Religion is a rather large role is our world, and is an unavoidable issue of contemplation. An obvious depiction of religion in Fifth Business, in a microcosm setting, is Sam West (the atheist)’s character. Although he was finely tuned in Christian theory, “as a boy (Sam) he had been kept hard at the Bible,”(54) he believed “that morality has nothing to do with religion” (54). This chara

cter is a symbol of those in reality who question orthodox religion and choose paths of self-righteousness. Of course there is more to religion than the atheist. Dunstan’s character represents those who are indifferent to the standard structures of religion. Although he was responsible for placing “the Devil’s picture book - into the hands of his (the Reverend) son Paul (42), Dunstan did not feel he had done wrong, “I had been a fool to forget how dead set Baptists were against cards. As for the stories about saints, they were tales of wonders, like Arabian Night, and

religious head in Deptford, which comes with authority. “He took refuge in banishing me (Dunstan). I was never to set foot in his house again, he said, nor to speak to any of his family, nor dare to come near to his son. He would pray for me, he concluded” (42). Amasa’s punishment to Dunstan is religiously orientated authority. Because he is the Reverend of their town he is justified in his authoritative actions. The range of authoritative rule extends farther then the church. Cecil Athelson, known as Cece and a “foul-mouthed bum” (50) took the role of an anarchist with authority over those who were socially civil. He had “experience and native wit to hold a small group of loafers in awe“ (50) which resulted with his own authoritative position, making it socially acceptable for him to shout such things as “I wa-a-ant it! Hey Cora, I want it so-o-o!” (50). These comments would be taboo for any other character in town, unless one had authority over others to say it. Thus is how anarchy authority is displayed in this small town called Deptford. Then there is the most commonly practiced position of authority, parenting. Dunstan’s mother, “widely admired for her practicality” (35) is the epitome of parental authority in the entire town. “She (Dunstan’s mother) pursued me (Dunstan) around the kitchen, slashing me with the whip until she broke me down and I cried” (36). This is the extreme illustration of authority that Dunstan’s mother possess over him, no one else would get away with such a beating unless they had the proper authority. These roles of au

Some topics in this essay:
Hey Cora, Sam West, Fifth Business, Paul Magnus, Nights Bible, , Amasa Dempster, Boy Staunton’s, Mary Dempster, Boy Staunton, fifth business, twentieth century, dunstan’s mother, american dream, half twentieth century, half twentieth, easily identified city, town deptford, easily identified, city deptford, percy boy, role world, identified city deptford,