the deptford boys

Mr. MehrotraMr. Mehrotra

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The Deptford BoysThe Deptford Boys


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Self-DiscoverySelf-Discovery

The idea of individuation plays a central role in The idea of individuation plays a central role in Fifth Fifth BusinessBusiness

Only Dunny, and in part Paul, reach individuation in Only Dunny, and in part Paul, reach individuation in the novelthe novel

The idea of self discovery plays an integral role in The idea of self discovery plays an integral role in everyday “real” life, as well as in the novel everyday “real” life, as well as in the novel

This idea leads to a central theme in the novel : This idea leads to a central theme in the novel : Everyone experiences the process of self discovery, Everyone experiences the process of self discovery,

however, only when one comes to terms with the true however, only when one comes to terms with the true nature of self can they realize their unique role in lifenature of self can they realize their unique role in life


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Dunstable RamsayDunstable Ramsay

a.k.a. Dunstan Ramsay a.k.a. Dunstan Ramsay a.k.a. Fifth Businessa.k.a. Fifth Business The idea of self discovery is closely tied to the The idea of self discovery is closely tied to the

definitions of “fifth business” as presented in definitions of “fifth business” as presented in the novelthe novel


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Fifth Business DefinitionsFifth Business Definitions Those roles which, being neither those of Hero nor Heroine, Confidant nor Those roles which, being neither those of Hero nor Heroine, Confidant nor

Villain, but which were nonetheless essential to bring about the Villain, but which were nonetheless essential to bring about the Recognition or the dénouement, were called the Fifth Business in drama Recognition or the dénouement, were called the Fifth Business in drama and opera companies organized according to the old style; the player who and opera companies organized according to the old style; the player who acted these parts was often referred to as Fifth Business. acted these parts was often referred to as Fifth Business. Tho. Overskou, Den Danske SkuepladsTho. Overskou, Den Danske Skueplads

… … you cannot make a plot work without another man, and he is usually you cannot make a plot work without another man, and he is usually a baritone, and he is called in the profession Fifth Business, because he is a baritone, and he is called in the profession Fifth Business, because he is the odd man out, the person who has no opposite of the other sex. And you the odd man out, the person who has no opposite of the other sex. And you must have Fifth Business because he is the one who knows the secret of the must have Fifth Business because he is the one who knows the secret of the hero’s birth, or comes to the assistance of the heroine when she thinks all hero’s birth, or comes to the assistance of the heroine when she thinks all is lost, or keeps the hermitess in her cell, or may even be the cause of is lost, or keeps the hermitess in her cell, or may even be the cause of somebody’s death if that is part of the plot.somebody’s death if that is part of the plot.

Liselotte Liselotte VitzlipützliVitzlipützli


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Dunny goes through his life and with the help Dunny goes through his life and with the help of Liesl and Padre Blazon, he is able to of Liesl and Padre Blazon, he is able to recognize is role in society and in the novel.recognize is role in society and in the novel.

In doing this, he completes his journey of self- In doing this, he completes his journey of self- discovery and achieves individuation by discovery and achieves individuation by recognizing his true self.recognizing his true self.

Dunny fits Liesl’s definition of Fifth Business Dunny fits Liesl’s definition of Fifth Business perfectlyperfectly


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The Odd Man OutThe Odd Man Out

Dunny, even as a child, is constantly isolated from Dunny, even as a child, is constantly isolated from others. When he is young he considers himself a others. When he is young he considers himself a polymath and is considered odd by many childrenpolymath and is considered odd by many children

Also, his mother’s involvement in the community Also, his mother’s involvement in the community acts as a burden to his social development and acts as a burden to his social development and through his lack of time for regular childhood through his lack of time for regular childhood events (he is always caring for Mrs. Dempster), he events (he is always caring for Mrs. Dempster), he establishes the persona of the “odd man out”.establishes the persona of the “odd man out”.

““I might as well say at once that although I was on I might as well say at once that although I was on pretty good terms with everybody I made no pretty good terms with everybody I made no lasting friends” (during the war)lasting friends” (during the war)


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Knows the Secret of the Hero’s BirthKnows the Secret of the Hero’s Birth

The hero in this case would be Paul Dempster. The hero in this case would be Paul Dempster. Dunny is the only one who really knows that Boy Dunny is the only one who really knows that Boy

threw the snowball that causes Mary to give birth threw the snowball that causes Mary to give birth to Paul. to Paul.

Throughout the novel he is questioned as to Throughout the novel he is questioned as to whether or not he knows anything about it, but he whether or not he knows anything about it, but he always, until the end when he reaches always, until the end when he reaches individuation, denies knowing anything even individuation, denies knowing anything even though he knows the secret of the hero’s birth. though he knows the secret of the hero’s birth.


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Assists the HeroineAssists the Heroine

In this case, the heroine is Leola. In this case, the heroine is Leola. Dunny comes to her assistance at least twice.Dunny comes to her assistance at least twice.Firstly, when Boy goes off to private school, Leola Firstly, when Boy goes off to private school, Leola

has lost something in her life; however, Dunny is has lost something in her life; however, Dunny is there to replace what she has lost (61).there to replace what she has lost (61).

Secondly, when Boy and Leola are experiencing Secondly, when Boy and Leola are experiencing problems in their relationship, it is Dunny who is problems in their relationship, it is Dunny who is responsible for comforting Leola (189)responsible for comforting Leola (189)


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Keeps the Hermitess in Her CellKeeps the Hermitess in Her Cell

In this case Mary DempsterIn this case Mary Dempster Dunny is largely responsible for Mary’s seclusion in the Dunny is largely responsible for Mary’s seclusion in the

text. He does this mentally and physically. text. He does this mentally and physically. He puts her in the mental asylum in Toronto after her He puts her in the mental asylum in Toronto after her

caregiver (Bertha Shanklin) diescaregiver (Bertha Shanklin) dies Later on, when he can afford it, he moves her to a “better” Later on, when he can afford it, he moves her to a “better”

cell, where she can receive better care (but still a cell cell, where she can receive better care (but still a cell nonetheless)nonetheless)

When he eventually tells her that he has seen Paul, this When he eventually tells her that he has seen Paul, this destroys her. destroys her.

She considers him her worst enemy for keeping her son She considers him her worst enemy for keeping her son from her. from her.


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Causes Someone’s DeathCauses Someone’s Death

Several indirect causes: Mary, Leola, and Boy.Several indirect causes: Mary, Leola, and Boy.Mary: when he tells her that he has seen Paul, it Mary: when he tells her that he has seen Paul, it

completely ruins her. She becomes worse and completely ruins her. She becomes worse and worse and eventually dies of a heart attack. worse and eventually dies of a heart attack.

Arguably, if Dunny had never told Mary about Arguably, if Dunny had never told Mary about Paul, she would have lived longer. Paul, she would have lived longer.

He knows that his knowledge of Paul would hurt He knows that his knowledge of Paul would hurt her, and yet he still decides to tell her and thus, he her, and yet he still decides to tell her and thus, he indirectly causes her death.indirectly causes her death.


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Leola: when Dunny does not reciprocate her love Leola: when Dunny does not reciprocate her love for him, she attempts to commit suicide. for him, she attempts to commit suicide.

From here on out, Leola’s life goes from bad to From here on out, Leola’s life goes from bad to worse. worse.

Eventually, she realizes the futility of her life as Eventually, she realizes the futility of her life as she sees it, and arguably, gives her self pneumonia she sees it, and arguably, gives her self pneumonia and dies. and dies.

Thus, Dunny indirectly causes yet another death.Thus, Dunny indirectly causes yet another death.


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Boy: In the end of the novel, Dunny reminds Boy Boy: In the end of the novel, Dunny reminds Boy of the repressed memory of the incident with Mary of the repressed memory of the incident with Mary Dempster. Dempster.

Boy then mysteriously dies (arguably through a Boy then mysteriously dies (arguably through a suicide, but more evidence points towards a suicide, but more evidence points towards a murder)murder)

Thus, by exposing the secret, Dunny indirectly Thus, by exposing the secret, Dunny indirectly causes a third death.causes a third death.


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Liesl and Padre Blazon bring this idea of Fifth Liesl and Padre Blazon bring this idea of Fifth Business to Dunny’s attention. Business to Dunny’s attention.

Nearing the end of the novel, Dunny finally realizes Nearing the end of the novel, Dunny finally realizes that he is in fact, the Fifth Business. that he is in fact, the Fifth Business.

He actually refers to himself this way: “Here it was. He actually refers to himself this way: “Here it was. Either I spoke now or I kept silence forever. Dunstan Either I spoke now or I kept silence forever. Dunstan Ramsay counseled against revelation, but Fifth Ramsay counseled against revelation, but Fifth Business would not hear” (263).Business would not hear” (263).

Dunny’s self realization is complete and he achieves Dunny’s self realization is complete and he achieves individuation and he now understands, and accepts, individuation and he now understands, and accepts, his role in life.his role in life.


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Paul DempsterPaul Dempster

a.k.a. Faustus Legrand a.k.a. Faustus Legrand a.k.a Magnus Eisengrima.k.a Magnus Eisengrim Paul, arguably, achieves individuation after Paul, arguably, achieves individuation after

journeying through self discovery. journeying through self discovery. He has a miserable childhood in Deptford as all of the He has a miserable childhood in Deptford as all of the

children make fun of his mother and he is an odd children make fun of his mother and he is an odd looking child to begin with. looking child to begin with.

He is not happy with his life in Deptford, and knows He is not happy with his life in Deptford, and knows that in order to achieve individuation, he must run that in order to achieve individuation, he must run away from this life.away from this life.


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His self discovery has two distinct stages:His self discovery has two distinct stages:Firstly, the first time he changes his name to Firstly, the first time he changes his name to

Faustus Legrand. Faustus Legrand. At this stage, he is part of the circus but is not At this stage, he is part of the circus but is not

really accepted yet. really accepted yet. He only stays because of Willard the Wizard.He only stays because of Willard the Wizard.


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After this, the group separates and he meets After this, the group separates and he meets Liesl. Liesl.

She renames him Magnus Eisengrim She renames him Magnus Eisengrim (Eisengrim means “wolf”). (Eisengrim means “wolf”).

It is at this stage that he realizes his own It is at this stage that he realizes his own uniqueness and also comes to terms with the uniqueness and also comes to terms with the fact that he is not responsible for his mother’s fact that he is not responsible for his mother’s simple mindedness as he had thought for his simple mindedness as he had thought for his entire life.entire life.


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He finds out that Boy threw the snowball He finds out that Boy threw the snowball which causes his mother’s simple mindedness which causes his mother’s simple mindedness and this helps Paul come to terms with his true and this helps Paul come to terms with his true self and, arguably, reach individuation. self and, arguably, reach individuation.

In In World of WondersWorld of Wonders, readers find out more , readers find out more about Paul Dempster and realize that he does about Paul Dempster and realize that he does in fact reach individuation after the journey of in fact reach individuation after the journey of self discovery.self discovery.


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Percy Boyd StauntonPercy Boyd Staunton

a.k.a. Pidgy Boy-Boya.k.a. Pidgy Boy-Boy a.k.a Boy Stauntona.k.a Boy Staunton Boy wears a very good mask throughout most of the Boy wears a very good mask throughout most of the

novel and never really achieves individuation. novel and never really achieves individuation. His self discovery process is a farce as he has a very His self discovery process is a farce as he has a very

large repressed memory that haunts him in his final large repressed memory that haunts him in his final hours. hours.

He even claims, “I don’t remember what is of no use He even claims, “I don’t remember what is of no use to me, and I haven’t been in Deptford since my father to me, and I haven’t been in Deptford since my father died” (267). died” (267).


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By repressing many of his own memories, his self By repressing many of his own memories, his self discovery process is plagued. discovery process is plagued.

Boy cannot seem to get past his own Shadow. Boy cannot seem to get past his own Shadow. He hides his highly sexual character (primitive and He hides his highly sexual character (primitive and

animalistic tendencies) from everyone but Dunny in animalistic tendencies) from everyone but Dunny in the novel. the novel.

This dark side of the character develops in Deptford This dark side of the character develops in Deptford as a part of his ego.as a part of his ego.

Boy must face the reality of his own Shadow if he is Boy must face the reality of his own Shadow if he is to recover from the spiritual apathy that afflicts the to recover from the spiritual apathy that afflicts the last part of his life.last part of his life.


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Boy, however, is unable to face his own shadow and Boy, however, is unable to face his own shadow and his problems in life. his problems in life.

When he realizes that there is a negative aspect of his When he realizes that there is a negative aspect of his life, he cannot deal with it and commits “suicide”. life, he cannot deal with it and commits “suicide”.

He does not seem to want to live when things are He does not seem to want to live when things are going bad for him. going bad for him.

Since he cannot complete his journey of self Since he cannot complete his journey of self discovery, he is not able to reach individuation and discovery, he is not able to reach individuation and figure out his role in life.figure out his role in life.

the deptford boys

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