David Copperfield

After Mr. Barkis’ death, Peggotty’s family opens the box. They find a great deal of money from years of saving—over three thousand pounds—along with a number of odd trinkets. Mr. Barkis bequeathed one third of the money to Mr. Peggotty, Little Em’ly, and David; and two-thirds to his widow.

David spends the week busily arranging Peggotty’s affairs. He is so absorbed in the process that he does not see Little Em’ly. David’s family tells him she will marry Ham two weeks after the funeral. The funeral itself is a foggy event for David, who does not “attend in spirit” (1,047).

The adult David narrating the novel pauses, reflecting that he is afraid to write beyond this point in his life’s history. Nevertheless, he decides to continue, asserting, “It is no worse, because I write of it. It would be no better, if I stopped my most unwilling hand. It is done. Nothing can undo it; nothing can make it otherwise than as it was” (1,048).

After the funeral, Peggotty’s family gathers in the home. Ham arrives late and tearfully announces that Little Em’ly has run off with Steerforth. In a letter to her family, she claims she will not come home unless Steerforth makes her a lady through marriage. Mr. Peggotty promises Ham to find her.

David sorrowfully reflects that he never cared for Steerforth more than he did after learning of his betrayal. He grieves their friendship, and Steerforth himself, as “dead.”

Mr. Peggotty and David set out together to find Little Em’ly. They return to the inn, where Miss Mowcher tells David that she is deeply sorry for the part she unconsciously played in Little Em’ly’s desertion of Ham. She explains that when Steerforth last saw her, he gave her a letter to deliver to Little Emily (a letter she now believes was the start of their affair). She delivered the letter because she believed it was from David, not Steerforth. Miss Mowcher asks David not to judge her intellect based on her small stature. She promises that if she hears any news about Steerforth and Little Em’ly, she will notify David.

Mr. Peggotty and David visit the Steerforth home in search of Little Em’ly. Mr. Peggotty shows Steerforth’s mother the letter Little Em’ly wrote. Mrs. Steerforth tells him she already knows what has transpired between them. She tells Mr. Peggotty that her son will not marry Little Emily because he does not wish to “disgrace” himself, since “she is far below him” (1,096). She blames Mr. Peggotty’s parenting for Little Em’ly’s behavior. Mr. Peggotty humbly begs Mrs. Steerforth to help him in spite of her negative feelings.

Rosa Dartle directs her rage toward David, claiming the whole situation is his fault because he introduced Steerforth to Little Em’ly. She calls Em’ly “depraved” and “worthless,” raving that she would like to “have her whipped” (1,103). Mr. Peggotty leaves to search for his niece, claiming that his love for her has not changed, and he forgives her.

Even amidst the chaos of Little Em’ly’s disappearance, David continues to long for Dora. He takes regular nighttime walks past her house, never daring to enter. He refers to himself as Dora’s “moon-struck slave” (1,110).

Peggotty comes to London so David can help settle her affairs at the Doctor’s Commons. There, they run into Mr. Murdstone, who is about to marry another much younger woman. Peggotty expresses her bitterness toward Mr. Murdstone, claiming he ruined the life of David’s mother.

Mr. Spenlow invites David to his home for Dora’s birthday party. The sight of Dora enraptures David, though he struggles to share his feelings with her. He becomes intensely jealous of another young man named Red Whisker, believing he’s vying for Dora’s affections.

Dora’s friend Julia Mills observes the awkward silence of Dora and David, and assumes they are having a disagreement. She compels them to “make up” with a kiss. This kiss drives David crazy with desire.

David finally summons the nerve to embrace Dora. Sidestepping her dog Jip, he takes her into his arms and tells her he “should die without her” (1,142). As David confesses his love, Jip barks repeatedly. Later, David and Dora secretly meet at the home of Miss Mills. They quickly become engaged.

David writes to Agnes as soon as he becomes engaged to Dora. In this letter, he takes great pains to capture his deep feelings for Dora so Agnes won’t deem his engagement “a thoughtless passion” (1,147). As David writes, he pictures Agnes’s face, and the image has a calming effect on him.

Mrs. Crupp disrupts this calm by becoming weirdly antagonistic toward Peggotty. She does not appreciate Peggotty’s obsessive inquiries regarding David’s well-being, and goes so far as to set traps on the stairs for Peggotty. Though David disapproves, he is too afraid of Mrs. Crupp to deter her.

Traddles comes to visit David. He tells David more about his fiancée Sophy, who is the fourth of ten children. Her father is a curate who serves as a caregiver for his disabled wife. As Traddles narrates these details, he blushes, seemingly self-conscious about the ways his humble partner compares to the wealthy Dora.

According to Traddles, Mr. Micawber’s debts have risen out of control. Authorities have seized Mr. Micawber’s assets, and Traddles conspires with Peggotty to buy them back. Mr. Micawber’s situation is so bad that he moves again and changes his name to Mortimer. Traddles emphasizes that he will continue to help Mr. Micawber in any way he can.

Miss Betsey and Mr. Dick unexpectedly arrive at David’s apartment with a great deal of luggage. Miss Betsey hopes her nephew is now “firm and self-reliant” because she is financially “ruined” (1,166).

With David’s help, Miss Betsey and Mr. Dick find new lodging. Their apartment is small and humble, but it greatly pleases Mr. Dick. David explains their dire financial situation to Mr. Dick, who becomes greatly distressed and naively wonders if he might assist by publishing Memorial.

David tells his aunt about Little Em’ly’s desertion of Ham. Miss Betsey is predictably matter-of-fact in her assessment of the situation, saying that Em’ly brought any misery she experiences upon herself. The conversation then turns to Dora, and Miss Betsey gently admonishes David for his “light-headed” (1,177) notion of marriage. The idea that Dora will have to experience poverty as his wife depresses David.

With the hope of regaining Miss Betsey’s down payment, David attempts to withdraw from his apprenticeship with Spenlow and Jorkins. Mr. Spenlow blames his rarely seen partner, Mr. Jorkins for refusing to refund the money. When David insists on meeting with Mr. Jorkins, however, Mr. Jorkins tells him that he has no objection to refunding the money, and the refusal is Mr. Spenlow’s.

Agnes learns of David’s financial distress through a letter from Miss Betsey and comes to comfort David and his aunt. David is overjoyed to see her. When Agnes expresses surprise that he wouldn’t prefer to see Dora, David realizes that he has momentarily forgotten his fiancée.

Agnes brings the unsettling news that Uriah Heep is destroying her father’s business, and that the Heeps have moved into the Wickfields’ home. She also tells David that Doctor Strong is currently seeking a secretary, and suggests that David take the job. 

Mr. Wickfield arrives at the apartment with Uriah, who behaves with repulsive mock-subservience. Miss Betsey derides the poor decision of Mr. Wickfield to make Uriah partner, stating that Agnes is worth the whole firm. In his typical writhing manner, Uriah insinuates that he wishes for Agnes to marry him. Unable to tolerate Uriah’s obnoxious mannerisms, Miss Betsey goes on a tirade against him.

David sees his financial setbacks as an opportunity and resolves to prove his worth to both Dora and Miss Betsey. He goes to Doctor Strong and asks about the secretary job. Doctor Strong eagerly offers it to David, explaining that he needs help assembling a dictionary. The two men immediately begin working together.

Doctor Strong explains that Jack Maldron has returned from India because he supposedly couldn’t bear the hot climate. While David, Doctor Strong, and Annie enjoy breakfast together, Jack comes by to ask if Annie can join him for an evening at the opera. Annie attempts to decline the invitation. Doctor Strong, however, insists that Annie go. David observes that Annie looks unhappy. Ultimately, Annie manages to cancel and visit Agnes instead.

Mr. Dick is greatly distressed by Miss Betsey’s financial situation, and David finds him hard at work on Memorial. To distract him, David takes him to see Traddles. David and Traddles give Mr. Dick work copying legal documents.

Shortly after this visit, David receives a letter from Mr. Micawber. In the letter, Mr. Micawber explains that he plans to move once again, and invites David and Traddles to a farewell dinner. At dinner, Mr. Micawber reveals that he is going to Canterbury to work for Uriah Heep. Though David finds this news disturbing, he congratulates Mr. Micawber on finding a job.

David continues to devote himself to earning money and living an austere lifestyle, hoping to save enough to support Dora. He sees himself as a martyr for Dora, reflecting, “I made a perfect victim of myself” (1,255).

One Saturday, David goes to see Dora at the home of Julia Mills. In an effort to make light of his financial troubles, David asks Dora if she could ever love an impoverished man. Dora bursts into tears over the idea of living in poverty, and David attempts to console her. He tells Dora that he will understand if she needs to call off the engagement. She replies that her heart still belongs to David in spite of his poverty, though she continues to panic whenever David reminds her of his financial situation. David suggests that Dora might help financially by assisting him and Doctor Strong with a Cookery Book. Julia Mills, however, doesn’t believe Dora is cut out for work.

David explains that even though he continued to love Dora through their entire relationship, this moment marked a turning point in his understanding of her. Throughout their marriage, she never comprehended what he went through to maintain their finances. Likewise, after he “frightened Dora that time” (1,272), David lived in constant anxiety of frightening her again.  

David becomes obsessed with honing his proctor skills by documenting the Parliamentary Debates. This process requires him to learn a series of complex codes. Though David enlists the help of Miss Betsey, Traddles, and Mr. Dick, he continues to struggle hopelessly. 

One morning, Mr. Spenlow sternly calls David into his office. Miss Murdstone is inside, and she presents a parcel of love letters between David and Dora. Miss Murdstone explains that she discovered these letters the night before when she noticed Dora’s dog Jip running around with one in his mouth.

After David confesses to this secret affair, Mr. Spenlow reprimands him. He threatens to burn the letters, orders David to refer to his daughter as “Miss Spenlow,” and forbids him to continue seeing her. Furthermore, he tells David that if he continues to see Dora in secret, he will disinherit her and send her to live abroad. When David balks at the idea of “abandoning” the woman he loves, Mr. Spenlow advises him to “take a week” (1,293).

Mr. Spenlow dies in a tragic carriage accident that night. In the days immediately following the accident, Dora is overwhelmed with guilt and grief. Initially, she refuses to meet with David, feeling it would be wrong to focus on anyone but her father.

Julia Mills continues to serve as an intermediary between David and Dora, maintaining a daily diary of Dora’s activities for David. David cleaves to this diary and hopes that eventually, Dora will agree to meet with him. 

Troubled by David’s dejected attitude, Miss Betsey insists that he visit her. David is pleased by the condition of her cottage, and he comforts her by reporting that the tenant of her former apartment is waging a war against donkeys.

David then visits Agnes and Mr. Wickfield. He finds Mr. Micawber working in the lower office that used to be Uriah Heep’s. Mr. Micawber is uneasy and somehow changed, though David can’t seem to describe precisely how.

David speaks with Agnes about his problems with Dora. Agnes encourages David to write to Dora’s aunts and ask permission to visit, advising him not to harbor secrets. Mrs. Heep abruptly interrupts Agnes and David’s private conversation, watchfully hovering around them. Later that evening, when Uriah follows David out on a walk, David tells him he went out to escape the feeling of being watched. Uriah admits that he told his mother to keep an eye on David and Agnes. He is relieved when David tells him he is engaged to someone else and is not a rival for Agnes’s hand.

Uriah announces that he plans to marry Agnes soon. When David protests that Agnes is too good for him, Uriah explains that his father taught him to abase himself to those in power. Uriah uses his performance of humility to make those above him lower their guard so he can seize power when they least expect it.

At dinner, Uriah announces his intention to marry Agnes, provoking cries of outrage from the already anguished, intoxicated Mr. Wickfield. When David urges him to calm down for the sake of his daughter, Mr. Wickfield replies, “Look at my torturer […] Before him I have step by step abandoned name and reputation, peace and quiet, house and home” (1,349). Uriah responds to this outburst by telling Mr. Wickfield to quiet down because he knows Mr. Wickfield’s secret. After this pronouncement, Mr. Wickfield demurely apologizes to Uriah.

Greatly disturbed by this scene, David begs Agnes not to marry Uriah out of a mistaken sense of duty.