David:

He led a miserable childhood. His mother got married to a cruel man who treated David badly. David suffered a lot from the cruelty of this man.  He sent him to a boarding school. After his mother’s death, his stepfather forced him to leave school and work in a wine factory. His aunt saved him from the hands of this man. After finishing school, his aunt paid him money to be trained as a law clerk with Mr Spenlow. Later, he helped his aunt in condition of distress. He got married to Dora whom he loved for so much. David was writing newspaper. David’s love to Dora could be described as foolish and romantic. His interpretation of Dora’s inability to run a house shows some sense of immaturity.David traveled through many countries. He ended up in Switzerland where he settled down and rented a home. Then, he felt that he loved Agnes and he never showed her love except as a sister. His love to her shows his growing maturity as an adult.

He stayed three years away from his country. When he returned, he decided to reveal his love to Agnes whom he found, was in love of him all her life. David and Agnes lived happily with their three children. David showed high sense of maturity when he expressed his sentiments towards Agnes and how much he valued her tranquility over everything in his life.

Aunt Betsey:

Although she behaved strangely at the beginning, she proved to be a kind and loving character  through series of actions and her positive role in David’s life. She played the role of the good mother in David’s life.She decided to face the cruel  and supposed protector of David in order to save her nephew. Although she adored David, she didn’t dote on him. She wanted him to be strong and perfect. In fact, she didn’t mind paying a big amount of money for David’s training in order to secure a good future for him. She raised David in a way that made him deal or face difficulties and not to escape. She was the perfect guardian for David. She helped him to grow as a useful character in society. 

James Steerfoth:

He is an egoistical wealthy man. David’s innocence was unable to detect the real intentions of this man. On the contrary, David adored him. He befriended David either to make friends or to take advantage of him. He used David to fire Mr Mell from his job. David failed to understand him. He even had a bad influence on David when he made him reach to a drunken state. When Agnes warned him against his evil character, David didn’t trust such understanding of Steerforth’s character. Dickens wanted to say that sometimes wealth corrupts people through such character. He made advantage of David when he wanted to accompany  the Peggottys to reach a certain goal. Later, he managed to seduce an simple and poor girl by tempting her with his money. David was shocked by Steerforth’s shameful act.

Uriah Heep:

Uriah served as a foil to David. They have very opposing characteristics. Not only do they have opposing traits but also they have different purposes. For example, Uriah wanted to marry Agnes only in order to hurt David while David’s both marriages were motivated by love. The frequent contrast between their characters showed David’s kindness and innocence and the other’s evil. He wanted to grow in power by any means without any regard to the morals. He gained power in Mr Wickfield’s office but he was not satisfied with that. He became power- hungry until he gained power over Mr Wickfield. He exploited Mr Wickfield to make money. Micawber is the one who revealed the truth about him. He explained how he gained power in the office. Uriah cheated the good , Mr Wickfield and forged his signature to put him in troubles with the investors , then he told Mr Wickfield that owed money to everyone. This act showed his immorality and his readiness to follow any illegal ways to achieve his desires. 

Themes of David Copperfield

The plight of the weak

Dickens showed throughout his novel how the powerful abuse the weak and the helpless. He focused on the example of orphans and women.  David suffered at the hands of the so-called his protectors.  The powerful Mr Murdstone separated him from his mother. As an orphan, David was made to work at a wine factory. Being David’s guardian, Mr Murdstone exploited David by letting him work at this early age, knowing that he would never disobey. This shows the arbitrary abuse of the innocent and weak. The children at Salem House were made to suffer at the hands of their protector, Mr Creakle. David’s mother turned into a voiceless person at the hands of her powerful husband. Emily, the poor and helpless girl was abused by the wealthy and powerful.  Only, Aunt Betsey who gained power from her wealth was able to confront  the powerful Murdstone and save David from his domination.

Theme of Wealth and Class

Dickens used the wealthy and powerful Steerforth to show that these traits sometimes corrupt the person rather than improve him. In fact he used his wealth and status to seduce a poor and simple girl. On the other hand, we have Ham and Peggotty who were entirely good and kind. Dickens didn’t go so far in his judgment.  He didn’t say that all poor are entirely good and the wealthy are totally bad. He showed poor people who swindled David though he was poor like them. On the contrary, he represented Agnes and Dr Strong who were good examples of the rich people. Indeed, Dickens wants to say that we have to judge people’s morals according to their deeds and behaviour not their wealth or class.