Review of David Copperfield

Introduction

Title: David Copperfield

Author: Charles Dickens

Place: England

Publisher: penguin publishers (formally), oxford progressive English readers (afterwards), Oxford University Press.

Publication date and editions: 1850(1^st) 1992(2^nd) 2005(3^rd)

Pages: 100

Price: 250rs

Special features: True sketch of figures, places and time.

ISBN: 9780195971408

Among the fifteen novels Charles dickens wrote, David Copperfield was his favourite and was based on his own life. The story is set in the 1800s in England, where dickens lived.

The story is written in first person context. And older David Copperfield tells us what he remembers of his life, from the time as a young boy under the care of his mother until he has his own family. David meets a lot of people as he grows up, studies and works. Some people are very cruel to him. But fortunately, he also meets some very nice people, who make his life happier than ever. Apart from telling us about himself, David Copperfield also tells us how his friends have changed with time.

Review

I really loved reading this novel because it was so true to life, it tells us how a particular person faces problems in life, meets different people in the way and eventually solves a lot of matters and gains experiences. I would surely recommend this book to students, teachers and readers who love to enjoy book life. This is a classic novel with a dramatic story, the novel enjoins the life of a boy who faces certain happiness in life and goes through rough scenarios of it also. There are 12 chapters in the novel, dividing the life of David Copperfield in the major experiences he faced.

The first chapter is “an unhappy chid” where older David Copperfield describes his childhood first as an enjoyable life with his widowed mother and his servant Pegotty. Later David’s mother Clara marries Mr. Murdstone and David’s life takes a turn towards unhappiness as his step father proves that David needs the firmness of a boarding school. In this chapter, David also goes to Pegotty’s house for summers and meets Little Emily (nephew of Mr. Pegotty), whom he liked also.

The 2^nd chapter is “away from home” in which David describes his boarding school life where he was treated harshly by the headmaster of the school, Mr. Ceakle, who was also a friend of Mr. Murdstone. He also relates to the friends he makes in that younger life (James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles) and impression of some personalities.

The 3^rd chapter “I start work” is heart touching part of the novel as it begins with the news of death of David’s mother Clara Copperfield. Later his step father Mr. Murdstone sends him to England for work in a wine factory where he worked for six shillings a week by labelling wine bottles. And also his meeting with Mr. Micawber, who is a lucky hardworking man stuck in a lot of debts.

The 4^th chapter “Betsy Trotwood” is a chapter telling us about David’s life taking a good turn when he runs away from the wine factory to his aunt Betsy Trotwood, where she adopts David and takes care of him. Later Betsy recommends David to join a school nearby to complete his education. He also meets Mr. Wickfield, a lawyer of his Aunt Betsy, Agnes, daughter of Mr. Wickfield and Uriah Heep, assistant lawyer of Mr.Wickfield.

The 5^th chapter “The Humble Uriah Heep” is about the assistant Lawyer of Mr. Wickfield who says that he is quite humble but proves to be a real evil minded person as he was after the property and daughter of Mr. Wickfield. David also meets Uriah’s Mother as he took a tea at their home.

The 6^th chapter “Old friends” is about the meeting of David Copperfield with his old friends James Steerforth and Ham pegotty and Mr. Micawber, who shifted away in search of better employment and livelihood. He also listens to the story of Pegotty’s house and travels with James Steerforth to them. He also got the news that Emily was going to marry Ham Pegotty.

The 7^th chapter “The New Partner” is about the letter from Agnes and her tension arising from the behaviour of Uriah Heep, suppressing her father Wickfield for property and his daughter. Later in the chapter he meets Dora, daughter of Mr. Spenlow (a client and friend of Mr. Wickfield) and first love of his life. He adored Dora for being so beautiful.

The 8^th chapter “Emily leaves home” is a twisting story turn in the chapter where Emily Pegotty runs away with charming James Steerforth and leaves Ham and her house. Her uncle Mr. Pegotty and Ham, both are worried over the situation.

The 9^th chapter “My Love for Dora” and is about the happiness of David when he and Dora are heads over heels in love for each other. Later on he takes on other responsibilities of his aunt Betsy Trotwood, when she goes bankrupt.

The 10^th chapter is ``Dora and I are married`` is rather a stable and romantic chapter of life for David where he marries Dora and takes up responsibilities as a husband. Later on the chapter takes on the wedding scenario with the settling of both the husband and wife in their new house.

The 11^th chapter ``Emily`s return, Uriah`s Crimes`` goes through the leaving of Emily by James Steerforth but she doesn’t return home due to the shame. But later on his uncle and David finds out where she lives and gets to her. The 2^nd part of the chapter tells us the role of Mr. Micawber in the catch of the crimes committed by Uriah Heep. He then over hands the property and money taken from the Wickfields.

The last and 12^th chapter of the novel ``Sad losses, happy endings`` gives the endings of all the chapters where David`s wife Dora dies of illness and he again marries Agnes, whom with he lived happily ever after. There was a storm in east part of England in which James Steerforth drowned and Ham Pegotty too while saving Steerforth. Little Emily is not told of the news of the deaths of both persons and she along with his Uncle Mr. Pegotty travels to Australia. Hence older David Copperfield sums up his life from the ups and downs of it to the happy ending with Agnes.

In short the story sums up in the following way:-

David Copperfield is born to his widowed mother, Clara, and is looked after by this loving nurse, Peggotty. While still a young boy, David’s mother marries a dreadful man by the name of Murdstone, who along with his sinister sister, Miss Murdstone, makes life miserable for young Davy. He is sent off to boarding school, and subsequently after his mother dies, Murdstone sends him to work in a factory.

David finds his only living relative, Aunt Betsey Trotwood, and life begins anew under her care as he returns to school. He falls in love and soon in an ailing wife he discerns, ‘better to have loved and lost, then to have never loved at all…’ The two most endearing chapters that give the readers moist-eye moments would be- “The Storm”, which pictures the tragic demise of his closest pal, Steerforth and “The Farewell” in which he bids adieu to his dear crony, Mr. Micawber. This novel, told in the first person, takes the reader from David’s birth well into adulthood, effortlessly weaving many stories throughout, which often beautifully connect with one another.

It is not just the stories in this novel that make it so wonderful: it is also Dickens’ trademark colourful, larger-than-life, funny, cruel, outspoken, pathetic, delirious, sweet, eccentric, and outrageous characters: - 

The treacherous Uriah Heep, the jovial nurse Peggotty, the adorably dim-witted Dora, the improvident Mr Micawber and the egotistic and charming Steerforth come to life. Then there lies Agnes, his source of solace and compassion- the one who stood by him through thick and thin, the one whom he may have never loved but always cherished. From seaside Yarmouth to London and beyond, as plots and counterplots effortlessly interweave into one intricate, grand design, David Copperfield captures the brightness, magic and terror of the world as seen through the eyes of a child: his bafflement turning to self-awareness and his young heart growing ever more disciplined and true.

"David Copperfield" may lack a central plot, but its branches are verdant and rambling; it feels more like a life … 

My point of view

The David Copperfield novel by Charles Dickens can be called as
superlative, as far as the author’s style is concerned. In this novel we feel actual participation because Charles Dickens has strived so well, making the scenes as if a real movie runs in our mind. One need not see the movie if he reads the novel. Great novels can’t be made into movie because words that bring us feelings can’t be screened same way by acting. The author must have taken time to engrave on paper what should be written to satisfy his deep consciousness. Those were the time poverty ruled and the novelist had to suffer hunger, poor condition and tight life style. In this particular novel our romance starts on the style or English of dickens. First you feel for Dora and u want more to read what she talks and how she make her life but we are shocked to know that she is going to die. We carry her death news as if our own mourning. Next the story moves on the upbringing of David Copperfield. Here I stop on the story and my main aspect to rope ms
readers or ms members is to tell them that Charles makes u feel for Dora the girl David loves. Dora enters in your mind if you’re a man, and David enters in your mind if your woman. So powerfully dickens has written, I must say in this particular novel his English is extremely romantic, heartfelt love depth. This novel will be one more treasure to keep. Story telling un cheers, but feelings bring interest to read this novel. Lastly let me bring Agnes and David meet here. When Agnes and David meet, our whole body feels romantic, purely romantic as if you’re David in it. Well let me stop because it is reader should taste the
joy of holding David Copperfield at their bosom and feel for Agnes or
David.

Well my favourite character in the novel is that servant Pegotty, who was always there to help David Copperfield. When David was young Davy, she was there to make Him happy. When David needed the mother most, she was there then too. Hence Pegotty proved to be a lifelong servant with true heart.

And the favourite scene from the novel is the one when David is married to Dora and they move to their new house. It seems so true to life that one young boy and a young girl form a responsible couple.

Here is the list of characters and their role:-

• David Copperfield – An optimistic, diligent, and persevering character, he is the protagonist. He is later called "Trotwood Copperfield" by some ("David Copperfield" is also the name of the hero's father, who dies before David is born). He has many nicknames: James Steerforth nicknames him "Daisy", Dora calls him "Davy", and his aunt refers to him as "Trot".
• Clara Copperfield – David's kind mother, described as being innocently childish, who dies while David is at Salem House. She dies just after the birth of her second child (a son, Edward Murdstone junior), who dies along with her.
• Peggotty – The faithful servant of the Copperfield family and a lifelong companion to David (she is called by her surname Pegotty in David's family,
• Betsey Trotwood – David's eccentric and temperamental yet kindhearted great-aunt; she becomes his guardian after he runs away from Grinby and Murdstone's warehouse in Blackfriars (London).
• Edward Murdstone – Young David's cruel stepfather (and the novel's main antagonist), who beats him for falling behind in his studies. David reacts by biting Mr Murdstone, who then sends him to Salem House, the private school owned by his friend Mr. Creakle. After David's mother dies, Mr Murdstone sends him to work in his factory in London, where he has to clean wine bottles. He appears at Betsey Trotwood's house after David runs away. Mr Murdstone appears to show signs of repentance when confronted by Copperfield's aunt about his treatment of Clara and David, but later in the book we hear he has married another young woman and applied his old principles of "firmness".
• Jane Murdstone – Mr. Murdstone's equally cruel spinster sister, who moves into the Copperfield house after Mr. Murdstone marries Clara Copperfield. She is the "Confidential Friend" of David's first wife, Dora Spenlow, and encourages many of the problems that occur between David Copperfield and Dora's father, Mr. Spenlow. Later, she rejoins her brother and his new wife in a relationship very much like the one they had with David's mother.
• Emily (Little Emily) – A niece of Mr. Peggotty. She is a childhood friend of David Copperfield, who loved her in his childhood days. She leaves her cousin and fiancé, Ham, for Steerforth. After Steerforth deserts her, she doesn't go back home because she has disgraced herself & her family. Her uncle, Mr Peggotty, who has been searching for her since she left home, finds her in a London brothel. So that she may have a fresh start away from her now degraded reputation, she & her uncle immigrate to Australia.
• Ham Peggotty – A good-natured nephew of Mr. Peggotty and the fiancé of Emily before she leaves him for Steerforth. He later drowns while attempting to rescue Steerforth from a shipwreck. News of his death is withheld from his family to enable them to emigrate without hesitation or remorse..
• Mr. Creakle – The harsh headmaster of young David's boarding school. Mr. Creakle is a friend of Mr. Murdstone. He singles out David for extra torment. His role is harsh and stubborn.

• James Steerforth – A close friend of David who has known him since his first days at Salem House, he has a romantic and charming disposition. Although well liked by most, he proves to be lacking in character by seducing and later abandoning Little Emily. He eventually drowns at Yarmouth with Ham Peggotty, who had been trying to rescue him.
• Tommy Traddles – David's friend from Salem House. They meet again later and become eventual lifelong friends. Traddles works hard but faces great obstacles because of his lack of money and connections. He eventually succeeds in making a name and a career for himself.
• Wilkins Micawber – A gentle man who befriends David as a young boy. He suffers from much financial difficulty and even has to spend time in a debtor's prison before moving to Plymouth. As an adult, Copperfield meets him again in London. Micawber eventually immigrates to Australia, where he enjoys a successful career as a sheep farmer and becomes a magistrate.
• Dr. Strong – The headmaster of David's Canterbury school, whom he visits on various occasions.
• Mr. Wickfield – The widower father of Agnes Wickfield and lawyer to Betsey Trotwood. Later the father in law of David Copperfield and is represented as an old weak man under the pressure of Uriah Heep.
• Agnes Wickfield – Mr. Wickfield's mature and lovely daughter and close friend of David since childhood. She later becomes David's second wife. She is represented as a weak lovely and lively girl.
• Uriah Heep – A wicked young man who serves first as secretary, and then as partner to Mr. Wickfield. He is finally discovered - by Wilkins Micawber - to have stolen money, and cheated Mr. Wickfield, while Mr. Wickfield was intoxicated. Uriah Heep is forced to return the money, but is not prosecuted by the Wickfields.. He always talks of being humble and nurtures a deep hatred of David Copperfield and many others.
• Mrs. Steerforth – The wealthy widowed mother of James Steerforth. She herself is very like her son.
• Miss Dartle – A strange, vitriolic, spinster woman who lives with Mrs. Steerforth. She has a secret love for Steerforth and blames others such as Emily and even Steerforth's own mother for corrupting him. She is described as being extremely skinny and displays a visible scar on her lip caused by Steerforth in one of his violent rages as a child. She is also Steerforth's cousin.
• Mr. Spenlow – A lawyer, employer of David as a proctor and the father of Dora Spenlow. Also the first father in law of David. His Character is light and loving.
• Dora Spenlow – The adorable but foolish daughter of Mr. Spenlow who becomes David's first wife. She is described as being impractical and has many similarities to David's mother. She dies after a long illness.
• Mr Jorkins — The unseen partner of Mr Spenlow, who blames Jorkins for any unwelcome decisions.

In short, the main character is David Copperfield, who is born into a unfortunate family. He has been looked after by peggotty, the servant of his family, Mr. Murdstone, his stepfather, and Betsy Trotwood, his aunt. One of  David`s childhood friends are Emily, a girl who stays with Peggotty`s family near the sea. Tommy Traddles and James steerforth are his friends from his first school, Salem house.

Later, Betsy Trotwood`s friend Mr. Wickfield introduces David to another school. He makes friends with Agnes, the daughter of Mr. Wickfield, and meets Uriah Heep, a young man who works for Mr. Wickfield. When he finishes school, David starts working for Mr. Spenlow. There he meets Dora, Mr. Spenlow`s beautiful daughter.

About the author

Born Charles John Huffam Dickens. 7 February1812 Landport, Portsmouth, England Died 9 June 1870 (aged 58) Gad's Hill Place, Higham, Kent, England Resting place Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey Occupation:  Writer Nationality and Citizenship UK

Charles Dickens was a very popular writer who lived in England in the nineteenth century. He was born in 1812 in Landport and spent his childhood in Kent. He had seven brothers and sisters and he was the second child in the family. His father had many debts and was put in prison when Charles was about twelve. Charles Dickens had to earn money for his family by working at his relative`s factory, labelling bottles for six shillings a week. He attended a day school at the same time. Two years later, he left school and worked at a lawyer`s office. He taught himself shorthand when he was sixteen because he wanted to be a reporter. At nineteen he became one of the quickest and most accurate reporters in London. Later, he worked as an editor and a writer.

Dickens never stopped writing after he published his first novel, the Pickwick papers in 1836-37. Usually he published a chapter of a novel every month. He wrote fifteen novels in total, the most popular ones include Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations. His own favourite novel was David Copperfield, in which his own life is reflected.

``of all my books, I like this the best...like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is DAVID COPPERFIELD``

Charles Dickens, preface to David Copperfield

Dickens spent most of his life in London. He died of a stroke in 1870 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

I would straight out recommend this book to students who enjoy life and also to the people who see the hardships of life in a different way. In the end I would really like to say that I enjoyed reading it. It is an out class novel with heart touching moments in it. A final word to it would conclude my ideas very well and that word is ``heart-touching``.