“…In spite of my misgivings, a very handsome man.” I think this description is very cleverly done. It makes the character more real and life like so we can relate to. It emphasizes “never judge the book by its cover”.
Miss.Murdstone, sister of Mr.Murstone, doesn’t perform well either, description wise.
“. Gloomy-looking lady she was: dark, like her brother…” This shows the similarities of the characters, not only connected by blood, but also by appearance and by heart.
Jane Murdstone is stronger, colder, and more heartless than her brother. Dickens makes her seem inhuman by comparing her to metallic objects, especially locks, chains, and prisons. In a society where a spinster is a dependent creature, she uses her power over her brother to secure a home for herself.
“…Hard lack boxes…” “Hard brass nail.”
“. Hard steel purse…” “. Jail of a bag….”
“. Heavy chain.” “. Metallic lady.”
All the above quotes describe the ‘characters’ of the things she carry and how they resemble her. The word “hard” have come up several times and so has anything that has got to do with it. This just shows how much wickedness she posses only in her belongings.
I think the main feature in which Dickens expresses that really brings out the villainous of the characters are the things they do. Ever since entering the Copperfield household they have been controlling the family from simple duties around the house to the education of David. Miss Murdstones in particular chooses to do the duties around the house, claiming to relieve the troubles of Clara. She says:
“…. Give me your keys, my dear, I’ll attend to all this sort of thing…” Only within a day, Miss Murstone already gains the authority in managing the house.
“…From that time, Miss Murdstone kept the keys…”
Mr.Murdstone, the only male who is older then David, gained the most authority around the house. One of the worst things he did was educating David and how it resulted in the psychological suffering; he did it with such strictness that it was unbearable.
“. You must be far more careful to-day….”
He eventually beat David for answering wrongly,
“. Pray don’t beat me!” Beating was not illegal at the time of Dickens, and Dickens wanted to express how cruel children were being treated during this period and how little anyone can act, because of the dominance of men.
“. I heard my mother crying…” This sentence shows that even David’s mother could not act to protest; even when a ‘monster’ is beating someone she loved dearly.
Linking to what the Murdstones did, they also said a lot of disgraceful things that portrayed their characters, especially during the beating of David and their attitudes towards house keeping. Miss.Murdstone, in particular added a lot of unnecessary comments. At the very first time she met David, she gave a very rude speech.
“ Generally speaking….I don’t like boys.” Only in two words it made David feel so disposed.
Miss. Murdstone was like an echo of Mr.Murdstone; Anything Mr.Murdstone said that was significant, Miss Murdstone have to back it up with an unnecessary comment. For example when Mr.Murdstone was educating David he said:
“ He knows his lesson, or he does not know it..”
Miss Murdstone cunningly replied, “ He does not know it..” This whole lesson and the reply by the Murdstones make David feel stupid and disgraceful. David says “…the more stupid I get..” This perhaps itself is torturing David psychologically, thinking everything is his fault.
Despite the constant comment from Miss Murdstone, it had to be said that the things Mr. Murdstone says is the worst and do really scare David, especially this sentence,
“.. if I had an obstinate horse or dog to deal with, what do you think I do?”
“…I beat him….and if it were to cost him all the blood..”
Here Mr.Murdstone is comparing David with an animal and it just sums up the merciless soul that he has. The poor boy David describes his feelings “..hear my heart beat fast and high.”
Overall the characters Miss and Mr.Murdstone were successfully portrayed as two iniquitous characters. This is mainly done by the vocabulary and language Dickens use.
First of all, the story is written in first person narrative, which helps us enter the mind of David and actually seeing his suffering. For example when Clara was having a disagreement with Miss Murdstone about consulting development around the house, and Miss Murdstone is obviously winning, David naturally feels sorry for his mother. He says in first person narrative
“..through the tears that stood in my eyes..” Using 1st person makes the situation more meaningful and more real and we readers feel more towards him. Dickens also shows his awareness of the symbolic value of words in his descriptions. The ‘fetters’ and ‘rivets’ worn by Miss Murdstone are effective symbols of the barren, unfeeling soul within.
However, I think one of the best techniques Dickens uses is naming the characters. The Murdstones, who in my opinion are the main villains in the story, and their names are extracted from the words ‘murder’ and ‘stone’ which are both evil and cold blooded words. Stone is an object of sheer solidity and brutality.
I have found the names resembled greatly on their personalities.
Overall I think Dickens portrayed the Murdstones extremely well, not only in personality but also in the physical appearance and created a sense of evilness when they are around.