Fifth Business | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Dunstan Ramsay (Dunstable Ramsay) - The narrator of the story who has lost his leg and believes in co-creation with fate.

Padre Ignazio Blazon - A Jesuit priest with a brilliant mind and a showman-like flair.

Boy Staunton (Percy Boyd Staunton) - A war hero with a sense of entitlement who is also a liar and a bully.

Mrs. Mary Dempster - This character is driven mad and is labeled a "fool-saint."

Magnus Eisengrim (Paul Dempster) - Born premature, this character fights for survival and finds pleasure in time spent at the library.