Willie Ramsay Character Analysis in Fifth Business

Willie is Dunstan’s older brother. As a child he suffered a back injury that led to kidney complications. He grows weaker and weaker, until one day when Dunstan is looking after him he dies—his heart stops and he grows very pale and cold. Dunstan runs to Mary’s house and asks her to help. She touches Willie and repeats his name and he begins to breathe again. He gets healthy enough to fight in the war, where he is killed. Dunstan believes Mary performed a miracle and resurrected Willie.

Willie Ramsay Character Timeline in Fifth Business

The timeline below shows where the character Willie Ramsay appears in Fifth Business. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Religion, Faith, and Morality Theme Icon

...is clumsy with his hands, and does not excel at the job like his brother Willie does. Useless in the print shop, he instead gets a job at the front desk... (full context)

Mrs. Ramsay locks herself in her room and cries after this episode. When Willie and Mr. Ramsay come home to find that no dinner has been made, they immediately... (full context)

13. The following fall, Willie’s illness—the result of a childhood injury to his back—grows worse. He is having kidney problems,... (full context)

...why, Dunny feels compelled to get Mrs. Dempster. He brings her back, and she touches Willie and calls his name. Willie wakes up and moves his legs a little—Dunny faints. (full context)

When Dr. McCausland does arrive, Dunny tells him Willie died and came back to life. The Doctor dismisses this, concluding that Dunny is simply... (full context)

During the ceremony, which is long and tedious, Willie’s name is read on the list of those killed in action. This is the first... (full context)

...again about Mary’s sainthood: she has performed three miracles: the reclamation of the tramp, bringing Willie back from the dead, and appearing to him on the battlefield. He is intrigued by... (full context)