Charles Dickens: David Copperfield THE PLOT of David Copperfield David Copperfield concerns the growing-up of a boy, who, orphaned at an early age, experiences considerable hardship. He is ill-treated by his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone, then forced to work under appalling conditions in a London warehouse. This is a marked contrast to his idyllic early childhood, before the re-marriage and death of his gentle mother. David's life improves greatly when he runs away from his job to seek out his Aunt, Betsey Trotwood. She sends him to school and arranges for him to board with kindly lawyer, Mr. Wickfield, whose daughter, Agnes, proves to be a good friend to David. Once his education is completed, David is articled in law and meets Dora, whom he loves passionately and marries. The main action of the plot concerns Mr. Wickfield's clerk, Uriah Heep, who is both ambitious and malicious. Heep secretly plots him employer's riun. Once his wicked schemes are exposed, it only remains for David, now an accomplished writer, to find truE fulfilment. When Dora dies, David turns to Agnes for comfort. She has quietly loved him all along and, by the end of the book, David has matured enough to return her love. Chapter Summary By Poppy Edmunds CHAPTER 1 – I AM BORN David Copperfield is born (delivered by Mr Chillip. It tells of how his father died when Clara, his mother, was 6 months pregnant with him. David's father's aunt (Betsey Trotwood) arrives when he is being born. She leaves when it is announced that the baby is a boy. Peggotty, the housemaid is happy. CHAPTER 2 – I OBSERVE Clara Copperfield is out with Mr Murdstone, and David speaks to Peggotty about marriage. She says she is quite happy single. Clara Copperfield returns with Murdstone and Copperfield takes an instant dislike to him. CHAPTER 3 – I HAVE A CHANGE Copperfield goes to Peggotty’s brother’s house to stay in Yarmouth. He falls in love with Emily. (Mr Peggotty’s niece). They return home after 2 weeks, to find Cla
