David Copperfield (character)

For other uses, see David Copperfield (disambiguation).

David Copperfield is the character after which the 1850 Charles Dickens novel, David Copperfield, was named. The character is widely thought to be based on Dickens himself, using many elements of his own childhood.

Involvement in plot

Early years

David's father, David Copperfield senior, died six months before he was born. His mother Clara lived at the family house in Blunderstone, Suffolk, their maid Peggotty. Mr Barkis, who rode a horse and cart, was a regular visitor and often took the household members out on his cart.

David Copperfield senior was a favorite of his aunt, Betsey Trotwood. Miss. Betsey comes to visit Clara hoping to raise the "girl" in Clara's womb. On hearing that Clara's baby was a boy, Betsey Trotwood was horrified - her experiences of men had been traumatic - and she walked out of the house and returned to her home in Dover.

During the early years of his life, Peggotty takes David to see her relatives in Yarmouth and he becomes good friends with Em'ly, the adopted daughter of Peggotty's brother Dan.

The Murdstones

When David was about nine years old, his mother married a man called Mr Edward Murdstone, believing that he would be a good father for David. David took an instant dislike to the domineering Mr Murdstone, as well as Mr Murdstone's sister Jane.

The frozen atmosphere between David and the Murdstones continued when he fell behind with his studies and was thrashed by Mr Murdstone. During the beating, David bit Mr Murdstone on the hand and was locked in his bedroom for a whole week.

Salem House

Mr Murdstone sent David away to a boarding school called Salem House, which was run by his friend Mr Creakle - a vicious man who made a habit of thrashing boys. David grew to admire an older boy by the name of Steerforth, who protected him from bullies who made David's life a misery after discovering that he had bitten his stepfather.

David returned home for the school holidays to see that his mother had given birth to a baby boy - he now had a brother.

Soon after David returned to Salem House, Mr Creakle informed him that his mother and brother had both died. David returned home immediately and just before the funeral the Murdstones informed Peggotty that her services were no longer required. Mr Murdstone decided to withdraw David from Salem House and send him to work in London at Murdstone & Grinby's wine factory.

The Micawbers

David's job in the factory was a tedious job in a filthy environment, for which he was paid a disappointing wage. He lodged with a local man called Wilkins Micawber, who had a wife and four children. But Mr Micawber's financial situation worsened and he was placed in a debtor's prison, leaving David homeless.

Betsey Trotwood

David walked all the way from London to Dover, hoping thing would get better if he lived with Betsey Trotwood. She is living near the White Cliff of Dover with her maid and a lunatic lodger called Mr Dick. Betsy writes to the Murdstones to tell them that David has run to her, and they soon make an appearance. Mr Murdstone wants to take David back to Blunderstone but Betsey insists on keeping him despite Mr Murdstone's opinion that David has a rebellious disposition.

Canterbury

Betsey soon places David in a private school in Canterbury. During term-time he lodges with a widower called Mr Wickfield whose daughter Agnes is roughly the same age as David. Mr Wickfield has a mysterious clerk called Uriah Heep. David and Agnes grow up together as close friends, almost like siblings.

The Spenlows

David begins his career as a clerk apprenticed to a lawyer called Mr Spenlow, who has a daughter called Dora. He falls for her, and they get engaged, much to the horror of Mr Spenlow, who finds out about their engagement from Miss Murdstone who is acting as Dora's guardian and companion but she is unable to exert the same negative influence over Dora, that is likely to have led to the death of David's mother. Mr Spenlow forbids David from seeing his daughter and threatens to disinherit her or send her abroad if David disobeys. That night, Mr Spenlow dies in a carriage accident. Soon afterwards, David and Dora marry.

Dora is foolish and giddy, more interested in playing with her dog, Jip, than in keeping house with David. Because David cannot bear to displease Dora, he permits her to retain the pouty habits of a spoiled child.

Steerforth

David soon meets up with Steerforth, approximately ten years after they last saw each other at Salem House. They go to Yarmouth and visit the Peggotty family at the ship house. A tragedy soon unfolds as Steerforth persuaded Em'ly to run away with him. He later returns from London without Em'ly, and gets into difficulties in the sea during a storm. Ham Peggotty (Emily's fiancé) tries to rescue him - they both drown.

Uriah Heep's scandal

Betsey Trotwood and Mr Dick are waiting at David's house when he returns from Yarmouth - Betsey thinks she is financially ruined and has been forced to sell her house in Dover. Peggotty has also moved into David's house but the big news is that Wilkins Micawber has caught Uriah Heep stealing money out of his account - it soon transpires that Uriah had also defrauded and ruined Betsey Trotwood. He is arrested and thrown in prison to await a trial for fraud. Traddles (a friend from Salem House) helps to recover the money Uriah has defrauded and in this process is able to return Betsey's Dover house to her. Mr. Micwaber also owes a lot of money to Uriah Heep, in the form of I.O.Us and bills). Uriah tries to use this to continually get Micwaber arrested, for revenge. Traddles, Betsey Trotwood and David, however, have made provisions for this event.

Another tragedy

Dora becomes pregnant with their first child but suffers a miscarriage soon afterwards. She is badly weakened by the miscarriage and becomes confined to her bed where she receives help from Peggotty.

Meanwhile, David goes to London with Dan Peggotty in hope of finding Em'ly. They are led to her by one of her old friends, who is now working as a prostitute and David rescues her from under the noses of Mrs Steerforth and her would-have-been daughter-in-law Rosa Dartle.

Soon after David's return, he is sitting in the lounge with Peggotty when Agnes enters the room to inform them that Dora has died, having never recovered from her miscarriage.

David the author

After Dora's death, David pursued his career as an author and had his first book published. Betsy Trotwood then appears and recommends that they emigrate to Australia. Emily, having recovered from the trauma of her life spent with Steerforth, is also boarding the ship to Australia - with Dan Peggotty - and the news of Ham's death will be kept from her until she is back to full health.

Marriage to Agnes

David returns to Canterbury and soon falls for Agnes. They are married and live a wealthy lifestyle thanks to David's successful career as an author. David and Agnes soon have their first child - a boy. Their second child is also a boy. But the story draws to a close as Agnes gives birth to their third child - a girl, to be named Betsey Trotwood Copperfield, in honour of his godmother.