David Copperfield

Description

David Copperfield is a semi-autobiographical novel that flows through his life-story from childhood days into adult life. The novel starts as young David Copperfield was born in the early 19th century, followed by his life in the society while running through a series of challenges at both personal and societal levels.

At an early age, David orphaned and kept with his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel. After following a very harsh upbringing and thereafter an unfortunate series of misfortunes which include the loss of his mother whom he’d love dearly, David eventually escaped to London for further continuation of life there as a writer, by whom he would eventually make his way in all manners of relationships in remarkable characters, friends, mentors, and adversaries.

Major Characters
David Copperfield: The protagonist and narrator whose life story gives the central focus of the novel.
Clara Copperfield: Gentle but stupid mother of David.
Mr. Murdstone: The stepfather who exercises very harsh discipline upon David.
Uriah Heep: A hypocritical manipulative character trying to bring down David.
Peggotty: The guardian nurse to young David who symbolized warmth and kindness.
Themes:
Coming of Age and Identity: The novel traces David’s growth and discovery as he faces the challenges of life.
Social Class and Inequality: Dickens forcefully voices his opposition to the strict class division system of Victorian England, as well as atrocities faced by the lowest classes.
Friendship and Loyalty: Real relations that David develops with various people reflect the importance of true relationships.
Importance:
Actually, David Copperfield has been one of the greatest works of Dickens, rich in excellent characterizations and therefore very telling. Essentially, the novel is an autobiography and fiction. It reflects the personal experiences of Dickens and his observation of society. The novel has substantially affected literature over time, with numerous translations in the form of many films and stage productions among other media.

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