The Unlived Life

“This is the revenge of the unlived life, Ramsay. Suddenly it makes a fool of you. Here you are, twice-born, and nearer your death than your birth, and you have still to make a real life.” (Pg. 216-217)

This is a quote from Liesl, who is Paul Dempster’s assistant. This is a significant part in Dunstan’s life story, as the truth of his life is revealed. Liesl opens Dunstan’s eyes by telling him that he has not truly lived his life. Liesl also explains to Dunstan that his role is “Fifth Business…because he is the odd man out.” Dunstan really takes this thought into consideration as later on in the book, he refers to himself as Fifth Business. I feel this talk with Liesl changed Dunstan’s perspective on life because he goes back to Canada and tells Mrs. Dempster about seeing her son, something he was not willing to do before. He also seems to describe his life differently from that point on. This quote also reiterates the theme of being “twice-born.” This theme appears throughout the novel, as Dunstan, Paul Dempster and Percy Boyd Staunton are all “twice-born” in the sense that they receive new names. Along with their new name each of their lives change as well.