Certain authors and their books stand the test of time and remain as popular in the current era as they were during their lifetime. One such author is Charles Dickens, whose themes and works are relevant today.
Among the many novels written by Dickens, David Copperfield is surely one of the most popular and beloved by readers across generations. It was first published serially between 1849 to 1850 before being published as a book in 1850.
The novel is regarded as Dickens’ most autobiographical work, with the writer drawing inspiration from his own life and including several incidents in a fictionalized form. It was his favorite work and is regarded as the crowning jewel of his bibliography.
David Copperfield serves as the perfect midpoint of Dickens’ career, distinguishing the works of youth from books of a more mature nature. It’s a bildungsroman through which the author sheds light on several issues pertinent to the Victorian era.
You’ve come to the right place if you’re a literature enthusiast looking for a David Copperfield book review. In this article, we will analyze this famous novel in-depth.
| Title | David Copperfield |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Dickens |
| Publication Date | 1850 |
| Genre | Bildungsroman, autobiographical fiction |
| Setting | Primarily in England during the early 19th century |
| Protagonist | David Copperfield |
| Antagonist | Uriah Heep and James Steerforth |
| Major Themes | Childhood, family, love, social class, identity |
| Plot Summary | David Copperfield is born in rural England and raised by his loving mother until her remarriage to a cruel and abusive man. David is sent away to a boarding school and later works in a factory before escaping to his eccentric aunt Betsey Trotwood in London. There, he meets a cast of colorful characters, including the kind-hearted Mr. Micawber, the villainous Uriah Heep, and the charming but morally corrupt James Steerforth. David navigates the challenges of his youth, including poverty and heartbreak, and eventually becomes a successful writer. |
| Major Characters | David Copperfield, Betsey Trotwood, Mr. Micawber, Uriah Heep, James Steerforth, Agnes Wickfield |
| Literary Significance | David Copperfield" is considered one of Dickens' greatest works and a quintessential example of the bildungsroman genre. It draws heavily on Dickens' own life experiences and is notable for its vivid characters and detailed depictions of Victorian England. The novel's themes of family, love, and social class continue to resonate with readers today. |
Table of Contents
Summary of David Copperfield
The novel is narrated by an older David Copperfield, who takes the readers on a journey by recounting the events of his life. We get to know in the beginning that David was born in Suffolk, England, six months following the death of his father.
Until he turns seven, David enjoys quite a harmonious childhood while living with his mother, Clara Copperfield, and their housekeeper, Peggotty.
During his younger days, he travels with Peggotty to her home in Yarmouth. He meets her brother, Mr. Peggotty, and his niece and nephew, Emily and Ham, who are orphans.
Once David returns home, he learns that his mother has married the cruel Mr. Edward Murdstone, and his sister, Jane Murdstone, also moves in with them. The Murdstones are extremely dominating and abusive towards David and his mother.
One day, while being beaten up by Mr. Murdstone, David bites his hand, for which the former punishes him by sending him off to Salem House, a boarding school. The school is run by a callous man named Mr. Creakle, known for harshly beating up his pupils.
David befriends Tommy Traddles, an awkward but kind boy at this school. David, however, is more interested in earning the friendship of James Steerforth due to his lucrative connections.
When David turns 10, he learns that his mother and little brother have died. Peggotty is removed from work, and she marries Barkis. Instead of returning to school, David is sent to do labor work at Murdstone’s wine-bottling factory in London.
He stays with Mr. and Mrs. Micawber, a warm couple struggling financially. After Mr. Micawber is sent to prison due to a mountain of unpaid debt, David goes to Dover to live with his aunt, Betsey Trotwood, who lovingly calls him Trot, after her surname.
David’s aunt arranges to send him to a much better school run by a wonderful man, Dr. Strong, who constantly strives to make his students self-reliant and honorable. While studying at this school, David lives with Mr. Wickfield and his daughter, Agnes.
After graduation, David goes to Yarmouth to visit Peggotty, where he bumps into Steerforth. Agnes’ kindness and warmth win David over, and the two quickly become close friends. Wickfield’s cunning secretary, Uriah Heep, lives with them as well.
Together, David and Steerforth visit Peggotty, which is when it’s announced that Emily and Ham are engaged. Emily is interested in Steerforth. Soon enough, David begins his apprenticeship at Spenlow and Jorkins to become a proctor and falls for Dora, Mr. Spenlow’s daughter.
Meanwhile, Uriah Heep tricks Mr. Wickfield into making him his business partner, encouraging his alcoholism, squandering his wealth, and taking complete control of his business. His fraudulent activities also harm Betsey’s fortunes, so David must find work to provide for himself, his aunt, and his wife, Dora.
He begins to work as a secretary for Dr. Strong and gains fame as a fiction writer, owing to his dedication, hard work, and the moral support he receives from Agnes. He reunites with Traddles and learns he stays with Mr. and Mrs. Micawber.
After attending Barkis’ funeral in Yarmouth, everyone discovers that Emily and Steerforth have eloped, and Mr. Peggotty takes on the duty of finding them. Steerforth, however, leaves Emily, and Mr. Peggotty later rescues her with the help of Martha, Emily’s friend.
News arrives that Ham and Steerforth have passed away due to dangerous storms. To gain a fresh start, the Micawbers move to Australia along with Emily and Martha.
Dora gets pregnant but passes away soon after due to complications related to the pregnancy. To deal with his grief, David goes around Switzerland, hoping he will be able to cope with this personal loss.
After returning to England, he meets Agnes. The two confess their feelings for one another, get married, and begin their journey of marital bliss. He then receives a heartwarming letter from Agnes, and while reading her letter, David realizes his love for Agnes.
David Copperfield Book Review
David Copperfield is as much a story about change and growth as it is a Dickensian satire on the ways of the Victorian age.
Dickens started writing this novel without a clear outline, and the story began to take shape through its serial releases, becoming the glorious bildungsroman we know today.
Through an array of interesting and colorful characters and intertwining storylines, Dickens made David Copperfield a novel that discusses the condition of married women, the unjust justice system, the quality of education, social stratification, and the criminality of child labor.
The story is an amalgamation of almost fairy-tale elements with the harshness of reality, delving into the complexities of psychological evolution. This dichotomy is also presented through characters who are opposites.
The nature of the men running the two schools David goes to, namely Mr. Creakle and Dr. Strong, shows the varied effects of parental figures on young minds. While on the one hand, we have the exuberant and lively Mr. Micawber. On the other hand, there is Mr. Murdstone, the wicked stepfather.
The relationship between gender and class is intricately explored by Dickens, as is evident in the interactions between Emily and Steerforth and Agnes and Heep. Contrasting relationships are also presented through David’s friendships with Traddles and Steerforth.
Although most of the situations in the novel deal with serious issues, Dickens also provides comic relief, especially through the character of David’s aunt, Betsey.
Through Betsey, Dickens also creates a self-sufficient and progressive female character. The band of delightful women characters also includes Agnes, Emily, Dora, Martha, and Peggoty. Emily and Martha’s journeys portray how society reacts to women’s plight.
The childlike nature of Dora is written in contrast to Agnes’ mature and sensible personality, and some even suggest that David’s failed marriage with Dora represents the author’s marital bond. The theme of found families is explored through the multiple relationships David forms outside his blood relatives.
Class consciousness is a recurrent theme throughout the novel, which the readers see in the initial interactions between David and Emily. Once David gains a better status in society, he consciously tries to conceal his previous financial situation from those around him.
The realistic struggles depicted in David’s journey hit hard, be it the difficulties of adulthood or how we are thrown into the maze of life without prior experience navigating relationships and responsibilities.
Characters In The Novel “David Copperfield”
Charles Dickens was known to create colorful characters, and the same applies to David Copperfield. They can be divided into various categories. Some of them are as follows:
Primary Characters
Some of the main characters in the novel are:
- David Copperfield: David Copperfield is the novel’s protagonist, narrator, and central character. We follow his journey from birth to adulthood.
- Agnes Wickfield: The daughter of Mr. Wickfield. She marries David later on in the book.
- Betsey Trotwood: Betsey is David’s great-aunt who becomes a maternal figure after his mother’s demise.
Secondary Characters
There are plenty of secondary characters in the book, and a couple of them include:
- Clara Peggotty: Peggotty is the housekeeper of the Copperfield household. She stays loyal to David until the end, almost becoming a family member.
- Edward Murdstone: David’s stepfather abuses him violently.
- Jane Murdstone: Edward’s sister who, along with her brother, harasses David constantly.
- Clara Copperfield: David’s mother, who is a warm and sensitive person. She passes away quite early on in the story.
- James Steerforth: Steerforth is David’s friend from school. He is a privileged man who uses his charm to deceive people.
- Tommy Traddles: Traddles is David’s good-natured, hardworking friend whom he meets at boarding school.
- Dora Spenlow: Dora is Mr. Spenlow’s daughter. She’s David’s first wife, who passed away shortly after marriage.
- Emily: Emily is Mr. Peggotty’s niece, whom David meets for the first time during his trip to Yarmouth.
- Mr. and Mrs. Micawber: Wilkins Micawber and Emma Micawber are a kind couple facing many financial hardships.
- Mr. Wickfield: Mr. Wickfield is a businessman who are Betsey’s friend and Agnes’ father.
- Uriah Heep: Heep is Mr. Wickfield’s employee who ultimately deceives him.
- Dr. Strong: Dr. Strong is the headmaster of David’s school in Canterbury.
- Annie Strong: Annie is Dr. Strong’s lovely wife.
- Martha Endell: Emily’s friend who faces ridicule from the members of society.
Famous Quotes From The Novel
The novel is brimming with memorable quotes that reflect Dickens’ prowess as an author. Listed below are some of the most famous quotes from the book:
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.”
Mr. Micawber
“My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest.”
David Copperfield
“There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.”
Annie Strong
“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.”
David Copperfield
Movies And TV Adaptations
David Copperfield is among the most adapted works of Charles Dickens. Here are some of its film and TV adaptations:
- A silent movie directed by Theodore Marston (1911)
- A movie directed by George Cukor (1935)
- A TV show on BBC with 13 parts (1956)
- Joan Craft’s TV show with six parts (1974)
- An animated movie produced by Burbank Films Australia (1983)
- A two-part TV series on BBC featuring Daniel Radcliffe (1999)
- Armando Iannucci’s movie titled The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
Conclusion
There is a reason why David Copperfield is reputed to be one of the most brilliant novels by Charles Dickens, featured on must-read lists even now. It’s because the whimsical characters created by the author are eternally entertaining, with the themes of class divide and social injustice still being relevant.
Despite the autobiographical elements, Dickens managed to create a story that readers resonate with on various levels. It critiques Victorian society and is a hopeful coming-of-age story that creates a home in your heart long after reading the book.
