by Charles Dickens, 1850 (821 pages)
Last line: “Oh Agnes, Oh my soul, so may thy face be by me when I close my life indeed! So may I, when realities are melting from me like the shadows which I now dismiss, still find thee near me, pointing upward!”
What a tale – what characters – the underdogs are the heroes in the end – the rich snobs waste away in meaningless lives, or die.
Characters:
- David Copperfield: orphaned boy, main character in the book – story of how he makes his way in life and the people he meets.
- Murdstones – evil step-father and his evil sister – destroy David’s sweet mother – to her death. Try to destroy David.
- Peggotty – his sweet nurse. There for him his whole life.
- Aunt Betsey Trotwood – comes to visit the night he’s born – leaves when she finds out he’s not a she – he ends up running away to her at the age of 10 – finds her and she takes him in and cares for him.
- Mr. Dick – the man Betsey Trotwood takes in – and cares for – with a heart of gold – loves kites – and has a mental problem that he keeps in check by writing his Memorial – King Charles the 1st cannot enter into it, or he has to start over. He ends up saving the marriage of Dr. Strong and Annie.
- James Steerforth – the rich, charismatic young man David meets in Salem House. David is so impressed with him; he can’t see his faults. Steerforth ends up seducing little Emily – stealing her away and ruining lives in the process.
- The Micawber’s – family, always in debt and running, end up saving the day for the Wickfield’s against Uriah Heep, and emigrating to Australia, where he rises to the top of society – beloved Magistrate.
- Uriah Heep – disgusting, evil ‘umble odious person who infiltrates the Wickfield’s and almost destroys them, but Micawber reveals all and saves the day.
- Dora: child-wife of young David – her dog, Jip, a useless bit of fluff. David falls for her and marries her but realizes it was a mistake. She gets sick and dies.
- Mr. Peggotty, Ham, Little Emily, Mrs. Gummidge. Peggotty’s brother takes in nephew, niece, and fishing partner’s widow. They live in a boat at Yarmouth. Little Emily is a beauty and a delight to all. She is engaged to Ham (her cousin), a devoted, good, hard-working young man, when Steerforth seduces her and takes her away. Mr. Peggotty (her uncle) embarks on a many-year journey to find her. Finally does when Emily runs away and is found by Martha, a prostitute. Ham dies in a storm trying to save a sailor on a boat that is sinking. The sailor is Steerforth. Emily and Mr. Peggotty emigrate to Australia with the Micawber’s, Martha, and Mrs. Gummidge.
- Agnes Wickfield – loving daughter of Mr. Wickfield – David’s soulmate. They end up married and live happily ever after.
Smaller Characters:
12. Thomas Traddles, Rosa Dartle, Mrs. Steerforth – Traddles is a friend of David’s from Salem House – where he was always picked on by Mr. Creakle. He works hard and is a true good friend to the end. Rosa Dartle in love with Steerforth lives with Mrs. Steerforth. James threw something at her that cut her lip and left a scar. She is evil and cruel, especially to little Emily. She and Mrs. Steerforth live together in a pitiable existence: alone, together, in their grief over Steerforth’s death.
13. Miss Mowcher – dwarf woman who ends up getting Littimer arrested and imprisoned for his part in Little Emily’s life.
14. Littimer – James Steerforth’s servant – very proper man but ends up in prison for his part in the scandal involving Emily.
15. Dr. Strong and Annie – he is old, she is young. Married couple.
My favorite characters: Betsey Trotwood, Mr. Dick.
Here is what the Book-A-Day calendar says about David Copperfield:
‘Unforgettable First Lines: “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o’clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously.” Charles Dickens’s favorite among his own novels, the autobiographical David Copperfield is a welcoming, leisurely tale filled with fine characters, real suspense, and a well of emotion as warm as a perfect summer afternoon, from the first sentences to the last. Audiobook lovers take note: Martin Jarvis’s reading does this masterpiece justice in every particular.”