The Nature of Success by: Jeffrey Mok
One of the prevailing themes in ?Fifth Business? is the factors that constitute the idea of success. Dunstan Ramsay, along with the other characters in the novel, come across many accomplishments and failures in their lives. Much of the characters? lives, and much of the lives of people in our world, are based on trying to attain success. Davies? ?Fifth Business? exemplifies the meaning of this goal that so many strive for. It clearly shows the arbitrary nature of the notion of success. Success is subject to the opinion of people, the time period, and because happiness is not necessarily derived from what is perceived as success. Evidence of this is seen throughout the novel.
It is shown in ?Fifth Business? that success is based on the opinions of people. Each person has their own perception as to what is success. What some consider a great achievement, others perceive as frivolous. A good example of this is Dunstan?s work with saints. He is ?the only Protestant contributor to ?Analecta Bollandiana?? (pg 14) and has written ten popular books. Yet Denyse finds ?the whole notion of saints was repugnant to her? (pg 241). Another example is Boy?s marriage with Leola. Some saw this as a victory for Boy over Dunstan. Milo Papple suggested that it was the reason why Dunstan never got married.(pg 194). However, Dunstan was relived that he did not marry Leola. In fact, he called Leola?s engagement to Boy ?a problem already solved.? These contrasting views of the characters with regards to the same matter come from the fact that everyone has their own opinions. These differing opinions cause differing views on what is considered success. Thus, the idea of success is indefinite because it is subject to the opinions of people
Another reason success is arbitrary is that it depends on the era. What is considered a success or a failure in the past may be viewed as the complete opposite in the future. Many avante-garde artists whose works were once looked at with disdain by their contemporaries are now admired as masterpieces. This is also shown in ?Fifth Business? When Dunstan first received his Victoria Cross, he was much celebrated and regarded as a hero. Later in his life, his V.C was not even mentioned in an article about his life. It was no longer that important. Also, Padre Blazon describes miracles, which surely are achievements, as depending much on time (pg 174). If you showed a person from a thousand years ago a watch he or she would be much amazed while to us it is just an every day object. Jesus was very successful in spreading the word of God, but would this be the case if he did the same today? Clearly, what is considered a success depends on time.
Success is also arbitrary in that what is viewed as success may not cause happiness. Boy Stauton was ?a well known philantrophist, the president of Alpha Corporation, and one of the two or three richest men in Canada? (pg252). Most people would consider his life a success. However, despite all this perceived success, he was not happy. His inmost wish was to ?drive away from the whole dammed thing? No matter how successful others regard a person as, that person may not be happy. Success, without happiness, is not success at all. Obviously, success can be seen as arbitrary because it is not necessarily conducive to happiness.
Many people in the world seek success. It is one of the most fundamental goals in people?s lives. This is reflected in the novel ?Fifth Business.? The novel also reflects on the nature of the success that people seek; its indefinite nature. It is made clear that success is arbitrary.  Success is based on the opinions of people. In addition, it is based on time. Finally, what is viewed as success may not necessarily bring happiness.