, and relevant, however Dunstan Ramsay was not ‘fifth