Character Deconstruction and

Religion
 2 Activities

Character Religion
Name Investigatio
Exploration n
Character Name Exploration
Character Names

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Relate them
Discus
Deconstruct the
names of the
characters – to the
Specifically:
Explain the
allusions,
characterizat
ion in the
s
meanings and/or
origins of the
novel.  What
do
Findin
names Paul,
Some Possible Findings
Dunstan​
• Derives from St. Dunstan (born 924 A.D.)​
• Liesl tempts Dunstan just as the Devil was said to tempt St. Dunstan​

Mary Dempster ​
• The Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene​
• Magdalene has a misunderstood role in history​
• the saint and the repentant “whore”​
• Dempster:  reminds one of redemption​
• Original meaning of Dempster:  “One who judges or pronounces doom”​
Some Possible Findings Cont.
Paul​
• St. Paul the Apostle​
• Name changing:  Saul becomes Paul mirrored by Paul becoming Magnus Eisengrim​

• Amasa:  “a great weight or sorrow”​

• Boy:  immaturity and permanent boyhood​

• Leola Cruikshank:  “Cruikshank” – crooked legs​

Some Possible Findings Cont.
Joel Surgeoner​
• Joel:  word of God​
• Surgeoner:  a medical practitioner who repairs or removes broken flesh so that the rest
of the body might survive​

Denyse Hornick​
• Denyse is a feminized version of Dionysus whose rabid female followers tore men
asunder and ate their raw flesh​
• Hornick:  perhaps “hor” or “whore” blended with “Nic”, and old nickname for Satan​
RELIGION
INVESTIGATIO
N
 Goal: Trace the different
religions in the novel. Why are
there so many different
religious sects represented in
What are his text?
we looking
for?
Overall: What is Davies trying
to say about religion?
Where do we find religion in the text?
• Religion is a major theme in Robertson Davies' novel, Fifth Business.
All throughout the novel, the main character, Dunstan Ramsay
encounters multiple religions.
• From Anglican, and Presbyterian to Methodist, Baptist, and Roman
Catholic, this novel illustrates these religions through characters and
myths.
What is the importance of religion in Deptford
and for our characters?
• Develops characters
• Various beliefs create tension in Deptford
• Dunstan’s career and interests.
• Dunstan’s character traits.
• Dunstan vs Boy Tension.
• 5 Main Religions
Presbyterian
• John Knox the founder of Presbyterianism, was a scot
like Dunstan.
• Calvinism
• Presbytarians are harsh and live a tough life (many
rules).
• ex: Dunstan's family's strict supper rule.
• Liesl brings this up near the end of the novel.
• Many of Dunstan's entourage has been Presbytarian. i.e.
Boy and Leola
Baptist
• Baptist is a religion which is from America.
• In this religion, the parents avoid baptism until the child is
old enough to choose.
• The Dempsters are Baptists.
• Amasa Dempster is a very religious man though he strays
from the baptist rules on many occasions.
• ex: Paul was baptized to early and Amasa's mad wife,Mary
Dempster.
• The family looks strange to other religions and people
because of the way Mr. Dempster twists the rules.
Methodist
• Methodist is another one of the many
religions found in Deptford.
• The Methodist church was merged along
with Presbyterian and the Congregational
Union of Ontario and Quebec to form the
United Church of Canada.
Anglican
• Formation of Church of England to allow
King Henry VIII's divorce. 
• King Henry VIII, the author, and Boy
Become Anglicans to have more freedom. 
Roman Catholic Church

• The worlds largest Christian church.

• Pope is ruler
• One true church (founded by Christ)
• Hold the Virgin Mary in special regards
• Widely influential
• Mary Dempster & Virgin Mary
INTERESTING QUESTION

Paul believes in
the power of
illusion, which
Is magic a faith?
is described by
Dunstan as a
kind of faith.