Setting:Canada
Significant Characters: Dunstan Ramsay, Percy (Boy) Staunton, Mrs. Dempster, Diana Marfleet, Leola Staunton, Liesl Vitzlipützli
Analysis:
Each one of the main roles represent a character in the Bible:
Each one of the main roles represent a character in the Bible:
- Mary = Jesus' mother
- Paul = Jesus ("magician")
- Boy Staunton = Angel? (caused the birth of Paul, is seen as perfect and glorious)
- Liesl = Satan/The Devil: Gives Dunstan the fruit of knowledge - reveals to Dunstan that he is just Fifth Business and that his whole life was lived for other people.
- Dunstan = St. Dunstan: Literally pinches the Liesl (Devil) in the nose just like the saint did, and always acts like a saint by doing things for other people
Author's Style:
- Point of View:Dunstan
- Tone: Critical
- Symbolism: The snowball = immaculate conception? The pebble found in Boy's mouth = the guilt that he lived and died with.
Important Quotes:
1.) “Life itself is too great a miracle for us to make so much fuss about potty little reversals of what we pompously assume to be the natural order.”
2.) “Having me in the dining-room was almost the equivalent of having a Raeburn on the walls; I was classy, I was heavily varnished, and I offended nobody.”
This is just a little glimpse of how Dunstan views himself in a pompous manner. Even though he was never as successful as Boy and always lived in his shadow, Dunstan is constantly trying to make excuses and explain as to why he never reached the level of success that Boy did. Throughout the novel, Dunstan tries to portray himself as a saint just so we can think that he is better than Boy in a spiritual way. In the end though, I think he was just out of excuses and praises himself way too much.
Theme:
Small world religion vs. worldwide religion, the power of guilt, and the importance of rebirth.
This is just a little glimpse of how Dunstan views himself in a pompous manner. Even though he was never as successful as Boy and always lived in his shadow, Dunstan is constantly trying to make excuses and explain as to why he never reached the level of success that Boy did. Throughout the novel, Dunstan tries to portray himself as a saint just so we can think that he is better than Boy in a spiritual way. In the end though, I think he was just out of excuses and praises himself way too much.
Theme:
Small world religion vs. worldwide religion, the power of guilt, and the importance of rebirth.
The quotes that you posted were good, however it may be more useful to you if you use quotes that also support your analysis of the novel.
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