Book Review: David Copperfield

The past couple months I have taken on the behemoth Charles Dicken's novel, David Copperfield (an 800 page monster). This is probably one of the longest, most challenging books I have read aside from Les Miserables or War and Peace. I read this book in association with the game I was playing, AC Syndicate which takes place during Industrial England in the 1850s. This book entirely gave me the insight I was seeking into industrial British life in those days, most especially from the perspective of a young working class orphan. Charles Dickens is considered one of the greatest authors of all time, and this book is regarded as his semi-autobiographical masterpiece.

I am quite familiar with the work of Charles Dickens, yet have not fully immersed myself into one of his books until I read David Copperfield. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame is his iconic Christmas Carol (which I am now reading) about Ebenezer Scrooge. This book has been adapted into so many films and has become a staple of the holiday season. Another story of his that I have always been familiar with is that of Oliver Twist, the young orphan who had the nerve to request a 2nd serving of soup. Although I am still very early in my Charles Dickens understanding I would say the work of Oliver Twist and David Copperfield demonstrate his common theme of the industrial working class. 

However another book of Dickens that I have always been very fascinated by was A Tale of Two Cities. I own this book and this was the first novel of his I attempted to read, but honestly only made it a few chapters in. The historical premise was what especially captured my interest set during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. In this novel Dickens demonstrated a very dark element of romanticism, with a love triangle that ends in complete sacrifice by the character Sydney Carton. While I am familiar with the story I would like to give the novel another proper reading attempt someday (If I can comprehend David Copperfield, I should be able to comprehend any of Dickens' works). 

However now I re-divert to the book at hand which I will give my usual review. This will include a break down of the premise, and analysis of the main characters, and an analysis of this particular work by Charles Dickens. Eventually I would also like to make a more in-depth study of the life and works of Charles Dickens, but for now I want to focus on this novel. David Copperfield is often regarded as one of the greatest novels of all time and has absolutely nothing to do with the modern day magician who simply stole the name. This classic book by Dicken's is essentially a biography of a young boys life growing up into adulthood in England. 

The Premise

The story begins as a narration of an older man recounting his youth, which happens to be David Copperfield. He is born in the coastal region of Suffolk, England without a father who dies a few months before his birth. Little David however grows up happily for some years with his loving mother and their housekeeper Ms. Peggoty. However everything changes for young David when his mother remarries to the cruel Edward Murdstone, who insists upon teaching the young boy discipline. Murdstone eventually decides to send David to boarding school after David bites his finger, much to the dismay of his mother. 

Before David goes off to boarding school, he spends a few days with Ms. Peggoty's family along the beach in Yarmouth. Here he meets the fisherman Mr. Peggoty and his adopted children Ham and Emily. David falls in love with the the young Emily, and writes to her frequently when he goes off to school. At the Salem House boarding school, David's misery continues under the cruel direction of Mr. Creakle. He does however befriend a couple students including Tommy Traddles and the older charismatic James Steerforth. 

For the holidays David returns home and spends some good quality time with his mother and Ms. Peggoty. He also discovers he has a new baby brother which he instantly becomes fond of, however as he leaves for school on carriage he gets a strange feeling when seeing his mother wave goodbye to him with the baby. Few weeks later while at school, David tragically discovers his mother and baby bother have died from sickness. David instantly becomes an orphan, and Mr. Murdstone refuses to keep paying his boarding school dues. Ms. Peggoty marries the willing carriage driver, while the young David is sent to work in a wine factory in London. He boards and befriends with the Micawber family.  

After several months of the miserable lifestyle, David decides to run away and seek out his aunt Betsey Trotwood. His aunt despises boys, however she eventually agrees to adopt the child with the support of her mentally challenged friend, Mr. Dick. She sends David to a better school run by Dr. Strong, where David comes under the apprenticeship of a lawyer named Mr. Wickfield as well as new associations with Mr. Wickfield's daughter Agnes and his slimy clerk Uriah Heep. After he finishes school David finds employment as a proctor for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow. During this time he falls mad in love with his boss's daughter Dora. 

David is eventually able to propose and marry Dora, who is as beautiful as she is childish. Their marriage brings him great happiness for some time however, despite their youthful domestic inexperience. David's situation worsens however when his aunt is bankrupted by the fraudulent activities of Uriah Heep. Furthermore he loses his friends Ham and Steerforth who both die among a shipwreck in the waters. To make matters even worse, it is later revealed that his wife dies of a miscarriage and David enters a hard period of grief. 

For three years David travels, works, yet commits to his real passion of writing. He is eventually able to publish a book with the help of his schoolmate Traddles and returns home. He aids in exposing Uriah Heep of his criminal activities which helps restore his aunt's finances. Furthermore he supports Mr. Peggoty and the Micawber's emigration to Australia to seek out a new life. He later reunites with his friend Agnes and reveals to her that he loves her, and she reciprocates the feelings. They later marry and have children together, of which the narrator reveals as a happy ending to his story. 

The Characters

David Copperfield: The protagonist of the story who endures a difficult youth with great optimism and passion. After losing his father and later his mother, David must take on the industrial age of London mostly on his own. He meets many friends along the way, and eventually finds a benefactor thru the support of his aunt. He also experiences various love affairs throughout the book with Emily, Dora, and eventually Agnes.  

Clara Copperfield: The naïve mother of David, who cares deeply for him yet lacks the strength to raise him on her own. She later remarries the cruel Mr. Murdstone, who sends her son away to boarding school. Despite her affectionate care for her child, she dies of illness early in the book, leaving David an orphan.  

Ms. Peggoty: She is the housekeeper and caretaker of the young Davey, whom cares for him and his mother dearly. After Mrs. Copperfield dies she marries the willing carriage driver Mr. Barkis yet continues to corresponded and check on David. 

Mr. Edward Murdstone: He is the cruel 2nd husband of Clara Copperfield who is intent on disciplining the young David. He even brings in the support of his equally wicked sister, Jane to help enforce their systematic structure. After David bites Mr. Murdstone he sends him to boarding school. After Clara dies, he disowns the young David, and willingly lets Betsey Trotwood take over responsibility. 

Betsey Trotwood: She becomes the benefactor of the young David who runs away to her in search of a better life. The spinster aunt despises young boys and disowns him at his birth, however upon seeing him in shambles grows a new sympathy for him. She chooses to raise him and support his endeavors. David later returns the favor by caring for her after she loses all her fortune due to Uriah Heep's fraudulence. 

Mr. Peggoty: He is the brother of Ms. Peggoty, and is a fisherman who lives by the sea. He lives with an unusual company, including the widow of a fellow fisherman named Mrs. Grummidge, who is always crying about her deceased husband. There is also his two adopted children Ham and Emily. 

Ham: He becomes a strong boat builder and grows affection for Emily, however is devastated when she chooses Steerforth. He later dies in a heroic attempt to salvage a ship wreckage in Yarmouth. 

Emily: She is the pretty adopted child of Mr. Peggoty whom becomes David's first childhood sweetheart. She however chooses Steerforth over Ham, who in turn breaks her heart and she runs away. After the death of both Ham and Steerforth she emigrates to Australia with Mr. Peggoty.  

James Steerforth: He is the elder popular student at Salem House Boarding School, which David befriends early on. He is wealthy and smooth talking however later proves to be a scoundrel when he seduces and abandons Emily. He later dies on board the ship that wrecks in Yarmouth. 

Tommy Traddles: He is the loyal schoolmate of David, who proves to be his best friend throughout the entire book. What he lacks for in charisma he makes up for in intelligence and finds a prosperous career in law practice. He helps expose Uriah Heep of his fraudulence and later marries Sophy. 

Wilkins Micawber: A good-hearted working-class man from London who provides David room-and-board during his working stint. He has a loyal wife with several children, yet they are always facing financial struggles. He later finds work under Uriah Heep, but becomes the victim of Uriah's wicked schemes. Mr. Micawber is however later able to expose the wicked financier and have him arrested for fraud. Mr. Micawber later relocates to Australia with his family and prospers as a magistrate.  

Mr. Dick: He is the mentally challenged partner of aunt Betsy Trotwood, who often provides her counsel. Although he is not employed he is a passionate writer obsessed with kites and the historical character of King Charles.  

Mr. Wickfield: He is the lawyer of Betsy Trotwood who offers David room-and-board during his teenage school years. During this team he befriends Mr. Wickfield's daughter Agnes, yet also becomes suspicious of Mr. Wickfield's apprentice Uriah Heep. Uriah is able to manipulate Mr. Wickfield into alcoholism and eventually take over his fortune. 

Agnes Wickfield: She is the kind-hearted daughter of Mr. Wickfield who develops a sisterly affection for David. This however sprouts into a true love at the end of the novel, when David equally expresses his affection for her. She later marries David and they have several children and live happily together. 

Uriah Heep: He is the antagonist of the story who claims to be humble yet becomes the scheming arch-nemesis of David. He takes over Mr. Wickfield's fortune thru manipulation and causes other financial ruin for Betsy Trotwood and Mr. Micawber. He also intends to marry Agnes, until his fraudulence is exposes and he is arrested. 

Dora Spenlow: She is the daughter of Francis Spenlow, David's first employer who offers him work as a proctor. David is mesmerized by her beauty at first site and passionately proposes to her of which she reluctantly accepts. She is very child-like, somewhat reminiscent of David's mother, and always is accompanied by her dog Jip. Together they share several happy years with various domestic arguments. She dies however at a young age after a miscarriage which causes great grief for David.  

The Analysis

This was by far the most difficult book I've read this year however I tackled it with great discipline. The older English verbiage and it's length made this one very intimidating however I patiently endured thru it. I can honestly can say I comprehended it quite well compared to my other efforts at classic European literature such as (Tale of Two Cities, Les Miserables, and War and Peace). The story lacks the typical dramatic arch, and is more so a biographical journey of a young man's life and the many interesting characters he meets along the way. 

I would say this is ultimately a character piece by which Dickens creates many distinct and iconic characters in this novel. The protagonist of David Copperfield is no doubt a representation of Charles' life as a young industrial worker who later developed a keen passion for writing. Despite his harsh upbringing with a cruel step-father, cruel school-master, becoming an orphan, working in a factory as a child, and losing his wife David endures every difficult with great optimism. While his character is somewhat boring, his resolve is truly heroic and this is especially accentuated by every character he meets and helps along the way.

For me this was a very unique book, unlike anything I've read before, that takes the reader on a journey thru a man's life spanning some 20 years. Ultimately I would not consider this book as good as other classics I have recently read such as Scarlett Letter or Uncle Tom's Cabin. However Dickens still succeeds in creating an original setting with original characters. David Copperfield is a character you want to root for, having witnessed the hardships he endured as a child. His tale is one of heroic perseverance in the face of the common day hardships of industrial England.