How does Dunstan Ramsay develop from parts one, two, and three?
Dunstan Ramsays life changes as he grows up. As he partakes in many new experiences, his views change. The three main points that really affect his character development during parts one, two and three occur when a snowball incident happens early on in his life, when he goes off to war, and when he meets Diana Marfleet.
The first main situation that started to change Dunstan was the snowball incident. In this particular sequence, Dunstan is narrating. One night in their town of Deptford, Percy Boyd Staunton was throwing snowballs at Dunstan Ramsay; and Dunstan was trying his best to dodge them. One last snowball is launched, and Dunstan dodges it right it time- but it hits Mrs. Dempster instead. Dunstan then finds out that the snowball had a stone hidden inside of it. Mrs. Dempster has been pregnant and after being hit, she begins to suffer and scream in pain. This incident resulted in her having a premature baby; Paul Dempster. Ever since that moment, Dunstan felt guilty. He knew that the snowball was aimed for him, and yet he dodged it making it hurt someone else instead. He couldnt stop feeling guilty that everything was his fault. I was contrite and guilty, for I knew that the snowball had been meant for me (5) This piece of evidence proves what I stated above, that Dunstan thought that the snowball was meant for him and only him, the hitting of someone else was all under his control. This guilt makes up decisions for Dunstan later on in the book. Right after the snowball accident, Mrs. Ramsay went over to the Dempsters house to aid and support them. She told Dunstan and his father to not wait up for her; but Dunstan could not fall asleep. He waited until his mother came home to eavesdrop and find out what was going on. She came home, self-possessed and grim I heard them talking before she returned to the DempstersI lay awake too, feeling guilty and strange. (6) This evidence proves that he is so worried and feels so blamed about the situation that he cannot sleep. He also must wait up to hear how things turn out.
Later on in the book, Dunstan doesnt really think as much about the guilt he felt earlier in the book, but that twinge of guilt is still there. He still somewhat feels responsible for Paul and Pauls mothers behavior. I still had a grudge against Boy for what he had doneif I had not been so sly Mrs. Dempster would not have been hit this conversation reheated my strong sense of guilt and responsibility about Paul (128-9) This piece of evidence proves my point that as this quote is taken from later on in the book, he still lives his life feeling the regret and guilt of the snowball incident. This matter always pops up. The snowball circumstance is very important to the development of Dunstan Ramsays character.
The second main point that really changed Dunstans life was when he went off to war. Within the first 60 pages of the book, Dunstan Ramsay has enlisted in the army and has gone off to fight against the Germans. He goes through many experiences that are abnormal. Dunstan has always been a nice, sensible boy, but going through this war has made him look at life and things differently. It was the indignity, the ignominy, the squalor, to which war reduced a wounded man that most ate into me. Men in agony, smashed may never be whole againought not to be something one ignores; but we learned to ignore them. (63)This evidence proves that even though Dunstan is not used to experiencing war and seeing dead bodies and wounded soldiers everywhere, he must become better with this. This is all a part of war as he was taught to ignore the bodies lying everywhere. From this, his perspective of life changes. Dunstan has also never been very outgoing; but his army experience changes this. One night there was a talent night, where soldiers entertained. Dunstan pushed himself and decided to participate in this. He ended up wooing the audience. He tried something new, and gained positive feedback from this experience. They then nicknamed him Charlie; as he imitated Charlie Chaplin. Their astonishment was what astonished me. But I think my most surprising achievement was becoming Charlie. (65) He knows that if he tries for/at something, he can succeed and in this case, impress people. He gained a new nickname from his act and the other troops were very surprised and amused by his performance. His act also improved his relationship with others.
During the war, there is a time where Dunstan becomes scared and headed off in the wrong direction, towards the enemys machine gun nest. This accidentally results in Dunstsan clearing it. He later wins the Victoria Cross award because of this. He also loses a leg and has a very weakened arm from his war experience. When he returns to Deptford, he is treated like a hero; a parade is thrown in his and the other war-veterans honour. They all seemed to accept me as a genuine hero Ever since, I have tried to think charitably of people in prominent positions of one kind or another (80) By being considered a hero, Dunstan does not glorify his actions. He knows that he should not be considered a hero, but he does not discuss this. As a result of this, he is treated like a hero and now has a different perspective of people. The war was a great chance that Dunstan took but he gained many new outlooks of people and different situations.
Dunstan Ramsay meets Diana Marfleet after awaking from a coma from the war. From the beginning, he was very fascinated by her. Diana was Dunstans beautiful nurse and they soon developed a great relationship. Diana really loved Dunstan, but Dunstan eventually did not want to marry her. We were on tremendous terms in no time a girl who can do [everything] without being facetious or making a man feel self-conscious is no ordinary creature. Diana was a wonderful girl, and I am sure I gained strength and made physical progress at an unusual rate, to please her. (73) Diana was perfect for Dunstan. She was very respectful of him and truly loved him. She had everything that Dunstan could want in a wife, although he turned her away. This has opened Dunstan towards love, although by realizing that he could not marry Diana he must have realized that he did not want a wife, which changes his view point on marriage.
Dianas job was to take care of Dunstan; she was a caretaker. She was caring and treated him just like a mother would. Diana was also older; which could also prove her to be more of a mother-like character. These similarities made Dunstan realize that he could not marry her. She regarded me as her own creation Hadnt she fed me and washed me and lured me back into this world when I was far away? Didnt she teach me to walk, showing the greatest patience when I was most clumsy? (81) As Dunstan explains earlier, some things that Diana helped him with are difficult actions to demonstrate without making Dunstan feel self-conscious; yet these things are some that mothers aid their children with. Diana also helped Dunstan to become reborn. Whilst Dunstan realizes this, her mothering instincts are too much and he cannot marry her. His mother had died and he did not want another one. Since the snowball incident, Dunstan cannot get over his guilt that Pauls premature birth was his fault. He found love, but because of his guilt, he felt that he could not accept love. He determines that he doesnt deserve love. I had made a substantial payment to society for anything society had given me or would give me in future; a leg and much of one arm are hard coin I wanted my life to be my own that did not include Diana. (81) Dunstan feels that hes where he is today- without a leg and very injured because of his guilt earlier on in his life. Hes thinking about his actions in society and how theyre affecting his decisions. He finalizes and realizes that he cant love Diana. Diana and Dunstan shared many great memories, and Diana taught Dunstan lessons about love and caring for others.
Dunstan encounters many experiences throughout his life. These numerous experiences lead him to gain more wisdom about life without forgetting his past. His past stays in his mind and always affects his decisions. His guilt from the snowball incident early on, his gruesome decision to go off to war and his discovery of relationships from Diana change his view on life, and how to live it.
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