David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Introduction 

"David Copperfield" is a novel by one of the famous English writer Charles Dickens, published in parts from 1849 to 1850 and as a book in 1850. It has always been one of Dickens's most popular novels and was his personal favorite. The story is partly based on Dickens's own life, even though David Copperfield is different from Dickens in many ways. The novel reflects Dickens's early experiences, including his time working in a factory, his education and reading, and briefly, his move from being a parliamentary reporter to a successful novelist. This novel focuses on the adventures of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity, and generally categorized in bildungsroman genre. 

Autobiographical Elements in the Novel 

In 1848, when Charles Dickens was already a popular and successful novelist, he began writing his autobiography, intending for it to be found after his death. He shared a fragment with his close friend John Forster but soon abandoned and destroyed the manuscript. After Dickens died, Forster included the fragment in his biography of Dickens, revealing a painful episode from Dickens's childhood: at age 12, his parents took him out of school to work in a boot-blacking warehouse to help with family bills. His father was sent to debtor's prison, and the rest of the family, except for Charles, moved there with him. Charles lived in a rented room nearby until his father was released and sent him back to school.

After giving up on his autobiography, Dickens began writing "David Copperfield," his eighth novel. Following Forster's suggestion, he used a first-person narrator for the first time. This choice allowed Dickens to incorporate some of his own experiences into the novel. David Copperfield's feelings of abandonment while working at Murdstone and Grinby's warehouse closely mirror Dickens's own childhood experiences. However, many characters and events in the novel are fictional, such as David's apprenticeship, his friendship with Steerforth, and the stories involving Miss Betsey, the Peggottys, Dr. Strong, and the Wickfields.

"David Copperfield" is a Bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story where the hero matures through overcoming challenges. Dickens drew on his own experiences for some elements, like his youthful obsession with Maria Beadnell, who inspired David's first wife, Dora Spenlow, and his father, who inspired the character of Mr. Micawber.

Characters

Outline of Story

"The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, and Observations of David Copperfield, the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery," commonly known as "David Copperfield," is an autobiographical novel by Charles Dickens. In the preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens affectionately referred to David Copperfield as his favorite character, likening him to a beloved child. David Copperfield's early life is marked by hardship and loss. Born after his father's death, David is raised by his mother and their housekeeper, Peggotty. His mother remarries when David is seven, and his stepfather, Edward Murdstone, is cruel and abusive, eventually sending David to the harsh Salem House boarding school under the ruthless headmaster Mr. Creakle. Tragedy strikes when David's mother and her newborn baby die shortly after his return from a holiday. Murdstone then forces David to work for a wine merchant in London.

As David grows, he encounters a variety of characters who shape his life, including Agnes Wickfield, his landlord's daughter, who becomes his close confidant. David's romantic life is tumultuous; he marries the beautiful Dora Spenlow, who tragically dies from a miscarriage. He later finds lasting happiness with Agnes Wickfield, who has always loved him, and they have four children together, including a daughter named Betsy. David's great aunt, who has always been a significant figure in his life, renames him "Trotwood Copperfield." The character of Dora is inspired by Dickens's first love, Maria Beadnell. The novel's central theme revolves around the arbitrary suffering of innocents, reflecting Dickens's critique of societal injustices.

Themes

The Plight of the Weak in David Copperfield

In "David Copperfield," the powerful exploit the weak, highlighting the mistreatment of orphans, women, and the mentally disabled in industrial society. Dickens, drawing from his own childhood, portrays the cruelty of child labor and debtors' prison. Characters like young David suffer unjustly, such as when he endures hardship in a wine-bottling factory under Mr. Murdstone's exploitation, and when boys at Salem House face Mr. Creakle's cruelty. 

The weak don't overcome oppressors directly but find refuge with other powerful figures. David, for instance, doesn't confront Mr. Murdstone but escapes to his wealthy great aunt, Miss Betsey, whose financial stability protects him. This highlights the importance of family ties and financial security over self-reliance in overcoming adversity.

Equality in Marriage

In "David Copperfield," successful marriages are those where husband and wife are equals. Dickens presents the Strongs' marriage as an ideal, showing that happiness comes from mutual respect. Conversely, Mr. Murdstone's attempts to assert superiority over David's mother only crush her spirit and make her submissive.

Doctor Strong, while aiming to improve his wife Annie's character, does so out of love and respect, treating her gently, unlike the harsh Mr. Murdstone. Although Doctor Strong believes his wife depends on him for moral guidance, reflecting traditional gender roles, Dickens suggests progress towards more balanced and empowering relationships for women.

Wealth and Class

Dickens criticizes society's belief that wealth and class determine a person's worth. He portrays Steerforth, wealthy and noble, as treacherous and self-absorbed, contrasting him with the generous and sympathetic Mr. Peggotty and Ham, who are poor. Dickens challenges the notion that poverty reflects moral deficiency, sympathizing with the poor and blaming society for their woes.

However, Dickens doesn't oversimplify by suggesting that all poor are noble and all rich are evil. Some poor characters swindle David, and wealthy characters like Doctor Strong and Agnes are morally upright. Dickens emphasizes that wealth and class don't define character, urging us to judge individuals based on their actions, not their circumstances.

Life Choices

In "David Copperfield," Charles Dickens explores the significance of life choices, drawing parallels to his own experiences. While Dickens's father intervened to rescue him from a warehouse job, David, as an orphan, makes pivotal choices independently, starting with running away from the warehouse. Miss Betsey and Agnes play crucial roles in guiding his decisions, with Agnes providing steadfast support. Learning from mistakes is emphasized, seen in David's reflection on his relationship with Dora. Dickens contrasts characters like Steerforth and Uriah Heep, who fail to analyze and learn from their choices, with those like David, who grow and succeed through self-reflection.

Satire on Child Labor

Charles Dickens many times used young characters to highlight the suffering of the poor in Victorian society. The Poor Laws of 1834 stopped direct financial aid to the poor, forcing them to seek help from workhouses. The Industrial Revolution increased the demand for cheap labor, and many children from poor families had to work long hours in harsh conditions, similar to David Copperfield and Dickens himself.

Throughout the 19th century, the idea that children should be protected grew stronger. Starting in the 1830s, Victorian society introduced laws to improve children's well-being. Despite high infant mortality rates, the number of young people grew during Queen Victoria's reign. Industrialization worsened child labor issues, and although laws helped, they never fully ended the practice.

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