David Copperfield

 

David Copperfield

(sixth book of my 2025 project: 6 classics before turning to 60)

Author: Charles Dickens

Genre: classic fiction

Number of pages: 882

First published: 1850

Setting: England

Rating: 4 stars

First sentence: Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.

One sentence comment: Reading the socially critical novel was a four-month undertaking, and to my surprise, I found myself enjoying it even when my patience was tested.

 

"The pen that wrote David Copperfield was often dipped in his own blood"—a powerful sentiment that perfectly captures the profound sorrow woven into the book from its very first pages. One of the initial quotes that resonated with me was spoken by David's mother before her passing. She remembered her late husband's words: "a loving heart was better and stronger than wisdom." Considering the profound suppression she faced in her second marriage and the manner of her death, I couldn't help but suspect her demise was linked to depression.

 

My journey with this book was a slow burn. At first, I struggled to connect, put off by the perceived weakness of David's mother and the harshness of his stepfather. But the moment David became an orphan, the story truly captivated me, leaving me anxious to know his fate. I pictured myself as a 19th-century reader, desperate to buy every single newspaper installment just to keep up with David's unfolding life. This is a fantastic book that I read meticulously, word by word. Sometimes, I even listened to Gildart Jackson's reading, which brought the characters to life with vivid voices during the lockdown. I only discovered his narration recently, though.

 

Dickens was a genius at portraying people comically, perhaps to ensure David's misfortunes weren't too severe to bear. He might have misled us into believing many people behaved like clowns. However, I've observed that the major characters—David, his mother, and his nurse—all acted quite normally. I grew particularly sympathetic to David's aunt, Mrs. Betsey Trotwood. She welcomed David with a peculiar warmth, reminding me of another aunt who distrusted men in Great Expectations.

The story features three strikingly vivid young female characters: Dora, Agnes, and Emily. It's frustrating to read David's constant declarations of love for Dora, especially when we finally get a clearer picture of her character in Chapter 36. Dora feels like a figure of ridicule in modern times, a woman treated and doted on like a child. Perhaps this type of woman is every foolish man's dream. Gildart Jackson voiced my exact thought after reading that chapter: "Why didn't David love Agnes instead of Dora?" Agnes, the wise friend David often sought for advice, had endured significant hardship, facing a sick father and an intrusive villain. I truly wished David could save her from that man who craved her. My sympathy also extends to Emily. Unlike Dora and Agnes, she dared to defy the expectations of those who loved and protected her. I can see her attempt to break free and assert her independence through her pursuit of love. However, the era she lived in ultimately denied her the right to choose her own happiness.

 

Dickens's book vividly reminds me of how people approached life in the past, particularly when a major funeral is described. People seemed to consider life as a whole, rather than focusing solely on "enjoying oneself in the moment," as we modern-day individuals often prioritize. I cherish spending a free morning slowly immersing myself in the details of life during that era. This practice helps me balance the fast-paced, practical nature of contemporary life with the slower, more philosophical existence of the past. I'm gaining an increasingly profound appreciation for reading classic books.

 

It's striking how similar the relationship between people and their pets was in Dickens's time compared to today. For example, Dora, an only child, shared a particularly close bond with her dog, Pip. When selecting wedding presents, she even purchased a fancy dollhouse for him. On her wedding day, Dora insisted on carrying Pip, fearing he might feel neglected. This suggests that in an affluent society with abundant resources, people often turn their affection towards animals for companionship.

It's interesting how the British retain Victorian euphemisms like 'lady's man' and 'sweet on one another,' echoing the deceptive language of the schemer, Uriah.