A Look at the Affect Names Have on the Characters of Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Romeo and Juliet, Act II Scene ii) A person's name can shape a large part of who they will be. In the novel Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, the names of the characters seem to directly reflect some of the characteristics of that individual. The new names for those characters that were twice born better reflect who those characters are. Other characters, such as Mary Dempster and Lisolette Vitzliputzli's names provide some insight into their characters.
After the war, Diana renamed Dunstable. His new name, Dunstan, better reflects who he is because of the many similarities between himself and Saint Dunstan. "Saint Dunstan was a marvelous person...mad about learning, terribly stiff and stern and scowly, and an absolute wizard at withstanding temptation"(Fifth Business p.90). …