The novel David Copperfield, written by Charles Dickens, deals with the life and times of David C

opperfield. About a century ago in a small town in England, David was born on a Friday at the strok
e of midnight, which is considered a sign of bad luck. David's father has already died and his aunt
comes to stay with him and his mother as this novel gets off to a very slow start. Soon David beco
mes aware that his mother has relations with another man and asks one of his servants, 'if you marry
a person, and the person dies, why then you may marry another person, mayn't you?' David is immedi
ately angered that his mother has betrayed his father and goes off to live with his aunt. A while l
ater, David goes back home but quickly gets into trouble and is sent off to school. Di
ckens uses excellent description in his telling of this story and the reader can easily relate to th
e characters. The setting of a small town in England is standard in all of his novels, including G
reat Expectations. The reason for this Dickens' setting is because he was born in the town of Ports
mouth, England in 1812. Although as a young child he moved to Chatham where he experienced a pleasa
nt childhood in which many scenes from his childhood are intertwined throughout his novels. Dickens
father was constantly in debt and was eventually sent to jail. This memory was agonizing for young
Charles as years later he wrote: 'No words can express the secret agony of my soul. I felt my earl
y hopes of growing up to be a learned and distinguished man, crushed in my breast.' This directly r
elates to Dickens discussion of David in a wine house later in the novel. A couple of years later,
Dickens attends school at the Wellington House Academy where he fell in love with Maria Beadnell but
her father opposed the marriage and nothing became of it. David Copperfield is more of a biography
of Dickens life made into fiction than of just a regular story about a boy. Dickens writing skills
are apparent as he ties chapters together in an easy to understand novel where the writing seems to
move along swiftly. Dickens work is rich with metaphors and enjoyable to analyze as in statements
such as, 'he eats at one gulp exactly like an elephant.' This book is a classic and may be consider
ed his best work. There are times when the novel moves slowly, but the positives outweigh the negat
ives and David Copperfield is a book for everyone. That summer after returning from sc
hool he finds his new baby brother, and doesn't exactly know what to think of the situation. He soo
n must leave again for school but is actually happy for his mother. He and his mother did not get a
long, and David knew that he would never see her again. She dies soon afterward, and although they
did not get along, David takes her death with much grief and sadness. Soon David set
s off to Miss Betsey's house, an old friend, and again Dickens' description is brought out as David
is described as being, 'a dusty, sunburnt, half- clothed figure.' The novel is gradually picks up f
lavor and humor as David's aunt, Miss Trotwood, is described. A parallel to his life is drawn here
when he finds out that his previous guardian was put in jail because of unpaid debts. After not bei
ng able to find his aunt he stays with a doctor and becomes fond of the daughter Agnes. As David is
introduced to his teacher, the plot starts to take a light-hearted, humorous twist. Thus the boring
introduction is forgotten and Dickens graceful style is brought out. David eventuall
y meets a young girl named Dora and marries her at the age of twenty one in which time he becomes a
successful writer. About a year passes and he starts to have troubles with his marriage, but his wr
iting becomes more successful every day. David is soon expecting a baby and he hopes that it will '
make more of a woman' out of Dora, for she is a poor wife. Sadly though, the baby dies soon after i
t is delivered. Soon after, David gets a letter which says it is urgent to meet at his aunt's house.
The letter worries him because he thinks Emily, his childhood love, is dead. But when he goes, he
soon realizes that Emily is alive and overhears a conversation she is having with a lady. David th
en hears the tale of how Emily disappeared. Soon after, his wife dies as does Emily's husband. But
David is too distraught to take action and leaves the country for three years, during which time hi
s books gain much popularity. When he returns the exciting climax of the novel is brought out throu
gh Dickens classic style. Throughout the novel, there is no set antagonist that Dicken
s uses. Mr. Murdstone, the man that David's mother marries could be classified as the antagonist be
cause he often beats David and drives David's mother to an early death. Because this novel is more
of a biography of Dickens life it is hard to find a certain person that goes against David, however,
the man that marries his childhood love could also be classified as the antagonist. Again there is
no set theme to the novel because of its biography form. Although a theme throughout David's life
could be to take advantage of the situation and if you see something you want, grab it, do not hold
back and your life will prosper because of it. As the book ends, Dickens wraps up the novel disposi
ng of all of the characters in the book. This is basically Dickens 'anti-climatic wrapping up' port
ion of the novel in which he does at the end of all his books. Overall, this book displayed humor a
t times and sorrow at times but was fluent in style and a fun book to read.novel david copperfield w
ritten charles dickens deals with life times david copperfield about century small town england davi
d born friday stroke midnight which considered sign luck father already died aunt comes stay with mo
ther this novel gets very slow start soon becomes aware that mother relations with another asks serv
ants marry person person dies then marry another person mayn immediately angered that mother betraye
d father goes live aunt while later goes back home quickly gets into trouble sent school dickens use
s excellent description telling this story reader easily relate characters setting small town englan
d standard novels including great expectations reason this dickens setting because born town portsmo
uth england although young child moved chatham where experienced pleasant childhood which many scene
s from childhood intertwined throughout novels father constantly debt eventually sent jail memory ag
onizing young charles years later wrote words express secret agony soul felt early hopes growing lea
rned distinguished crushed breast directly relates discussion wine house later novel couple years at
tends school wellington house academy where fell love maria beadnell opposed marriage nothing became
copperfield more biography life made into fiction than just regular story about writing skills appa
rent ties chapters together easy understand where writing seems move along swiftly work rich metapho
rs enjoyable analyze statements such eats gulp exactly like elephant book classic considered best wo
rk there times when moves slowly positives outweigh negatives book everyone that summer after return
ing from school finds baby brother doesn exactly know what think situation soon must leave again act
ually happy along knew would never again dies soon afterward although they along takes death much gr
ief sadness sets miss betsey house friend again description brought described being dusty sunburnt h
alf clothed figure gradually picks flavor humor aunt miss trotwood described parallel life drawn her
e when finds previous guardian jail because unpaid debts after being able find stays doctor becomes
fond daughter agnes introduced teacher plot starts take light hearted humorous twist thus boring int
roduction forgotten graceful style brought eventually meets young girl named dora marries twenty whi
ch time becomes successful writer about year passes starts have troubles marriage writing more succe
ssful every expecting baby hopes will make more woman dora poor wife sadly though baby dies after de
livered gets letter says urgent meet letter worries because thinks emily childhood love dead when go
es realizes emily alive overhears conversation having lady then hears tale emily disappeared wife do
es husband distraught take action leaves country three years during time books gain much popularity
returns exciting climax brought through classic style throughout there antagonist uses murdstone mar
ries could classified antagonist often beats drives early death biography hard find certain against
however marries love could also classified antagonist there theme biography form although theme thro
ughout could take advantage situation something want grab hold back your will prosper book ends wrap
s disposing characters basically anti climatic wrapping portion does books overall displayed humor t
imes sorrow fluent style readEssay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termpapers, term papers, book rep
orts, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free research, book research, study help,
download essay, download term papers