In what way does art help Dunstan navigate his complex emotions?

Art serves as a vital outlet for Dunstan Ramsay, allowing him to engage in a profound reflective process on his experiences and emotions. Throughout "Fifth Business," Dunstan's relationship with art, particularly through his interest in hagiography and the lives of saints, offers him insight into his own struggles and the complexities of his identity. When he contemplates the lives of these figures, he is not just recounting historical or religious narratives; he is exploring themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the nature of being a "fifth business" in his own life—a role that exists in the periphery yet is integral to the drama of others.

This reflective engagement enables Dunstan to confront and understand the layered emotions arising from his past, including his feelings of guilt, passion, and the burden of his secret. By immersing himself in art and its expressive forms, he finds a way to articulate feelings that may otherwise be difficult to confront directly. This ability to reflect through art ultimately aids him in reconciling his complex emotional landscape and understanding his place within the broader contexts of his relationships and experiences.