In many stories, the concept of the role of a secondary character is often overlooked and considered disrespectful. However, in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare and the novel The Fifth Affair by Robertson Davies, the supporting characters Horatio and Dunstan Ramsay respectively both play a crucial role in the making of the “Fifth Affair”. According to Davies, Fifth Business is "those roles which, being neither those of Hero nor Heroine, nor Confidant nor Villain, but which were nevertheless essential to bring about the Recognition or Epilogue" (Davies, Preface). Fifth Business represents a person who is paradoxically a "side character", but has the greatest impact in the development of the main characters and plot. That said, both Horatio and Dunstan Ramsay fill the role of Fifth Affairs in their respective texts. In Hamlet, Horatio fulfills the role by being able to provide insight to Hamlet, being an anchor of reason in the plot, and being the ideal image of a friend for Hamlet. Dunstan Ramsay fills the role knowing the secret birth of Paul Dempster, witnessing the rises and falls of Boy Staunton and being the odd man out with no partner although the plot development between Hamlet and Fifth Business are different, both Horatio and Dunstan Ramsay succeed similarly to fulfill the role of Davies' Fifth Business definition. Horatio is undoubtedly the most important secondary character in Hamlet, and his role as Fifth Affairs clearly demonstrates his importance throughout the play. To understand Horace's role as Quinto Affari, we must first explore his character and function in the play. Horatio is considered by the man......center of the card......iesl, Dunstan fulfills the role by knowing the secret birth of Paul Dempster, witnessing the rises and falls of Boy Staunton, and being the one " strange” out” through achieving bachelor status. Likewise, both characters were designed to be neither the protagonist nor the antagonist. Instead, Horatio and Dunstan Ramsay both play supporting characters; the plot is not directly focused on them, but rather on the main characters they interact with and influence. However, their fulfillment of the Fifth Task proved to be more than just a significant supporting role; they provide the necessary foundation for the development of both the main characters and the plot.Sources1. Davies, Robertson. Fifth feat. Toronto: Penguin, 1977. Print.2. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Betty Beley. Mississauga, Ontario: Canadian School Book Exchange, 1996. Print.