David Copperfield

(1850)

David Copperfield is my first love. People fall in love seeing the beauty, grace and perhaps the qualification of a person. I, however, fell in love with young David, after reading his life-long struggle, and the manner & dignity with which he faced the ups and downs of his life. Dickens, with his amazing power of narration, takes us on David's journey with him and not for once did I think of getting off the ride. The struggles and blows David undergoes have made me cry and just as well, his happy moments have made me gleeful. Never did I feel, that I was actually reading a story, and not visualizing the life of the protagonist. To me, David Copperfield has crossed the limits of written literature and has created a screen where a posthumous boy's life has been portrayed. His emotional attachment with his mother, his nurse Peggotty and later his wife displays David's soft nature, while his resolute nature is equally expressed as he hunts for his once-best friend in his mission to save an innocent victim from the former's clutches. David is a perfect image of a boy's and then a man's personality, and hence it is quite easy to fall for him! What are you waiting for? Go get it &read it immediately!--Submitted by Promione.

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On the Preface to David Copperfield

I can't understand this phrase in the Preface to David Copperfield "I shall again put forth my two green leaves once a month". Could anybody help me with the meaning the author put into the words "two green leaves" ? Much thanks in advance !

Posted By Erroman at Wed 7 Sep 2011, 1:01 AM in David Copperfield || 0 Replies

Emily's Story

Would a contributor be able to tell me what exactly happens to Emily when she runs away with Steerforth? Is this correct: They go abroad. He tires of her. He imprisons her and tries to palm her off onto his servant to be the servant's wife. She escapes. She lives with a peasant woman for a while. She comes to Yarmouth, but does not see any of her family. She goes to London. Mr Peggoty finds her with Martha's help. David and Emily never speak after this time and she emigrates to Austraila. But: Are she and Martha prostitutes? Was Emily pregnant, and did she have a child? How does Rosa Dartle find Emily? How much does Ham know about all this? Thank you.

Posted By Troy Beal at Wed 14 Oct 2009, 12:40 PM in David Copperfield || 2 Replies

What does each character teach David Copperfield?

I need to know what all the main characters teach david copperfield either directly or by example. :sick::crash::bawling:

Posted By lexyt95 at Tue 30 Jun 2009, 3:07 PM in David Copperfield || 1 Reply

What do you think of David Copperfield? (poll)

Here is a daily poll on what you think of David Copperfield. Please vote, and then leave a comment on the board telling what you liked about it. Come on!!! Don't be SHY! ;):lol::D:):crash:

Posted By lexyt95 at Mon 15 Jun 2009, 2:40 PM in David Copperfield || 4 Replies

List of David Copperfield Characters

Here is a complete list of all important and non-important David Copperfield Characters. If you need anything, just message me, im usually on, and I can give anybody any information about David Copperfield. Looooove ya all LOL! ADD ME!!! :lol: 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 "Doady", and his aunt refers to him, as a reference to his would-be sister (if he had been born a girl), as "Trot" - as in Betsey Trotwood Copperfield. 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, who dies along with her. Peggotty – The faithful servant of the Copperfield family and a lifelong companion to David (referred to at times as Mrs. Barkis after her marriage to Mr. Barkis). Inherits £3,000—a large sum in the mid-19th century—when Mr. Barkis dies. After his death, she becomes Betsey Trotwood's servant. 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). She is present on the night of David's birth but leaves after hearing that Clara Copperfield's child is a boy instead of a girl. Mr. Chillip – A shy doctor who assists at David's birth and faces the wrath of Betsey Trotwood after he informs her that Clara's baby is a boy instead of a girl. Mr. Barkis – An aloof carter who declares his intention to marry Peggotty. He says to David: "Tell her, 'Barkis is willin'!' Just so." He is a bit of a miser, and hides his surprisingly vast liquid wealth in a plain box labeled "Old Clothes". He bequeaths to his wife the then astronomical sum of £3,000 when he dies about ten years later. Edward Murdstone – Young David's cruel stepfather, who canes 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 a factory, 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 with Copperfield's aunt, 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 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. Daniel Peggotty – Peggotty's brother; a humble but generous Yarmouth fisherman who takes his nephew Ham and niece Emily into his custody after each of them has been orphaned. After Emily's departure, he travels around the world in search of her. He eventually finds her in London, and after that they emigrate to Australia. Emily (Little Em'ly) – A niece of Mr. Peggotty. She is a childhood friend of David Copperfield, who loves her in his childhood days. She leaves her cousin and fiancé, Ham, for Steerforth, but returns after Steerforth deserts her. She emigrates to Australia with Mr. Peggotty after being rescued from a London brothel. Ham Peggotty – A good-natured nephew of Mr. Peggotty and the fiancé of Emily before she leaves him for Steerforth. He later loses his life while attempting to rescue a sailor, who happens to be Steerforth, from a shipwreck. His death is hidden from his family due to the fact that David does not want them to worry on the brink of their journey. Mrs. Gummidge – The widow of Daniel Peggotty's partner in a boat. She is a self-described "lone, lorn creetur" who spends much of her time pining for "the old 'un" (her late husband). After Emily runs away from home with Steerforth, she changes her attitude to better comfort everyone around her and tries to be very caring and motherly. She too emigrates to Australia with Dan and the rest of the surviving family. Martha Endell – A young woman of a bad reputation who helps Daniel Peggotty find his niece after she returns to London. She has worked as a prostitute, and been victim to the idea of suicide. Mr. Creakle – The harsh headmaster of young David's boarding school, who is assisted by Tungay. Mr. Creakle is a friend of Mr. Murdstone. He singles out David for extra torment. Later he becomes a Middlesex magistrate, and is considered enlightened for his day. James Steerforth – A close friend of David, he is of a romantic and charming disposition and has known David ever since his first days at Salem House. Although well-liked by most, he proves himself to be lacking in character by seducing and later abandoning Little Em'ly. 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. Eventually he emigrates to Australia where he enjoys a successful career as a magistrate. He is based on Dickens' father. Mr. Dick (Richard Babley) – A slightly deranged, rather childish but amiable man who lives with Betsey Trotwood. His madness is amply described in as much as that he claims to have the "trouble" of King Charles I in his head. Dr. Strong – The headmaster of David's Canterbury school, whom he visits on various occasions. Anne Strong – The young wife of Dr. Strong. Although she remains loyal to him, she fears that he suspects that she is involved in an affair with Jack Maldon. Jack Maldon – A cousin and childhood sweetheart of Anne Strong. He continues to bear affection for her and tries to seduce her into leaving Dr. Strong. Mr. Wickfield – The father of Agnes Wickfield and lawyer to Betsey Trotwood. He is prone to alcoholism. Agnes Wickfield – Mr. Wickfield's mature and lovely daughter and close friend of David since childhood. She later becomes David's second wife and mother of their children. Uriah Heep – A wicked young man who serves as partner to Mr. Wickfield. He is finally discovered to have stolen money and is imprisoned as a punishment. He always talks of being "'umble" (humble) and nurtures a deep hatred of David Copperfield and many others. Mrs. Steerforth – The wealthy widowed mother of James Steerforth. She herself is incredibly like her son. Miss Dartle – A strange, vitriolic 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. She is also Steerforth's cousin. Mr. Spenlow – An employer of David's during his days as a proctor and the father of Dora Spenlow. He dies suddenly of a heart attack while driving his phaeton home. Dora Spenlow – The delightful but naive daughter of Mr. Spenlow who becomes David's first wife. She is described as being impractical and with many similarities to David's mother. She dies of illness on the same day as her dog, Jip.

Posted By lexyt95 at Mon 15 Jun 2009, 1:18 PM in David Copperfield || 5 Replies

I'm Starting David Copperfield today....

Lets read and discuss!!! ..anyone want to join in? I'm a slow reader so I'm shooting for 4 to 5 chapters a week. I'll post my thoughts a couple of time a weekk as I move along. PLEASE join in.

Posted By EasyRead at Sat 27 Dec 2008, 4:26 PM in David Copperfield || 3 Replies

twin motif

Anyone notice the twin motif in Dickens' Copperfield? There's a fairly significant interpretation for twins in psychology, but the examples are especially important for our modern individual psychology in authors like Twain, Dostoyevsky, Poe, and Guy de Maupassant. I found it curious that Dickens used it with the ancient symbolism. regards, Doug

Posted By mounce at Fri 27 Jun 2008, 11:41 AM in David Copperfield || 1 Reply

A simple question about Emily

Emily is one important character in the novel. My question is Why it is spelled Em'ly rather than the proper spelling Emily? I have read Through the whole story and guess it has something with British accent. But why in other places it is still spelled Em'ly? Looking foreward to an early reply.

Posted By jeffrey at Thu 29 May 2008, 8:50 AM in David Copperfield || 1 Reply

Which edition of David Copperfield?

I will be reading david Copperfield soon. I have one by PENGUIN CLASSICS. and another by MODERN LIBRARY CLASSICS. Which edition should I read? Or both are equally good?

Posted By ravilobo at Mon 12 May 2008, 9:51 AM in David Copperfield || 0 Replies

the analysis of David Copperfield

I have just finished reading the fiction or, to some extent, the autobiography of Dickens, which makes me soundly lose myself in it. As we all know, many different themes can be found in a classic novel, which depends on the way one comprehends it. Here I just explain two of the themes revealed by David Copperfield: how greed destroys humanity ,and what real love is. As for the former one, the destruction is obvious and horrible, as evidenced by the fall of Uriah Heep. With the hope to improve his quality of life, and the greed for power and fortune, he, who had been pretending to be a loyal assistant of Mr. Wickfield until Mr. Micawber exposed his wickedness, took advantage of Mr. Wickfield’s weakness for beer to harm his state, and, what was worse, he ruined his reputation. However, wicked as Uriah was, he must have been as innocent as David when he was a baby. It was the thirst for power, fortune and status that twisted his mind and eventually sent him to prison. Actually, greed and selfishness are the inherent weaknesses of humanity, but they are exaggerated in such a dim society. And there are three characters serving to explain the latter point. Apparently, they are Emily, Dora and Agnes: Emily was fascinated with Steerforth’s handsome appearance, gentle word and large fortune, so that she left honest Ham; Dora was too young to bear any duties attached to love, and had no courage to face reality; Agnes, who was mature and angelic, reasonable and romantic, was the only perfect girl in David’s mind in the end. Therefore, we can conclude that real love is a compound of trust, encouragement, support, responsibility and romance, as Dickens told us in the novel. I believe, if we manage to get rid of greed, we will choose a correct way to go through the forest of life; and if we understand real love and fortunately get it, brilliant sunshine will then be cast over the path and the air will be full of the pleasant smell of the sunlight. P.S. i'm very glad to accept anyone's opinion on the book, and have a discuss with him or her.:thumbs_up

Posted By jingfeng1905 at Sun 27 Apr 2008, 4:12 AM in David Copperfield || 2 Replies

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David Copperfield

(1850)

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