PROJECTION IN
FIFTH BUSINESS
Aisha Limbada
ENG4UO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 2 3
Introduction Projection Fifth Business
4 5 6
Hamlet Jungian Conclusion
Archetypes
1
Introduction
Carl Jung (1875-1961)
● Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst
● Coined and developed many psychological
terms and archetypes/expanded on them
● Collaborated with Sigmund Freud in order to
research these psychological terms
Robertson Davies (1912-1995)
● Canadian writer, journalist and professor
● Recognized as an outstanding and
influential novelist/essayist
● Created the “Fifth Business” trilogy
“Neither those of Hero nor
Heroine, Confidante nor Villain,
but which were none the less
essential to bring about the
Recognition or the dénouement.”
— Fifth Business
2
Projection
Projection
- Defense mechanism
- Harmful and subconscious
- Directing negative energy onto others
- Often stems from childhood/adolescent years
Carl Jung’s theory VS. SIgmund Freud’s
- Unlike Freud, Jung believed that projection is
crucial to psychological development
- Both agreed on the general statement, but Jung
did more extensive research
3
Fifth Business
Boy’s Projection
- Jealousy
- Flaunting wealth
- Successfulness
- Arrogance/Ignorance
- Refusal to accept mistakes
Boy and Leola
- Forcing her to maintain and image that he wants
- Belittling others
- Denying responsibility, shifting blame onto
others
- Projecting insecurities onto his wife and children
Boy’s Narcissism
- High sense of self-importance
- Behaving arrogantly, bragging
- Preoccupied with fantasies about perfectionism in
self-image
- Gaslighting/Ignorance
Dunstan
- Idealization of Mary Dempster
- Refusal to listen to anyone
- Inferiority Complex
- Projection between his
mother and Diana
Denyse and Amasa Dempster
- Gravel pit incident, blamed Mary for all his
misfortunes
- Got upset at Dunny for teaching Paul about saints
and magic
- Denyse prevents Boy and Dunny from hanging out
Projection and Religion
- The town of Deptford used religion as an excuse
to carry out their superiority complex
- Reverend Leadbeater
- Amasa Dempster
Projection in Hamlet
- Hamlet is dismissive towards Ophelia
- Projected repressed anger onto Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern
- Feigning madness
How are Hamlet and Fifth Business similar?
- Leola and Ophelia
- Tragic death
- Claudius and Boy
Projection and the Other Archetypes
- Ego
- Shadow
- The collective unconscious
Nature Vs. Nurture?
How to Deter Projection
- Achieving individuation
- Finding your sense of self
- Accepting your mistakes and your shadow
Conclusion
Robertson Davies’ use of Carl jung’s archetype:
Projection was excellently portrayed throughout the
Novel “Fifth Business” and showed all the different types
of scenarios that can affect and deter emotional
projection.
As a result, he was able to create a story where there are
people to relate to and fully understand on a deeper
level.
References
Academy of Ideas. “Carl Jung, the Shadow, and the Dangers of Psychological Projection.” Academy of Ideas, 28 Feb. 2018,
[Link]/2018/02/carl-jung-shadow-dangers-of-psychological-projection/. Accessed 3 Jan. 2023.
Alexander Burgemeester. “What Is Narcissistic Projection? (with Examples).” The Narcissistic Life, 6 Oct. 2020,
[Link]/narcissistic-projection/. Accessed 2 Jan. 2023.
[Link] Editors. “Carl Jung.” Biography, 4 Nov. 2015, [Link]/scholar/carl-jung. Accessed 2 Jan. 2023.
Cameron, Elspeth. “Robertson Davies | the Canadian Encyclopedia.” [Link], 2 Apr. 2008,
[Link]/en/article/robertson-davies. Accessed 3 Jan. 2023.
References
Marie-Luise Von Franz. Projection and Re-Collection in Jungian Psychology : Reflections of the Soul. La Salle, Ill., Open
Court, 1985.
Mayo Clinic. “Narcissistic Personality Disorder - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic, 18 Nov. 2017,
[Link]/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662.
Accessed 1 Jan. 2023.
Robertson Davies, and M G Vassanji. Fifth Business. Toronto, Ontario, Penguin Group, 2015.
“Projection as Protection | Psychology Today.” [Link], 8 Mar. 2023,
[Link]/us/blog/the-novel-perspective/202003/projection-protection. Accessed 2 Jan. 2023.