Essay - The Quote Of The Book

A boy is a man in miniature

“A boy is a man in miniature, and though he may sometimes exhibit notable virtues, as well as characteristics that seem to be charming because they are childlike, he is also schemer, self-seeker, traitors, Judas, crook, and villain – in short, a man.” This is one of the quotes from Fifth Business which had a significant imply. In Dunstan’s letter addressing to head master, he admitted that boy as he used to be one, are complicated creatures that they assembled a lot flawed characteristics.

Dunstan was implying his purpose of being a teacher at the school that he wanted to teach boys, boys needed to learn to become real men. Each of the roles he mentioned represented a characteristic of boys. In the whole books, the main characters Dunstan, Boy and Paul had all experience the processes of seeking for true self.

As Boy Staunton’s name implied, he was now a boy, more selfish childish and immature than he used to be. He had assembled the characteristics of selfishness, ambition, controlling and dictatorship.

First of all, he was the malefactor who was responsible for Mrs Dempster’s injury, yet he would “fight, lie, do anything rather than admit” what he did. As he went to school, he was dating Leola and having relationship with another girl at the same time.

After Boy grew up he became brilliant with an attractive appearance, but his private life was corrupted. He was irresponsible with his marriage. He sexually abused his wife Leola for not physically attracting him anymore. He used the advantage of being on a reputable position, kept several mistresses when he left home for work.

At the end, when Paul Dempster questioned Boy about the snowball incident, Boy said he had forgotten, for he “don’t remember what is of no use” to him. This once again showed his selfishness.

Paul as the son of Mrs. Dempster, had ran away from his mother as to run away from the disgrace his mother brought him. He had suffered at his childhood as being jeered by other villagers. At the same time he was trouble by the guilt that he was told his birth robbed his mother her sanity. He traveled to Europe and became a magician. Before he finally succeeded as a famous magician, he changed his name several times as to get rid of his past. It shows deep inside him he was eager to be respect by people.