Similarities Between Hamlet And Fifth Business

Many humans desire to be at the top of social and economic ladders, in order to feel a sense of success and accomplishment. Individuals who wish to be at the top, are impelled by ambition and the hunger for power to help reach their goals. However, too much ambition and need for power blinds the individual from the world around them, and causes them to neglect the moralities of their actions. Whether they do certain things with intent or not, they usually manipulate or walk over others to get what they need. In both Hamlet and Fifth Business the theme of ambition and power is explored similarly. In Hamlet, Shakespeare shows how the intentional actions that are driven by greed, ambition and yearning for power can effect the individual. By contrast,

Fifth Business shows the actions of what too much ambition can do to an individual who subconsciously does harm to others. Although the stories and portrayal of this theme is different in both stories, the cause and effect are similar. The characters in Fifth Business and Hamlet, who place power and personal ambition over all else prove to be self destructive, successful and show a lack of morality.

Claudius and Percy Boyd Staunton both place their need for power over all else, causing them to be blinded by greed. Both Robertson Davies and Shakespeare test the idea of, all actions one does, will have a similar reaction. If one does an atrocious action, one will get an equally dreadful reaction from it. Likewise the awful things both these characters do, will eventually spring back on them. Claudius is a man of many evil intentions, as proven when he creates an evil plot to kill hamlet but the plan soon fails him. In the play, Hamlet says “The point envenom'd too! /Then, venom, to thy work.” (5.2.311-12) and “Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane/Drink off this potion.” (5.2.315-16). Claudius poisons the tip of the sword and mixes poison in to the liquor to kill Hamlet. The irony is , the evil plan he initiates will lead to his own death. Similarly, the reaction of Boy Stauntons wrongful

doing results in his own death.

The premature birth of Paul Dempster and the madness of Mary Dempster were both caused by a rock in which Boy Staunton throws. The statement Magnus says at the end of the novel indicates the reason for Boy’s death perfectly, "He was killed by the usual cabal: by himself, first of all; by the woman he knew; by the woman he did not know; by the man who granted his inmost wish; and by the inevitable fifth, who was the keeper of his conscience and keeper of the stone." (Davies 256) In this quote, it refers to “by himself” which can be interpreted as the cruel acts he does to others around him. It also states “the women he did not know” which highlights, how Boy placed what he does to Mary Dempster in the back of his mind. The actions he does to others, even though he does not remember, is what causes his unfortunate death. Both these characters who do wrongful actions got an equal reaction to what they

did.

Characters who achieve personal ambition without betraying others and going against the moral code yield to being successful. The positive aspect of power and ambition is seen through both Fortinbras and Paul Dempster, as they both achieve success. Fortinbras is a man of action, his success is shown after he reaches his ambition of avenging his father’s death. Fortinbras gives a winning speech at the end of Hamlet where he states, “For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune./I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,/Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.” (5.2.378-380). This line is stated right after Fortinbras claims his throne; showing the readers, with hard work and determination, one will achieve their goals and dreams. In the same manner, Paul walked out of Dunstans life as a child, enlists as a circus performer and comes back a famous magician, displaying the positive aspect of placing personal ambition over all else. When Dunstan Ramsay attends a magic show at Teatro Chueca, he can truly see the growth of Paul Dempster.

“This was a novelty—a poetic magician who took himself seriously. It was certainly not the role in which I had expected to re-encounter Paul Dempster. But

this was Paul, without a doubt, so self-assured, so polished, so utterly unlike the circus conjurer with the mustache and beard and shabby clothes whom I had met in Le grand Cirque forain de St Vite more than fifteen years before, that it was some time before I could be sure it was he. How had he come by this new self, and where had he acquired this tasteful, beautiful entertainment?” (192)

This passage shows Pauls success, from what he was before to who he is now. Both these characters prove ambition is a good thing, if one uses it in the right way. Likewise these characters did not harm others in the process of reaching their goals, they simply used ambition as a motivation.

A person who puts ambition above everything in life, is willing to go through any obstacles to obtain it. Both Boy Staunton and Claudius are willing to go through any bounds even if it means doing heartless things, which shows the audience their lack of morality. The course of Claudius’ actions show enormous lack of morality for the reason being, he killed his own brother and marries his sister-in-law, in order to gain power and fulfil his goal. In these excerpts, Hamlet the king tells his son that Claudius had killed him and how Claudius manipulates his wife into marrying him.“But know, thou noble youth,/The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wears his crown.” (1.5.38-40) “Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,/With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous/gift-O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power/So to seduce!-won to his shameful lust/The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen.” (1.5.42-46). These references prove the course of his immoral actions, because it is very immoral to kill a person in general, but killing ones own brother is extreme. As well as having an insentous marriage proves his lack of morality. In comparison, Boy Staunton also proves to being immoral, which is seen through the way he treats his wife. Boy Staunton treats Leola Cruikshank as if shes an object, trying to control the nature of her ways and gives her no choice but to think of death. Many characters talk about the relationship between Leola and Boy, often feeling sorry for Leola.

“poor mum’ he said, ‘I guess shes better off, really”(184).

This text from the novel shows, even her child knows she lives a miserable life with her husband. “her and perse was the handsomest pair that ever got married in Deptford” (185). Boy was always in love with Leola’s Beauty rather than all of her, which indicates the immorality of their marriage. Marriage is based on love and care one has for their partner, not because the person makes a good arm candy. Not only did Boy Staunton marry Leola for her beauty and treat her badly but he also cheats on her. Any human with correct moral values know how to treat their partner, and truly love them for who they

are.

Having the right amount of ambition can lead to success but when one lets ambition control their lives, it can destruct ones life by unhappiness or karma. Both the characters in Fifth Business and Hamlet show similar outcomes of those who place power and ambition over all else. In the same way, the characters become self destructive, successful and immoral when achieving power and fulfilling their ambitious goals. If ones ambition takes control of ones life, it causes the individual to be blinded by greed and power. Many known stories such as Macbeth, Hamlet, and Fifth Business show too much ambition can kill oneself and impact loved ones.