CHAPTER 7
DAVID COPPERFIELD : A SYNOPSIS
Introduction: The entire novel David Copperfield is divided into I VIV (64) chapters containing different titles. It is written in first person, i.e., I, My, Me, Mine. David Copperfield speaks himself and tells jis about his whole life. It is an autobiographical story of Charles Dickens.
David Copperfield’s Birth : David Copperfield was born on a Friday at twelve o’clock at night. He was born at Blunder Stone in Suffolk. He was a posthumous child, since his father had di months before his birth. His aunt Betsey Trotwood attended his mother Clara Peggotty on the day when he was born, and she hoped that a girl would be born. Contrary to her expectations David Copperfield arrived. She was angry at this unexpected arrival of a boy, when she hoped that a girl would be born.
David’s Early Life: David grew up, and at an early age, he began to show remarkable smartness and quickness in conversation. He asked his maid servant and nurse Peggotty strange questions about the world. He advised her not to marry twice and a point of remarkable
Points to Remember shrewdness it was, since his mother 1. Introduction married again. The name of her new david copperfield book pdf
2. David’s Birth
3. David’s early life husband was Murdstone. He showed
4. His life under Murdstone his preference for the small child, and
5. Salem House flattered him by fine remarks. But
6. Mother’s Death David did not feel inclined to talk 7. Goes to Yarmouth politely with him. Gradually as time 8. Life at Murdstone and passed on, and David advanced in
Grinby years his step-father began to change
9. New Change
10. Betsey’s Reception his attitude. He now became more 11. Dr. Strong’s Academy harsh and threatened David with 12. Training flogging and punishment. Once he 13. Betsey’s Ruin beat David black and blue and shut
| 14. David’s new job him in a room for five days. He was
15. Micawber and Uriah Heep not allowed to come out of it.
16. Exposure of Uriah Heep
17. Micawber life in Australia As if Murdstone was not 18. David’s Marriage with sufficient, his sister Miss Murdstone Agnes also came to help her brother and | 19. Conclusion.
began to live under the same roof. She was a haughty, imperiou domineering lady. The first thing she did was to take the ke Clara Peggotty, David’s mother and changed the old systeme management. She abetted her brother in tormenting David, and hated the boy from the core of her heart.
e David’s life under Mr. and Miss Murdstone: David found life under his stepfather highly intolerable. He often wept in his He felt a feeling of despair, and he felt aggrieved to see that his had tacitly acceded in the ill-treatment of her child. The consolation which he derived was from his books, which he re. interest. Peggotty often came to console him with her words of affer One day Peggotty informed him that his father Murdstone was him to a school at a long distance from London.
Salem House’-the School : Murdstone expressed his desire send David to a school kept by the headmaster Mr. Creakle. He sent to the new school without much preparation and arrangeme reached ‘Salem House’, for the name of the school was after designation. The school was a square brick building with wings of bare and unfurnished appearance. Everything was quiet and nothin appeared to him like a school. His school master Sharp was cruel i placard was painted with the words “Take care of him, he bites ” and was tied to David’s back. Next day he met with the headmaston Mr. Creakle. He was a very cruel and rough man. He was expert in beating and punishing the boys. He was unflinching and relentless. He impressed upon the boys that he was a determined character and when he wanted anything to be done, the thing was done. David was terrified of such a school headmaster. He began his life under very trying circumstances. He was often beaten. But he made two acquaintances here, which were destined to last throughout his life. One was Tommy Traddles and the other of J. Steerforth. Traddles was equally subjected to punishments. He was of a helping nature. Steerforth was a scholar. He loved books and was respected by Creakle. He was never beaten.
Holidays drew near. In the vacations David went to his home. His father and his father’s sister Miss Murdstone treated him in the same old way. He was fed like a dog or a beggar. Often he had to take his food all alone. He sat sneakingly in the room, and sometimes lightened his heart by conversing with Peggotty. But his father disallowed any conversation with low and mean fellows hinting at Peggotty. Miss Murdstone was more oppressive. She wished that the holidays of the boy had come to an end. david copperfield book pdf
Death of David’s Mother : After the holidays were over, Day once again went to ‘Salem House’. He passed some fifteen days WC Mrs. Creakle one day informed him that his mother had “, Accordingly on this report, he left ‘Salem House’ and returned to home. He found Peggotty weeping, Murdstone and Miss Murdstone observing their silence. David felt much aggrieved to note the change. His grief at the death of his mother was immense. Murdstone and Miss Murdstone did not pay attention to the boy.
David goes to Yarmouth : The first thing that Miss Murdstone did after the death of her sister-in-law was to dismiss Peggotty. She was reluctant to leave for two strongest attachments with Clara and David were formed at this place. But she had to go, and she wished David to follow her at Yarmouth, where her brother lived. She took permission from Miss Murdstone, and David went with Peggotty to Yarmouth.
Yarmouth was a fishing town. Here he met with Mr. Peggotty. He was the chief figure. He brought up Ham, his nephew, and Emily his niece. He was living in good condition. He greeted David and in the company of these nice people he passed some pleasant days. At the end of fifteen days, he returned to his home.
David’s life in the firm Murdstone and Grinby : His father Murdstone had been passing through a financial crisis. He lectured David on the importance of labour and self-help and wished him to stand on his own legs for self-support. He, therefore, took him to a wine selling firm, and David was engaged in the firm of ‘Murdstone and Grinby’. The firm sent wine bottles to East and West Indies. It was a new experience in his life. His work was to wash the bottles and paint labels on them. David had to live with one Mr. Micawber, who was the landlord, Micawber was a very funny and humorous man. He was always in debts. He could not pay his creditors. He was once arrested and thrown into a prison. David helped him in his distress and often went to see him in the prison. Micawber was released on the change of laws for the arrest of debts. He felt much obliged to David for the help in his need. david copperfield book pdf
The New Change : David was growing dissatisfied with his life at Murdstone and Grinby’. He wanted to leave the job and seek his life elsewhere in the world. He stayed there for a week more since he had accepted the advance for the week. After the week was over, he left the wine selling firm and went to his aunt Betsey Trotwood. He had received information about her house from Peggotty. Peggotty was ever kind to him. She sent half a guinea for David’s support.
Betsey Trotwood receives David : Meeting with innumerable difficulties in the way, sleeping in openfields, eating very little-David reached Betsey Trotwood’s house in Dover. She did not recognize the boy and said, “away with boys”. But when David told that he was her nephew she took kindly to him. He was taken inside on the advice of her counsellor Dick. David was given a refreshing bath. He was given new clothes and food. He sat on the sofa and this change in his life, prod, such a great comfort in his fatigued limbs, that he slept on the sof,
Next day Betsey Trotwood wrote a letter to Murdstone and a Murdstone to come to Dover. When they arrived, Betsey question them about David. Their impression was that he had been a vagaran youth and never took seriously to anything. Betsey was displeen their remarks and wished them to go away, and leave David to ho They went away and David felt a sigh of relief at their departure.
David’s Education at Dr. Strong’s Academy : Now the question of his education appeared prime most. She felt like making David a gentleman. She began to show special fondness for him and began to call him by the name of Trot. New clothes were supplied by her. She took her adopted child David to her lawyer Wickfield, and asked him about a school. David was, on his advice, sent in the academy of Dr. Strong in Canterbury. This school was different from Salem House’ and Dr. Strong was different from Creakle. He respected the boys. It was run on a sound system, and no brutal punishment was given. It had an appeal, in everything in the honour and good faith of the boys. The students felt that they had a part in the management of the place, and in sustaining its character and dignity. Noble games were allowed to be played at hours, and there was plenties of liberty in every direction. In Canterbury David put up with Mr. Wickfield, the lawyer. He met here his daughter Agnes. She was a very polite, gentle and graceful lady. Here he also met with a clerk Uriah Heep. He was very humble, but from his appearance, one could say that he was not simple, but a crafty fellow. He was assistant of Wickfield.
David’s training as a Proctor : After finishing his education at Dr. Strong’s academy David had to leave Canterbury, and he bade goodbye to Wickfield and Agnes. His aunt now wished him to be Proctor under Doctor Spenlow. She spent one thousand pounds on the articles. Rooms were hired for him at a high rent and he began his professional career in a dignified manner.
One day he received a letter from Agnes. She had been staying in a Lin the same town. He went to see her. Agnes was very gentle. She her father Wickfield was seeking partnership with Uriah
become too old and feeble to look after the work. Heep, since he had become too old and feeble to loo
ve this partnership, but since Agnes had given her David disapproved this partnership, but since Agnes consent to it, he did not object to the proposal. His life went on quickly. One day he went to Y,
quickly. One day he went to Yarmouth and met
tty. She had married with Barkis the Carrier. his old nurse Peggotty. She had married wit
ing state. He had been attacked with rheumatism. Barkis was in an ailing state.place. Here in a private conference Micawber abused Heep as the greatest scoundrel, and villain, he had ever met in life.
Exposure of Uriah Heep : Micawber decided to expose his villainy before all. Next day they all met by an appointment, and Micawber invited them to come to his office. They went to Micawber’s office, and before the party Micawber brought charges of theft, cheating and fraud against Heep. He was out masked. He had to kneel down. Hic own clerk was his accuser. Micawber said that he had forged signatures of Wickfield at a number of places, and passed many forged documents. Betsey knew now that the loss of her property was brought about by Heep. She caught hold of him, and recovered the amount of five thousand pounds from the forged papers of Heep.
Micawber’s Life in Australia : This was a great relief. Heep was turned out. He was arrested, and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment. Wickfield was made free of the coils of a villain. He again began to live patiently with his daughter Agnes. Micawber was given the money to relieve him of debts. Betsey proposed to meet all his expenses, if he liked to go to Australia. Micawber agreed and with his family set sail for Australia. He became the District Magistrate of a port town.
David’s Marriage with Agnes : David was progressing. He had established his fame as an eminent author. He once went to Wickfield, and expressed his choice for Agnes. Agnes responded favourably. They came together to Aunt Betsey’s place. They were married.
David Copperfield passed many more days of joy and peace with his wife and children. His aunt and his old nurse Peggotty had become old. They lived with Copperfield to see the future triumphs of his life.
Conclusion : Dickens regarded David Copperfield as his favourite novel. Most of the important incidents and experiences included in the novel have risen from the real incidents faced by Dickens. The hero David Copperfield is modelled by Dickens on himself. The author narrates the story in the first person emphasizes the autobiographical nature of the novel. Dickonanimalf says=”Of all my books I like this the best. I have in my heart fanite
child and his name is David Copperfield.”
david copperfield book pdf