Summary Chapter 2




David Copperfield’s sensate life begins with his awareness of his mother who has “pretty hair and a youthful shape” and his awareness of Peggotty who is rather stout of figure but sanguine of complexion. David also takes note of the multiple odors/aroma that simultaneously emanate from the pantry, the empty dog-kennel and pigeon-house on a pole in the backyard, and the way the buttons in the back of Peggotty’s gown tend to unfasten and scatter when Peggotty expands on account of indignation or some other strong emotional reaction.

Typically, when the trio attends church, David daydreams, and Peggotty chides David for daydreaming. Typically, David is barely awake when the service concludes.

One day, while Mrs. Copperfield is away visiting a neighbor, David reads out aloud about crocodiles while Peggotty attends to needle work. Finding himself dozing off, David engages Peggotty in a conversation about marriage. Peggotty is rather reticent on the topic, however. She quickly changes the topic by encouraging David to continue reading about crocodiles. Determined to stay awake for her mother’s return, David does as Peggotty asks and is about to transition from crocodiles to alligators when his mother arrives. She is with Mr. Murdstone, a man with black hair and whiskers, whom David takes an immediate disliking to. Indeed, as the man departs, David grudgingly shakes the man’s hand.

That night, as David is falling asleep, Peggotty, citing the memory of Mr. Copperfield, objects to Mrs. Copperfield encouraging Mr. Murdstone’s advances. Mrs. Copperfield remonstrates, however, arguing that there is nothing indecent about her friendship vis-à-vis Mr. Murdstone. Presently, Mrs. Copperfield lullabies David asleep.

It isn’t long when Mr. Murdstone returns. On this occasion, he is invited in to the house. He leaves with a blossom of geranium that Mrs. Copperfield plucks for him. After this visit, he is seen regularly around the Copperfield’s residence. One autumn afternoon, Mr. Murdstone proposes that David accompany him to Lowestoft where Mr. Murdstone has friends who have a yacht. As it’s a pleasant day for an outing, David agrees. By and by, he and Mr. Murdstone ride out to Lowestoft. When they arrive, they are greeted by Mr. Murdstone’s friends Mr. Quinion and Mr. Passnidge. When Mr. Quinion and Mr. Passnidge allude to the prettiness of David’s mother and of Mr. Murdstone’s romantic advances, Mr. Murdstone cautions his friends of someone who disapproves (of his romantic overtures); namely, David. To keep the boy in the dark as to who disapproves, Mr. Murdstone refers to the disapprover as the Brooks of Sheffield. Subsequently, the men have a laugh at David’s expense.

When David returns home, his mother is dying with curiosity as to what David was privy to while he spent his time with Mr. Murdstone and his friends. She is delighted when David informs his mother that Mr. Murdstone and his friends thought her pretty and bewitching. She tells David to keep this a secret between them lest Peggotty objects. David promises to keep it a secret and does.

Not long after, Mrs. Copperfield is away again, when Peggotty asks David whether he’d like to visit Peggotty’s family and relatives in Yarmouth. When David objects to leaving his mother alone by herself, Peggotty tells him that the visit will occur during the fortnight when his mother will be a guest at their neighbor Mrs. Grayper’s. Subsequently, David agrees.



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