Author: Robertson Davies; Novel: The Manticore

Robertson Davies’ novel The Manticore is a special work of fiction which has received well earned international critical acclaim for its narrative style, psychological insights and the overall lucidity with which the author communicates his understanding of human nature.

The Manticore is the second novel in what’s known as the Deptford trilogy, named for the fictional town where the protagonists grew up. It helps to have read Fifth Business, the book preceding this, but The Manticore can stand up on its own too, as allusions to the earlier book are made throughout.

During a teaching placement in a high school English classroom I was responsible for teaching Fifth Business, and this was my first contact with Davies. At first I had no interest in the author, but as I came to understand the irony in the narrator’s voice this changed. Initially I mistook the character’s rural plainness for that of the author’s! Grievous sin. I also learned about Davies’ fascination with the famous psychologist Carl Jung, and I began to appreciate another layer of meaning in what I was beginning to understand was a complex tapestry weaving together wordplay and psychology realism. Yet, despite the intellectual bent in his writing, the novel fostered the desire in the reader to turn the page. As mentioned, this was Fifth Business, but it’s even truer of The Manticore.

So, I was happy when I found a used copy of the entire Deptford trilogy in a used bookstore for $10: if only alcohol provided that same value and lasting pleasure!

The book’s most enjoyable features were revealed in dialogue, especially between the protagonist and his psychologist. Each character makes psychologically revealing statements which seem to summarize accurately the subconscious motivations behind the behaviour in question. But somehow, the next character obliterates this argument with another of even greater insight and force. They continue upping one another in this vein, each rebuttal more surprising than the last. The final psychological conclusion is all the stronger and more satisfying for having survived such scrutiny. His fascination with psychology and Jungian theory makes him especially equipped to write this kind of dialogue.

His classical education (especially his knowledge of Latin) makes his language remarkably precise, and gives his writing an old school sensibility. Davies has that rare, coveted ability to slap the reader with 1000 pounds of truth in the space of 10 words. But I find Davies’ most charming gift as a writer his ability to marry his old school, classical self with an ironic, humourous tone in his characters. It balances the tone and prevents the solemn, thought provoking themes in his novels from getting too dense or heavy handed. Looking at the author it wouldn’t be hard to confuse his face for a bust of a 5^th century Athenian, but make no mistake, Davies has a wicked sense of humour and at the end of the day he is a modern who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Plus he went to UCC and was the founding master of Massey College, associated with U of T, so he’s a reaaaal Toronto boy. Legend has it that on campus he challenged his students to throw water balloons at him. As a result, he could be found holding an umbrella on sunny days. A reasonable defensive tactic. Keeping this in mind when reading The Manticore should help bring his irony out in sharp relief. Check him out. More to come.