David Copperfield - C.Dickens
Categoria: Referat
Romana
Descriere:
The day David Copperfield is born, his rich, eccentric Aunt Betsey
Trotwood storms away in disapproval because the new baby is not a girl.
David is raised by his pretty young mother, widowed before he was born,
and their loyal servant, Clara Peggotty... |
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David Copperfield
Charles Dickens
The day David Copperfield is born, his rich, eccentric Aunt Betsey
Trotwood storms away in disapproval because the new baby is not a girl.
David is raised by his pretty young mother, widowed before he was born,
and their loyal servant, Clara Peggotty. But this idyllic childhood is
interrupted when black-whiskered Mr. Murdstone begins to court Mrs.
Copperfield. David happily goes with Peggotty to visit her family in
Yarmouth- her fisherman brother, Daniel, and his adopted nephew and
niece, Ham and Little Em'ly. When David returns home, however,
Murdstone and David's mother have married, and not long after,
Murdstone's sister Jane moves in. The Murdstones intimidate David's
mother and terrorize David, until one day he bites Mr. Murdstone's hand
in a rebellious rage. As punishment, David is sent to Salem House, a
boarding school near London, where he is miserable. However, he does
make two friends- dull, decent Tommy Traddles, and brilliant James
Steerforth, an older student whom David idolizes.
David's schooldays are interrupted by the news that his mother and her
new baby have died. After their funeral, David is not sent back to
Salem House but kept idle at home. Peggotty is fired and marries the
local wagon-driver, Barkis. Eventually Murdstone announces that he has
provided for David by getting him a job, working in the London
warehouse of Murdstone's wine business. David, who is only ten, begins
to work several hours a day, six days a week, alongside grimy,
uneducated boys, for only a few shillings. The only light in this grim
period is his friendship with the debt-ridden Micawber family, who rent
a bedroom in their apartment to David. When the Micawbers leave London,
David decides to run away to his Aunt Betsey, whom he has never met. On
foot, penniless, beset by thieves and con men, David makes the journey
to Aunt Betsey's cottage in Dover.
Though disconcerted by this ragged child on her doorstep, Betsey soon
warms to him, especially after the Murdstones come to collect him and
she sees what his alternative is. David settles happily into a new
circle of friends: simpleminded Mr. Dick, who lives at Betsey's;
Betsey's lawyer Mr. Wickfield, his sweet daughter Agnes, and his
fawning law clerk Uriah Heep; the master of David's new school, Dr.
Strong, his young wife Annie, and her flirtatious cousin Jack Maldon.
David grows to young manhood, and, once he has finished school, his
aunt sends him to London to choose a career. In London, David runs into
his old friend James Steerforth, who takes David home to meet his
proud, possessive mother and her companion, the intense Rosa Dartle. In
turn, David takes Steerforth with him to Yarmouth, to visit Peggotty
and her family. Steerforth is a great hit with everyone, and he buys a
boat so he can sail down there regularly.
Back in London, David and Betsey go to the law offices of Spenlow and
Jorkins; in Doctors' Commons, where David is taken in as a trainee in
the firm. David meets Mr. Spenlow's pretty daughter Dora and falls
madly in love. He also meets Tommy Traddles again, and finds that he is
boarding with the Micawbers! Then David is called to Yarmouth for
Barkis' funeral. That night, Emily, who has been engaged to Ham,
disappears, leaving a note that she has run off with Steerforth- with
no plans to be married.
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Aunt Betsey arrives in London with the news that she has lost all her
money and is moving in to live with David on a tiny income. In spite of
this setback, David continues to court Dora secretly until, after Mr.
Spenlow's sudden death, they can announce their engagement. But Mr.
Spenlow left Dora penniless, and David must work hard to earn enough
money to marry. He takes on a second job as secretary to his old
schoolmaster, Dr. Strong, who has now moved to London. David also
learns shorthand and begins working as a reporter covering
parliamentary debates. He finally makes enough money to marry Dora, and
they move into a cottage across the street from Aunt Betsey. David
discovers that his adorable bride is totally unfit to manage a
household, and, though he still loves her, he despairs about their
domestic life. He throws himself into his work and begins to win some
fame as a fiction writer. At about this time he witnesses a
reconciliation between Annie and Dr. Strong, who have been unhappy
together because of Jack Maldon's flirtations with Annie. As David
hears Annie tell Dr. Strong how his love for her has given her strength
and wisdom, David wonders if his own marriage will survive so well.
News from Canterbury, from David's old friends the Wickfields, becomes
steadily gloomier. Mr. Wickfield, who is depressed and drinking too
much, has had his business virtually taken over by Uriah Heep, who also
has hopes of marrying Agnes. The usually unemployed Mr. Micawber now
works for Heep, and his personality has become strangely secretive and
harsh, to Mrs. Micawber's despair. David and Traddles meet Micawber in
London, and learn that he, too, is in Heep's power. But he intends,
with help, to expose the villain. While Traddles helps Micawber to
uncover evidence against Heep, David helps Daniel Peggotty find Emily,
who has returned, a ruined woman, to London. She and her uncle make
plans to emigrate to Australia, where her past will be unknown.
Meanwhile, after a stillbirth, Dora has fallen gravely ill. David
leaves her bedside to go to Canterbury to watch Micawber and Traddles
confront Heep with their knowledge of his schemes. Heep is thrown out,
Mr. Wickfield's name is cleared, and Betsey's "lost" investments are
recovered. Betsey suggests to Micawber that he and his family emigrate
to Australia, too, and lends him some money for a fresh start.
Back in London, David nurses Dora, but it is Agnes, sisterly and
serene, who is with her when she finally dies. Numb with grief, David
helps the emigrants prepare to leave, and agrees to take a letter from
Emily to Ham. But a wicked storm hits Yarmouth that night, and David
sees Ham, who seems indifferent to life now, swim out to save people
from a shipwreck. David alone recognizes the ship's last victim as
Steerforth. Ironically, Ham drowns trying to save the man who ruined
his happiness. Steerforth's lifeless body is washed up on shore.
The emigrants leave for Australia, and David goes to Switzerland for
several months to recover from his grief. Eventually he writes a novel
about his experiences. He also thinks a lot about Agnes Wickfield,
realizes that he has always been in love with her, and regrets that she
has shown only sisterly feelings toward him. Returning to England, he
finally confesses his feelings to Agnes and learns that she has always
loved him, too. They marry, have children, and live happily ever after.
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