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.
