David was sent away to live Peggoty and her family for a few weeks and he believed it was just for a nice holiday away from home, little did he know that while he was away, Clara and Mr. Murdstone were getting married. When David arrived home Peggoty came out to welcome him back. She then mention that he had a new father “…a new pa” (line pg ) David was confused and looked towards the graveyard at which his dead father lay, Peggoty then corrected him and told him of the marriage between Clara and Mr. Murdstone. I believe that David has mixed feelings about this announcement and is feeling bewildered.
I think the Murdstones’ name was a deliberate clue that Dickens entwined into the fictional biography. The fact that “Murdstone” has the start of the word Murder in it, may hint towards a death. This death In fact is the fate of Clara Copperfield, of which the Audience may believe was because of heart break and the cruelness of Mr. Murdstone and his equally wicked sister, but Dickens leaves this as an untold outcome maybe to add oddness to the novel to make it stand out from others and keep the readers interested so they would carry on reading the many instalments Dickens wrote for a magazine.
Miss Murdstone sister to Mr. Murdstone arrives in a manner which sticks with her throughout the novel. The arrival of Miss Murdstone is told to us in the text that she is described by the naïve narrator, David as a dark and creepy person “brass nails, large steel purse, heavy chain” (pg no.) Miss Murdstone makes it more obvious that she doesn’t like David “generally speaking… I don’t
like Boys”. Miss Murdstone seems to take over Clara Copperfield by firstly taking the keys and undertaking all the duties. I believe that this is the start of the many things that lead to Clara’s death.
The first part of the book when just Clara, David and Peggoty lived together was a happy part of David’s life after the Murdstones arrived his life went downhill. Firstly he was sent to school where he met Steerforth who looked out for while he spent time there, but later on in the story when an older David visits him again and they see little Em’ly he brings grave danger to himself and Ham.
Secondly came his mothers death which he was informed of at school by the Headmaster’s wife who tries her best to let David down gently by hinting “Was your mama well when you left her”(pg ) this means that he is left with only the Murdstones as his guardians. This does not appeal to David as after biting Mr. Murdstone was the reason he ended up in school in the first place he decides to run away.
Thirdly is his journey and meeting his only family member left, Aunt Betsey Trotwood, who he has never met before because Aunt Betsey wanted Clara to have a Girl. Aunt Betsey gives him a new way of life and with only one interference with the Murdstones he is sent to a nice school and is cared for properly.
Although the Murdstones turned his life around, if it hadn’t been for them he would of never found his dream of writing. This his found out when coming across his Fathers books when Mr. Murdstone locked him in a room.
Therefore I conclude that even though David Copperfield had many upsetting times throughout his life, he finally reached his goal in the end of having a happy life with a wife, children and his books.
By Danielle Hunt 10i/10r
English Coursework – David Copperfield