CHAPTER 5
DAVID COPPERFIELD AN INTRODUCTION
Introduction : David Copperfield is the most popular highly-appreciated novel of Charles Dickens. It is writt, autobiographical background. The story of David’s life is central t. novel. The whole novel is woven round it. In the words of Dicke himself :
“Of, all my books, I like this (David Copperfield) the beer Semi-Autobiography : David Copperfield which marks the beginning of his maturer novels is the story of Dickens’s own life at certain
Points to Remember places. He spent some time in the 1. Introduction quiet fishing town of Yarmouth in 2. Semi-Autobiography. order to obtain local colour for the 3. Change in Life famous Peggotty scenes. Like all 4. Episodes except five of his novels, it originally 5. Characters came out as a monthly serial in 6. Critique pamphlets. The novel has been 7. Conclusion. described as a semi-biography of the author. It gives a pathetic account of the struggles of a sensitive but intelligent child, orphaned at a tender age, who, through innumerable trials and difficulties, at last established himself as an eminent author. His early life passed in misery. His time at school under Creakle was a period of trial. Next he passed a miserable time with the wine-selling firm, Murdstone and Grinby. david copperfield book pdf
… Change in Life : Life at last changed for the better with his arrival at the house of his aunt, Miss Betsey Trotwood who received him with kindness and arranged for his education under the good Dr. Strong. After his education he became an apprentice to Doctor Spenlow’s firm. He then became a parliamentary reporter and finally a famous author. He was rich and happy with his wife Agnes david copperfield book pdf
Episodes : The novel has several episodes, especially those about Micawber, Uriah Heep, Wickfield and the schools where David studied all connected in one way or the other with David’s Tom
vith David’s life. The story proceeds harmoniously with these episodes. It is also the
es. It is also the story of the hearth and the home. Every character from David to Agnes Mirawber and Peggotty has fidelity and love for home. There is
our. Micawber and Dick are perfectly humorous characters D. Tommy Traddles and Barkis, all supply humour in their
Characters : The characters are various-serious, humorous.
itical and villainous. The final humiliation of the villain, Uriah innresents poetic justice. The descriptions are charming. The style Charming too, especially the high-flown language and august letters
Micawber. Things are smooth-rather too smooth with no adventure, Surprise or suspense. Some of these might have added to the charm of The novel. Their absence is made up to a certain extent by pathos in the story of David Copperfield’s early life and in the ruin of Wickfield. But Dickens is not over-elaborate in his pathos; there is no sentimentalism of a high type. david copperfield book pdf
Critique : Dickens wrote about the novel : “….. no one can ever believe this narrative, in the reading, more than I believed it in the writing…. Of all my books, I like this the best. It will be easily believed that I am a fond parent to every child of my fancy, and that no one can ever love that family as dearly as I love them. But, like many fond parents, have in my heart of hearts a favourite child and his name is David Copperfield.”
Conclusion : The structure of David Copperfield is determined by the autobiographical form of the novel. It is the story of a part of David Copperfield’s life as he recalls it. The story begins from his birth and continues until the moment of his writing. David Copperfield’s presence connects the events of the novel and gives it coherence. david copperfield book pdf