CHARLES DICKENS-DAVID COPPERFIELD

BILDUNSROMAN-----David Copperfield, is one of Charles Dickenss many famous literary works.

Considered a fictional-autobiography by the many comparisons found to his true life, this
bildungsroman follows the life of a young middle class boy named David. This novel, like many of
Dickenss works, focuses on the one primary character; a Victorian novel written during Britains
industrial revolution, David Copperfield covers a slew of then contemporary social issues ranging
from the suppression of women and the abuse of children, to the undisciplined heart and good vs.
evil. This analysis of David Copperfield however, will focus on the social class structure in the novel;
how David Copperfield questions the idea that ones class status is inevitable from birth, that the
class structure is a necessity for order, and that the people of the lower classes predominantly come
off as better people, in a moral context, which may allow some characters to transcend their class
So it is understandable that Dickens would create a character that parallels his life so much that he
almost transcends reality into fiction. While some of Dickenss own life experiences may have been
too hard to include, or relate to with specifics, in many ways he created David as a fictionalautobiographical character. This would also explain why he calls David his favorite character, when
he is known for so many: Of all my books, I like this the best. Literature that gets classified as being
a bildungsroman will most likely involve a story of suffering, hardship, and foolish decisions that
eventually ends with a positive outcome;
The fact that this book is a bildungsroman is an important part of the class structure concept as well.
David was born into a well to do middle class family. Unfortunately for him, his father died soon after
his mother became pregnant with him, and while his early childhood was happy, his mothers
marriage to the insidious Mr. Murdstone resulted in his fall from the middle class life. As he matures
and moves on in life, we watch him struggle to fight his way back to where he believes he should be;
all of this is given to us through the bildungsroman.
SOCIAL CLASS-----In David Copperfield, the class system serves as more than just a labeling system;
in this novel, the class system is a tool used to create challenges for people to try to raise their
status, and fears to motivate others to hold onto theirs. Beyond that, the characters in this novel
show their status in society partially based on the way they behave, especially when dealing with
people from other social classes. Lets analyze the three primary social classes, and the prominent
characters from each one.
The primary characters making up the upper class in David Copperfield include his school friend
James Steerforth, and his mother, Mrs. Steerforth. Both characters live off old money, never actually
having to work a day in their lives: both characters behave with contempt and cruelty when dealing
with middle and lower class characters. The scene that stuck out most with James, is his argument
with Professor Mell during class. Even though Mr. Mell is his teacher, and superior, because David let
slip that Mells mother lives in a shelter, James feels superior to him. Mr. Creakle, fires Mr. Mell for
being poor. By doing this, Mr. Creakle reinforces Steerforths belief that he is better than Mr. Mell,
simply because he was born with money. --Steerforth is telling them that the Peggottys, being lower
class, are so base, that they dont feel emotional pain like an upper class or middle class person
would. They are like animals to him, it means nothing to him when he speaks down to or about them,
because he has convinced himself it doesnt really hurt them.
As for his mother, Mrs. Steerforth, she shows her disdain for the lower class when she finds out that
Steerforth has run away with little Emily. After reading Emilys letter, she says that Steerforth could
never be with Emily.
Most middle class characters are successful business owners, and members of the specialized
working classes: teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc Surprisingly, the middle class characters in David
Copperfield are much the same in context of social viewpoints; however, some difference exists in
the opportunity that becomes available to middle class characters, redemption. Specifically, I will
focus on the similarities and differences between David Copperfield and Uriah Heep. If we saw both
characters childhoods through the bildungsroman that we were offered for David, we would see a
surprisingly similar story. Both David and Uriah were raised in middle class families, and both also
grew up without fathers. Because of this, both characters not only suffered financially, but became
especially close to their mothers, Its difficult to make full comparisons for these characters, since we
only see a limited view of Uriah, but part of what makes him so important, as a character, is that he
is the Yang to Davids Yin. What becomes paramount to the story however, is the vast array of

differences we discover in Davids and Uriahs moral compass. David, growing up sheltered and
spoiled by his mother and Peggotty, has a mild sense of entitlement. As he goes through the story
we see examples of his naivety when he supports Steerforth over his teacher, when he refuses to
associate with the other kids at Murdstone and Grinby, and when he romanticizes the life of the
Peggottys, but whats most important is how he grows as a character through the progression of the
novel. With his first wife, Dora, we see David acting much the same as his step-father, Mr. Murdstone,
did with his own mother. He looks down upon her, thinks she cant do anything right, and always tries
to change her. But after her death, and his hiatus away from Britain, David comes back as a more
experienced man, marries the woman of his dreams, and becomes a writer.
We do not see the same changes in Uriah Heep. From the beginning, Uriah is described as a shady
character, when David first sees him in chapter XV, he describes him as cadaverous. Uriah
embodies all the wrong choices from the very beginning. When we see him, we dont get the naivety
image we were given with David; instead, he is shown as a cold, calculated character. His initial
negative actions include encouraging Mr. Wickfield to drink, and falsifying documents to blackmail
him into making Uriah a partner in his company. Like Davids Agnes, Uriah is given the chance for
redemption via prison, but unlike David, he refuses to change his way, continuing to play the part of
deceitful and umble, even in prison.
The lower class, at least in Charles Dickens eyes, is where the majority of just and moral characters
reside. Not only do most lower class characters simply act in a more loving and understanding way,
but you will also notice that the complete nuclear families are all in the lower class. The characters
from both the upper and middle class came from incomplete homes. Steerforth, David, and Uriah are
all without fathers, and Steerforths mother is without a husband. So because there is an emphasis
on families within the lower class, I will analyze two complete families: The Peggottys and The
Micawbers.
Davids Views on Class As the novel progresses, the readers are given a window into all aspects of
Davids life. We see what he sees, feel what he feels, and think what he thinks. This is important to
the class structure concept, because David offers us a personal view of how people saw others
around them based upon their class. His view allows readers to better understand the differences in
social class, because for American citizens, its difficult to compare the British class systems rigidity.
For David, life was a struggle to maintain the middle class lifestyle that was, in the eyes of the 1800s
British class system, his birth right. This is an important thing to understand because it influences
why he looks at people of different classes the way that he does.
True Happiness--Many times throughout the novel, the search for true happiness takes
prominence. The narrator notes in particular the innocent joy David had as a child before his mother
married Mr. Murdstone. The plot in general focuses on David's search for true happiness, and it is up
to the reader to judge whether or not he has succeeded.
All of the characters find or try to find their own routes to happiness. Some, such as David and the
Peggottys, find true happiness through their families and spouses. Others, such as the Micawbers
and Uriah, believe that money will bring them great happiness, although the Micawbers are also
happy just remaining with one another. Still others, such as Dora, find happiness in simple, frivolous
pleasures. Dickens appears to question whether any of these characters can ever find true
happiness, for each of these methods of reaching happiness has its pros and cons.
Good vs. Evil--Dickens makes the symbols of good and evil very easy to distinguish in the novel,
although one must note that these concepts are more complex than they might seem, not least
because they are embodied as fairly complex characters. The theme of good versus evil is prevalent
especially as a symbolic battle for David's soul betweenAgnes Wickfield and Steerforth. Agnes
represents David's "good angel," as he calls her. She is his voice of reason and is the person who is
able to calm him and give him the advice that he needs. Steerforth, in contrast, is his "bad angel," as
Agnes says. He is the one who feeds David's desire for upper-class, shallow wealth and leads him to
do things like get very drunk and embarrass himself in public.Uriah also is very commonly a symbol
of evil. He is eventually defeated by Agnes, Miss Betsey, Mr. Micawber, and Traddles, all of whom are

symbols of good. Yet, there are times when the evil wins out, namely in the case of David's mother
Clara and the Murdstones. The evil duo overpower her and contribute to her death.
The "Undisciplined Heart"--David's "undisciplined heart" is his tendency to fall victim to passion. He
falls very quickly and very strongly for girls. This is especially the case regarding Dora, with whom he
falls in love even before he has had the chance to say one word to her. He learns that she does not
like to work around the house and is unwilling to learn about keeping a house, but he still decides to
marry her.
Minor examples of David's undisciplined heart include his feelings for Miss Shepherd, a brief crush on
a person he barely knew, and his impractical crush on another woman much older than he. It is not
until the very end of the novel that he learns to control or understand his undisciplined heart, and it
is then that he finally realizes that Agnes is the person whom he truly loves maturely.
Children and Their Treatment---Dickens apparently is fascinated with children, and this novel
examines in detail how children are treated. The narrator mentions near the beginning of the novel
how impressive it is that children can remember so many details so clearly, and he claims that he is
proud to have such a childlike memory himself.
Furthermore, the simpler, more childlike characters are among the sweetest in the novel. For
example, Tommy Traddles is very simple and sweet in demeanor, and he goes on to be a successful
lawyer, engaged to a beautiful, generous woman. Dora Spenlow may not know how to do household
chores, but her devotion to David is extremely touching and admirable, and it wins David's heart.
Finally,Mr. Dick, very simple-minded, is perhaps the best-liked character in the novel.
Childlike simplicity and innocence thus are valued in the moral world of the novel. When Dickens
writes scenes that show cruelty to children, he most likely is demonstrating an evil to raise readers
passions against such cruelty.
Female Empowerment
The novel explores feminine power to some degree, seeming to favor strong, powerful women, such
as Peggotty and Miss Betsey. In contrast, women who do not hold much power or who simply exist in
their marriages, such as Clara Copperfield, do not fare very well. Miss Betsey, an admired character
throughout the novel, fights against her husband and manages to acquire a divorce, a feat that was
not simple for women at the time (although he continues to bother her for money some time
afterward). Mr. and Mrs. Micawber, however, are a good example of a married couple in which each
spouse holds almost an equal amount of power, and they are a very happy couple, even though they
are broke. Thus, Dickens seems to be a proponent of feminine power in the sense of basic equality in
institutions such as marriage.
The Role of the Father
The role of the father figure is one of the first issues that comes up in the novel, for David is born six
months after his father dies. Dickens is apparently suggesting that a father figure is essential for
happiness and developing a good character. Still, not all fathers or father figures fit the norm or are
even beneficial. Peggotty seems to be David's father figure growing up, for he describes her as large
and "hard." Thus, he has a disciplinary figure along with his warm, loving mother to give him a

balanced childhood. Little Em'ly and Ham have Mr. Peggotty, and both turn out to be very good
people, especially Ham. Little Em'ly is simply seduced by Steerforth, who, as it turns out, never had a
father figure and even admits that he regrets that and wishes that he could have had a father figure
so that he could be a better person. Uriah has no father mentioned either, and he is one of the most
evil characters in the novel.