David Copperfield

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**The Personal History and Experience of David Copperfield the Younger** is an 1850 novel by Charles Dickens. Published serially between 1849-50 before being completed into a novel, it tells the story of the titular hero as he comes of age from his impoverished youth to his fame as a novelist.

Considered to be his most autobiographical, *David Copperfield* is seen as one of Dickens's most popular novels and his most personal favourite. It is also among the most influential novels of all time.

## Plot Summary

The main protagonist, David Copperfield, recalls his life from his childhood to adulthood. He was born in Suffolk, England, six months after his father's death. His mother, Mrs. Copperfield, raised him, and he enjoyed a blissful childhood alongside his housekeeper Peggotty while they lived in poverty. When David was still a child, Mrs. Copperfield remarries a gentleman named Mr. Murdstone, and his sister Miss Mudstone moves in shortly afterwards.

Peggotty takes David to Yarmouth to visit her family. Her brother, Mr. Peggotty, is a fisherman who lives in a boathouse with his adopted children Ham and Em'ly. David becomes close with the Peggottys and forms a friendship with Emily. Back at home, the Murdstones are cruel and strict to David, and they eventually send him off to Salem House, a miserable boarding school run by the abusive headmaster Mr. Creakle.

During his time at Salem House, David befriends two schoolboys: James Steerforth and Tommy Traddles. After Mrs. Copperfield dies suddenly, he returns home for his mother's funeral but was pulled out of school, and the Murdstones neglect him after they dismiss Peggotty from her services.

David is then sent to London to work in a warehouse, where he stays with Mr. Micawber and his family. Despite being poor, the Micawbers are kind to him, but after they fall deeply into debt, they are forced to leave London, and David is on his own. He decides to find his only living relative: his stern, eccentric great-aunt Miss Betsey Trotwood, who has cut off all contact with the Copperfields and lives in Dover. David hopes she will let him live with her.

He travels there alone on foot, and after he meets her and tells her his story, Miss Trotwood is initially hesitant, but after turning to her friend Mr. Dick for some advice, she takes David into her home.

David goes to a school in Canterbury run by Doctor Strong, who is more friendly. While at the school, David lives with a lawyer named Mr. Wickfield and his young daughter Agnes. He develops a close bond with Agnes but is uncomfortable around Mr. Wickfield's humble but devious assistant Uriah Heep. After his graduation, David goes to Yarmouth to see Peggotty, who is now married to the carrier Mr. Barkis. Along the way, he runs into Steerforth in London, and they travel to Yarmouth together, where the Peggottys and Steerform become fond of each other.

After the visit, Miss Trotwood convinces David to pursue a proctor career, and he gets a job at the London firm of Spenlow and Jorkins. He later meets his employer's daughter, Dora Spenlow, and instantly falls in love with her. While living in London, he meets Agnes again, whose home life is in disarray since her father partnered with Uriah. Both David and Agnes continue to be close, while he also reunites with Traddles and Mr. Micawber. He receives word from Yarmouth that Mr. Barkis is terminally ill, and while visiting him on his deathbed, Em'ly runs off with Steerforth, and Mr. Peggotty vows to set out and find her.

David continues with his apprenticeship and his romance with Dora, who he later proposes. At the same time, Miss Trotwood's finances have been ruined following Uriah's partnership with Mr. Wickfield. He works hard to support Miss Trotwood by working for Doctor Strong with Agnes' help. The Micawbers also work for Uriah, but he has falsely told Doctor Strong that his young wife is having an affair with her cousin. Mr. Dick manages to step in and help rebuild the Strongs' marriage.

David marries Dora, but she is unable to be a proper housewife since she is young and childish. However, the marriage is equally happy, and he still loves her anyway. After she suffers a miscarriage, Dora becomes weak, and her health starts failing.

After a long and difficult search, David and Mr. Peggotty finally found Em'ly after Steerforth abandoned her. Mr. Peggotty decides to travel with Em'ly to Australia to start a new life, and the Micawbers also agree to come. David, Traddles, Miss Trotwood and Mr. Micawber gather together to defeat Uriah by exposing his fraud and forgery. Dora dies from her illness, and David goes to Yarmouth to deliver a message from Em'ly to Ham. A powerful storm occurs with a ship stranded at sea when he gets there. Ham dies while trying to save the boat, and the next day, Steerforth's body washes ashore from the shipwreck. David returns his friend's body back to his mother in London.

The Peggottys and Micawbers depart for Australia, and David travels abroad for a year. His love for Agnes grows, and after he returns home and reunites with her, they got married.

David and Agnes are happily married for ten years with a family of their own, and everyone else found happiness as well. He has also found success as an author and strives to be a better man.