David Copperfield (character)
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For other uses, see David Copperfield (disambiguation).
David Copperfield is the character after which the 1850 Charles Dickens novel, David Copperfield, was named.
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[edit] 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, Norfolk, with David's aunt Betsy Trotwood and 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.
On hearing that Clara's baby was a boy, Betsy 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 Emily, the daughter of Peggotty's brother Dan.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 step-father.
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 blacking factory.
[edit] The Micawbers
David's job in the blacking 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 three children. But Mr Micawber's financial situation worsened and he was placed in a debtor's prison, leaving David homeless.
[edit] Betsy Trotwood
David walked all the way from London to Dover with the intention of going to live with Betsy 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 Betsy insists on keeping him despite Mr Murdstone's opinion that David has a rebellious disposition.
[edit] Canterbury
Betsy 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. Also living at the house is a mysterious clerk called Uriah Heep. They grow up together as close friends, almost like siblings.
[edit] 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. He forbits David from seeing his daughter and threatens to disinherit her or send her abroad if David disobeys. That night, Mr Spenlow die in a carriage accident. After Mr Spenlow's death, David and Dora marry.
Dora Spenlow - David’s first wife and first real love. 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. Mrs Murdstone reappears as Dora's guardian but she is unable to exert the same negative influence over her, that is likely to have led to the death of David's mother.
Mr. Spenlow's daughter, the sweetly pretty but immature Dora, eagerly falls into marriage with David. Her inability to cope with being anything other than a "child wife" nearly destroys David, but he never loses his love for her.
[edit] 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 persauded Emily to run away with him. He later returns from London without Emily, and gets into difficulties in the sea during a storm. Ham Peggotty (Emily's fiancee) tries to rescue him - they both drown.
[edit] Uriah Heep's scandal
Betsy Trotwood and Mr Dick are waiting at David's house when he returns from Yarmouth - Betsy 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 Betsy Trotwood. He is arrested and thrown in prison to await a trial for fraud. Traddles helps to recover the money Uriah has defrauded and in this process is able to return Betsy's Dover house to her.
[edit] 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 Emily. She is discovered working in a house 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.
[edit] David the author
After Dora's death, David pursued his career as an author and had his first book published. He catches up with the Micawbers, who are about to board a ship to Australia to fulfill their dream of immigration, only for the police to show up and issue a warrant for Wilkins Micawber's arrest - because he has again fallen deep into debt. Betsy Trotwood then appears and hands over the money which keeps Mr Micawber free. Emily, having recovered from the trauma of her life as a prostitute, 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. Also joining them on the ship are a group of convicts, including the disgraced Uriah Heep.
[edit] 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 Betsy Trotwood Copperfield, in honour of her godmother.