AnAnalysisofImageinDavidCopperfieldChapter1Introduction"DavidCopperfield",themasterpieceofDickens,wasasemi-autobiographicalwork.InMay1849toNovember1850,theinstallmentwaspublished.Inthepreface,Dickenssaid:“Itismyfavoritechild.”ThenoveldepictedDavid'sexperienceswhichwerefilledwithsufferingsandlaughters.DickensportrayedthecolorfulpictureofBritishsociety,thetypicalimageofdifferentsocialclasses,especiallytheendlessstruggleofDavidinthefaceofadversitywhichleftadeepimpressiononus.Davidwasunabletoenduretheabuseofhisstepfather,bitingthefingersofhisstepfather,savagelybeaten.Asaresult,hewaslockedinaboardingschool.Afterhismotherdied,hewassenttothefactoryasachildbyhisstepfather.Fromthenon,helivedahardlife,withoutenoughtoeatorwearandsufferedallkindsofabuseandtorture.However,Daviddidnotsuccumbtothemercyoffate,painstakingly,andfinallyfoundhisauntBetsey.Thekind-heartedauntshelteradoptedhimandlethimgotoabetterschool.WhenheknewthatAuntBetseywasbankrupted,butinstead,hestudieddiligentlywithperseveranceallkindsofabuseandtorture.Finally,aftermakingefforts,hebecameawriterandachievedsuccess.Atthesametime,othercharacterswereclearandvivid.PeggottywasanursewhotookcareofDavidandDavid’smothercarefully,shewasremarkablyloyal.Outwardly,auntBetseyappearedaseverewoman,butsheshowedthatshewaskindbylovingDavidandothers.Inaddition,Hamwasnoble,braveandhonest.Mr.Murdstoneswasfierceandcruel.Steerforthwasselfishandarrogant.1.1IntroductiontotheAuthorDickenswasthemainrepresentativeofrealismliteratureinthe19thcentury.Theartofwittywords,nuancedpsychologicalanalysisandrealismwerecombinedtogethercloselyinhisworks.Hewasparticularlyfamousforhisvividcomiccharacterizationsandsocialcriticism.Hewasthefirstauthorwhohadwrittenofthepoorwithfidelityandsympathy.HisworkswerefamousduringnovelsoftheVictorianageandamongthegreatclassicsinallfiction.14
DickenswasborninFebruary,1812,atLandport,Portsmouth.Hewasthesecondofeightchildren.Hisfatherwasaclerk,hardworkingbutimprudent,latercaricaturedasMr.MicawberinDavidCopperfield.In1822,thefamilymovedtoLondon,whereCharleshadtoleaveschooltosupporthisimpoverishedfamily.In1824,hisfatherwasputintoprisonfordebt.Attheageof12,Dickenswassenttogoingtoworkatafactory.Hewrappedandlabeledfor6shillingsaweek.Afterwork,hewanderedthroughthestreetsofLondon,enthralledbythesightofthedockyards,thefilesofconvicts,andvastsectionsofthecityinhabitedbythepoor.Thesebitterdaysremainedinhismemoryandlaterfoundexpressioninhisworks.Dickenswasabletoreturntoschoolbecauseasmalllegacyhelpedreleasehisfatherfromprison.HewasanavidreaderandspentmuchtimeinthereadingroomoftheBritishMuseum.Althoughhelaterreturnedtoschoolforatime,theseexperiencesleftapermanentimprintonthesoulofCharlesDickens.Evenmanyyearslater,hehadbecomeasuccessfulauthor,hecouldnotbeartotalkaboutit,orberemindedofhisfamily’signominy.Attheageoffifteen,Dickensbeganworkingasanofficeboyforalawfirm.HetaughthimselfandhebecameareporterforcourtsofDoctors’Commonin1828.Thedullroutineofthelegalprofessionneverinterestedhim,sohebecameanewspaperreporterfortheMirrorofparliament,theTrueSun,andfinallyfortheMorningChronicle.(JohnForster,werelaterhisclosestfriendandbiographer,wasalsoemployedattheTrueSun.)Bytheageoftwenty,DickenswasoneofthebestparliamentaryreportersalltheEngland.Bythistime,Dickenswasenjoyingtheluxuriouslifehehaddreamedofasachild.In1850,hepublishedthelastinstallmentsofDavidCopperfield,apartlyautobiographicalnovelthatwashisfavorite.1.2TheIntroductiontotheBackground1.2.1Socialbackground“LikesomanyparentsIhaveafavoritechildinmyheart,”wroteCharlesDickens."AndhisnameisDavidCopperfield."Here,DickensmadegooduseofhisownlifeexperiencetoexposethesocialevilsthatwereprevalentinVictorianEnglandandwerethemiseriesofchild-labor,thetyrannyinschools,thedebtors’prison,aswellasthecrueltyandimmortalityandthetreachery.Thusthenovelwasnotmerelyapersonalrecord,butabroadpictureofthesocietyoftheauthor’sday.14
DavidCopperfieldwasanovelwritteninfirst-personpointofview.Itwassometimesreferredtoasanapprenticeshipnovelbecauseitcenteredontheperiodinwhichayoungpersongrewup.ThetypeofnovelswaspioneeredbyJohannWolfgangvonGoethe(1749-1832)inhisnovelWilhelmMeistersLehrjahre(WilhelmMeister'sApprenticeship).Dickensbasedthebookinpartonthedifficultearlyyearsofhisownlife.Thenarrationchangednames,locales,andotherdetailsofDickens’slife.Forexample,whenDickenswasonlyachild,hehadtoleaveschooltoworkinafactory.Inthenovel,DavidCopperfieldhadtoleaveschooltoworkinawarehousewashingandlabelingbottlesusedinthewinetrade.David’sinitials(D.C.)were,ofcourse,thereverseofDickens’s(C.D.). Dickenswasamasteratdrawingmemorablecharacters.Someweresimpleanduncomplicated,likeBarkis,Creakle,Murdstone,andClaraPeggotty.Otherswerecomplex,likeDavidCopperfield.Throughoutthenovel,hebefriendedthewealthyandcharmingJamesSteerforth,ignoringhisdeviousandmalevolentside.Atthesametime,hebefriendedthegood-heartedTommyTraddlesandthehumblePeggottys.Thesetwoworlds,theworldofSteerforthandtheworldofSteerforthandhisfamily,bothattractedDavid,andhisimmaturitydecidedwhatshouldconstitutehisownworld.Tobringhischaracterstolife,Dickensinvestedthemwithclearlydefiningvirtuesorvicesanddescribedthecharactersinawaythatenabledthereaderstopicturethematthescenesinwhichtheyappeared.1.2.2Novel’sbackgroundOfalltheDickens’novels,DavidCopperfieldreflectedtheeventsofDickensownlifethemost.AsforDavid,sufferinginthepastwasadequatelymadeupforarich,happymarriageandasuccessfulliterarycareer,justlikeDickenshimself,andtheworldwasstillfullofhopeandsunshine.Theplotconstructionwasratherloose,butitalsoexcelledinitsvividimage.Thenarrationofnovelindetailwasalsoworthmentioning,whichgavetheworktruthfulnesstothereallife.WhatwecouldaddtowasthewayinwhichDickenstimeandtimeagaindealtwiththeprogressofamaleherowho,aswithDavidinDavidCopperfield(1849-50)andPipinGreatExpectations(1860-1),cametotermswithworldasthemiddle-classvalues.Atthesametime,however,Dickens’heroesoftenhaveuncomfortabledoubles:DavidCopperfieldwasshadowedbyHeepandSteerforth,bothofwhomrevealedthekindofdarksexualurgethatDavidattemptedtoconcealordenyinhisownlife.Itwasasif,inanewmiddle-classcode,Dickenswasequallyawareofthe14
precariousnessorvulnerabilityofthenewrespectablesocialconceptionoftheself,oftheburiedlifethatwashiddenbeneaththeveneerofpolitemanners.Duetotheearlysuccess,thepublicnotonlygaveDickensanassurancethatmadesureincreasingpowersofpoeticexpressionandnarrativetechnique,butalsotheconfidencetodemonstratehisprioritiestoapointwheretheycontradictedthesocialassumptionsofmanyofhisreaders.Allhislaternovels,exceptATaleofTwoCities,presentedacriticismofthemostfundamentalinstitutionsoftheVictorianEngland.AlthoughDavidwasignorantofSteerforth’streachery,wewereawarefromthemomentwemetSteerforththathedidn’tdeserveofpraisewhichDavidfelttowardhim.Daviddidn’tknowwhyhehatedHeeporwhyhetrustedaboywithadonkeycartwhostolehismoneyandlefthimintheroad,butitwaspossibleforhimtorealizeHeep’sinherentevilandtheboy’srealintention.InDavid’sfirst-personnarration,Dickensconveyedthewisdomoftheoldermanimplicitly,throughtheeyesofachild.14
Chapter2LiteratureReviewoftheNovel2.1SomeScholars’ViewsontheNovelScholarsbelievedthatDavidCopperfield'scareers,friendships,loveandlife,weremosthighlyinfluencedbyDickens'experiences,aswellashistimeworkingasachild.David'sinvolvementwiththelawprofessionandlaterhiscareerasawritermirrortheexperiencesofDickens.ManyofDavid'sfriendswerebasedonpeoplewhoDickensactuallyknew,andDavid'swives,AgnesWickfieldandDora,werebelievedtobebaseduponDickens'attachmenttoMaryHogarth.Dickenskeenlyfelthislackofeducationduringhistimeatthatfactory,andaccordingtotheForsterbiography,itwasfromthesetimesthathedrewDavid'sworkingperiod.BritishwriterSomersetMaughamregardedthebookas"trulyamasterpieceofliteraryworks".OneofAmericanliteratureconnoisseursrecommendedthenovelasonehundredsofthe20thcentury,distinguishingEnglishnovel.ThefamousRussianwriter,LeoTolstoy,saidthatthebookwasthebestoneamongalltheEnglishnovelsanditcouldhelppeopletobuildaperfectpersonality. “DavidCopperfieldwasfilledwithcharactersofthemostastonishingvariety,vividness,andoriginality,”notedSomersetMaugham.“Theyarenotrealisticandyettheyaboundwithlife.ThereneverweresuchpeopleastheMicawbers,PeggottyandBarkis,Traddles,BetseyTrotwoodandMr.Dick,UriahHeepandhismother.”Thestorywastoldalmostentirelyfromthepointviewofthefirstpersonnarrator,DavidCopperfieldhimself,andwasthefirstDickensnoveltodoso.Dickensbasedthebookinpartonthedifficultearlyyearsofhisownlife.2.2MainViewsofDickens’IdeaInfluencedbyCarlyle,Dickenslearnedtodirecthisnoveltoaquestioningofsocialprioritiesandinequalities,toadistrustofinstitutions,particularlydefunctormalfunctioningones,andtoapressureforactionandearnestnessHewaspronetotakeupissues,andtocampaignagainstwhathesawasinjusticeordesuetude,usingfictioninhisnovel.Hewasnotaloneinhisowntime,buthisnamecontinuedtobe14
popularlyassociatedwithgoodcausesandwithremediesbecausehewasquitethewittiestandhehashadthemostpersuasive,andthemostinfluentialvoice.Dickenswasfaithfultotheteaching,andtothegeneralframework,histhought,hisactionandaboveall,forhiswriting,nevertheless.Acriticalawarenessthattherewassomethingdeeplywrongwiththesocietyinwhichheliveddisclosedthenatureofanovelandgaveitsdistinctpoliticaledge.Dickens’novelsweremultifarious,digressiveandhumorous.Inanimportantway,theyreflectedthenatureofVictorianurbansocietywithallitsconflictsanddisharmonies,itseccentricitiesanditsconstrictions,itsenergyanditsfertility,bothphysicalandintellectual.Butthestandardpatterninhisnovelswasthebasicconflictbetweenmoneyontheonehand,andlovesontheotherhand.Whatthisconflictusuallyrevealedwasthatthepeoplewhohavegreatestlovefortheirfellowhumanswerealsotheoneswhoweremosthurtbytheworldofmoney,simplybecausemoneywaspower.Inhisnovels,thepeoplewhopossessedmostmoneyandmostpowerseemedincapableoflove,whereasthepeoplewhowerecapableoflovewereremarkablyoftenbothpoorandpowerless.Andyet,thisgloomyviewwasemergedbyDickens’comicwayofdealingwithhischaracters.14
Chapter3TheImageofmaincharacterinDavidCopperfield3.1TheImageofDavid3.1.1UnyieldinganddiligenceofDavidCopperfieldDavidCopperfieldwasakind-hearted,honest,andhardworking,pragmaticandprogressiveintellectualtypically.SinceDavid’schildhood,hisfatherdied.Althoughhismotherremarried,shediedbeforelongwithhisstepfatherabuse.Atthattime,hewassenttoboardingschool,ravaged,andthenwassenttothefactoryasanapprenticehumiliationposition.HeleftthefactorytothehomeofauntBetseywhoadoptedhimandlethimstudylaw.Then,hetriedhisbesttolearndayafterday.Atthesametime,hischaractermaturedinsuffering,frustration,andultimatelyontherightpathinlife.Laterhebecameawriter,andmarriedwithhisgirlfriend.Forhim,hehadacquiredmuchknowledgeinlifethroughthewrongideas,funnyhabits,sadmomentandthedepressingday,andrememberedhisaunt'swordsinheart,“whateveryoudoandwheneveryoudoit,youcanneverbehumble,neverbehypocriticalorcruel.”Hethoughtofthissentence,whichalwaysencouragedhimselftobestrongandseizethehard-onopportunitytostruggleinlife.Boththehardshipsandbitternessinhisorphan’stimesoralwaysstruggleinhisadulttime,havingexperiencedcalamitiesandmisfortunes,Davidtastedthejoyandwarmthoftheearth.Byhisownsincerity,forthrightpersonality,positivespirit,aswellasthepurityoflovetopeopleinhisheart,hepersistedandfinallysucceeded.3.1.2InnocenceandkindnessofDavidCopperfield.DavidbegantoloveEmilywhentheyaccompaniedeachotherinthedaysinYarmouth.Asforachild,theaffectionwasamorefeelings.Neitherofthemworriedaboutthefutureoranyothertroublesatthattime.Thebestwasloveinthattheywereinnocent.OnthewaytoSalenHouse,thewritermentionedaninterestedincident.Withthe“simpleconfidenceandnaturalrelianceofachilduponsuperioryears”,DavidwasusedbyServantWilliam.Davidwasboundtolackofsomeworldlywisdomandwasonlyaninnocentchild.WhenDavidworkedatMurdestoneandGrinby,hemetMr.Micawberwhoseclotheswereshabby,andhadonlyashirtcollar.However,Daviddidnotlaughathim.14
Onthecontrary,whenhelearnedaboutthetragedyandrealizedMicawber’sfinancialdifficulties,heintendedtooffersomemoneytoMr.Micawberinordertohelphimtideoverthedifficulties,thoughhehimselfwaspooratthatmoment.InnocencewasthemostvaluableandshinningcharacteristicofDavidCopperfield.InDavid’slife,althoughhemetsomewickedpeoplelikeMr.andMissMurdestone,Mr.CreakleandUriahHeep,healsogainedalotoffriendsandhelperswhomadehimkind-hearted.Thatwastosay,thoughhehadknownsomebadqualitiesofthepeople,Davidremainedwhatheusedtobe.InMr.Murdestone’shouse,excepthismother,PeggottywastheonlyonewholovedDavid,anddifferentfromhismother,shewasabletoprotectDavid.WhenDavidwastreatedbadlybyMr.andMissMurdestone,Peggottytriedtocomforthimatnightsecretly.AndwhenDavidwassentawayfromhome,Peggottywroteletterssoastoencouragehim.Asweallknow,PeggottywasaservantinDavid’sfamily,butwhatshedidwasfarmorethanaservant.WhatimportantwaswhenDavid’smothermisunderstoodher,PeggottystilltookitforgrantedthatsheshouldprotectandhelpDavidandDavid'spoormother.ItwasherloyaltyandkindnessthatwasagreathelptothedevelopmentofDavid.AndDavidwasgratefultoher,sohepermittedthecarrierBarkistomarryher,givinghappinesstoPeggotty.3.1.3CrueltyandtendernessofDavidCopperfieldDavid’scomplicatedimageaccountedforthecontradictionoftheplotofthenovelandwhichexistedoverthedevelopmentofit.ForDavid,whenherealizedhisloveforAgnesforthefirsttime,healsoshowedgreattendernessatthemoment.David,especiallyasayoungmaninlove,couldbefoolishandromantic.Ashegrewup,however,hedevelopedamorematurepointofviewandsearchedforaloverwhowouldchangeandhelphimgrow.DavidfullymaturedasanadultwhenheexpressedthesentimentthathevaluedAgnes’sgentlenessandquietnessoverallelseinhislife.3.1.4StabilityandmaturityofDavidCopperfieldAfterexperiencingmanydifficultiesandsufferings,DavidhadbecomeStabilityinhisadulthood.Asforhisprofession,Davidwentonalongarightroad.Heengagedinliteratureandwasinterestedinwhathedid.Davidfeltmoreandmoreconfidentinthesuccessofhiscareer.Davidknewthathisdreamcametruebyhisyearsofhardwork.Andwhenhiswifedied,DaviddecidedtogivehismostsincerelovetoAgneswhowashisgoodangel.However,hewashesitantbeforeAgnes.Hedarednottotell14
her"Iloveyou".Becauseheknewwhatthethreewordsmeant,hedidnotwanttohurtAgnes.AsforDavid,therewasnodoubtthatAgneswashisbestchoice.ForalltheeffortsDavidtook,hedeservedtheloveofAgnes.WithAgnes'loveandguidance,Davidwouldmakehislifemorecomfortableandhehimselfbecamematureandsteady.Davidalsofoundtruefriendshipinhislife.Hisoldclassmate,Tradle,whoatschoolwasthemerriestfriendofallhisclassmates,appearedattheendofthenovelasahelperofDavidCopperfield.HewaswhatwecalledatruefriendDavidneeded.3.2TheImageofotherCharacters3.2.1ColdnessandcrueltyofMiss.MurdstonesThebaneofthechildhoodofDavid,stepfatherandSisterMissMurdstone'scharacterwasextremelycoldandcruel.InDavid'smemory,whenhemetMissMurdstoneinthefirsttime,shewasagloomy-lookinglady;dark,likeherbrother,whomshegreatlyresembledinfaceandvoice;andwithveryheavyeyebrows,nearlymeetingoverherlargenose,asif,beingdisabledbythewrongsofhersexfromwearingwhiskers,shehadcarriedthemtothataccount.Whenshepaidforthecoachman,shetookhermoneyoutofahardsteelpurse,andshekeptthepurseinaveryjailofbagwhichhunguponherarmbyaheavychain,andshutuplikeabite.AsforDavid,hehadnever,atthattime,seensuchaladyaltogetherasMissMurdstonewas.Shewasalmosttomboy,shehatedmen,butwiththeman'sface,feminine,loveandcompassion,sheandherbrotherhasbeentorturedpoorClaraandDavidasathorninthesideandusedvariousmeanstotortureDavid,resultinginthesufferingofDavid'schildhood.3.2.2HumanityandcharityofauntBetseyAlthoughthereweresimilaritiesinsomerespectsbetweenAuntBetseyTrotwoodandMurdstone,theywerequitedifferentinessence.AuntBetseywasquiteindependent,bold,manly,andrational.Shedidnotcareaboutthesecularvision,andshewaskind,mercifulandfraternal.Shewasfullofemotion.Althoughshehatedboy,Davidwenttoherforshelter,shenotonlyadoptedhim,butalsotaughtDavid:weshouldneverbemean,hypocriticalandcruelperson.WhatshetaughtwasafoundationofthemottotoDavid’sact,Davidhealthygrowth,andbecameafamouswriter.AuntBetseyhadmercyonDick,receivedhim,andappreciatedhim,togive14
himacomfortableandeasylife.ShewastheguardianofJenny,stillmonitoringsomeoftheotherpeople,education,andletthemlearntoprotectthemselves.Dorathenpamperedandpetted,shedidn’tdoanythingagainstauntBetsey,andshegotthelovelyname:flowers.Herhusband,auntBetseystilldidnotforget,evenifheabandonedher,andfoundanewlover,becameanothingscandalous.ItwasalsosaidthatauntBetseywasasymboloffriendshipandloyalty.AuntBetseywasanintenselycapablewomanwithagreatmindinbusiness,andgraspedmanycommercialactivities,concealedthe2000poundsofpropertyinbankruptcy.ShediditinordertoexerciseDavid,lethimlearntoadapttotheplightofgettingofthedifficultiessothathewouldbeabletoassumetheresponsibilitiesoflife.ThattimegaveDavidagoodexercise,andbyhiseffortsheconfirmedhisabilitytolive.ThatwasauntBetsey'sthought.EventhoughauntBetseywaseccentric,andshehadstrangetemperament,hercharacterwasrespectedandtrusted.3.2.3SensesandintelligenceofAgnesAgnes,avirtuousandagreeablegirl,becameadearandloyalfriendofDavid.Intermsofappearance,moralcharacter,knowledge,thoughts,shewasalmostimpeccable.Shewasbeautifulanddignified,generousandgentle,quietandstable,thoughtful.Shehasakeeninsight,shewasofstrongwill,withaheartoflove,andshewasthespiritualsupportofDavid.Anyonewouldbeproudofanintimatefriendofher.InAgnes’childhood,shewashisfather'sbutlerandspiritualcomfort.Herfather'slovewascriticallygoodforhertobecomeprematurelymature,andtoassumeresponsibility.Caringforhisfather,tohisfather,shehadtopleaseHeep,butsheneverwouldsuccumbtotheHeep,notletHeepsinisterpurposetosucceed.HerloveforDavidwasdeepandlong,andshehasbeenquietlyinlovewithDavid.AfterDorawasdied,experiencingmanydifficultiesatoverseasseveralyears,DavidfinallyrealizedthathelovedAgnes,andthentheygotmarried.Intermsofcareerandlife,AgneswasDavid’sidealpartner.3.2.4VanityandunrealityofMr.MicawberMr.MicawberwasthelandlordofDavidwhenDavidwasachild-labor.LaterhebecameDavid’sbestfriends.Hewasunabletorepaythedebt,sohewasinjailseveraltimes.Hewasapersonwhooftendealtwiththingsoutofvanity,andrefusedtoputhisfeetontheground.Hewasoftenheavilyindebt.Afterhewasputintoprisonfordebt,hewarnedDavid:“Ifapersonhadanannualincomeoftwenty14
pounds,andspentnineteenpoundsnineteenshillings,thepersonwouldbeexceedinglyhappy”.Nevertheless,ifthepersonspenttwentypoundsoneshilling,thepersonwasrightintheshittier.NosoonerhadhebeenapainfulconfessionthanhetookashillingfromDavidforbeerrightaway,andthenbehappy.Hewassucharealoptimist.Inaddition,hewasintegrating.WhenhewassecretarytoHeep,throughafiercestruggleinhismind,heexposedaconspiracythatMr.HeepframedWickfieldandHeepwantedtoleadtothebankruptcyofMiss.Betsey.Miss.Betseythankedhim,andfundedhimtoAustraliawhereheachievedcareersuccess.Finally,hehasagoodoutcome.Micawbercharacterswereextremelyvivid,sohebecameaclassicimageinliteratureandwasregardedasarepresentative.3.2.5DuplicityandselfishnessofSteerforthSteerforthwasayoungmillionaire.Hewasarrogant,callous,selfish,andcompletelyself-centered;hedidn’tconsiderthefeelingsofother.Inschool,heusedtodriveateacherwhowasfromhumbleorigins.Later,hegottoknowthekind-heartedandinnocentgirlEmily,andluredEmilytoelopewithhimsuccessfullythroughsmalltalktease.Intheend,heabandonedEmily.WhenhemadefriendswithDavid,DaviddependedonSteerforth’skindnessforgranted,withoutanalyzinghismotivesordetectinghisduplicity.WhenSteerforthbefriendedDavidatSalemHouse,Daviddidn’tsuspectthatSteerforthwassimplytryingtouseDavidtomakefriendsandgainthestatus.Finally,SteerforthbetrayedDavid.3.2.6TheAbjectionandimpudicityofUriahHeepHeepwasonceacopyist.Heusedtopretendtobehumble,andafterwards,hesucceededinmanipulatingthefirmbycunningway.Mr.Wickfieldwasforcedtoalmostnoretreat,whichledtoMiss.Betseybankruptcy.Later,duetoMr.MicawberstoodupintimeandrevealedhisconspiracythatframedMr.WickfieldandledtothebankruptcyofMiss.Betsey.ThoughHeepwasraisedinacruelenvironmentwhichwassimilartoDavid’s,hisupbringingcausedhimtobecomebitterandvengefulratherthanhonestandhopeful.Dickens’describedHeepasademoniccharacter.HereferredtoHeep’smovementsassnakelikeandgaveHeepredhairandredeyes.HeepandDavidnotonlyhadoppositecharacteristicsbutalsomanipulatedatcross-purposes.Forexample,HeepwishedtomarryAgnesonlyinordertohurtDavid.Nevertheless,forDavid,hewasbothmotivatedbylove.ThefrequentcontrastbetweenHeep’sandDavid’ssentimentsshowedHeep’smean.14
WhileDavid’scharacterdevelopmentwasaprocessofincreasedself-understanding,Heepgrewinhisdesiretoexercisecontroloverhimselfandothercharacters.AsHeepgainedmorepoweroverMr.Wickfield,hissenseofentitlementgrewandhebecamemoreandmorepower-hungry.Butimprisonmentdidn’tmakeadifferencetoatoneforhiscrime.Becausehedeployedhisstrategiestoselfishpurposesthatgaveothersahandintime,hestoodoutasthenovel’sgreatestvillain.3.3TheSimilaritybetweenCharlesDickensandDavidCopperfield“Novel”wasdefinedasthedescriptionofthetypicalcharacterinthetypicalenvironment(especiallythesocialenvironment).Accordingtotheabovewords,theinfluenceofCharlesDickensonthisnovelshouldbetakenintoconsiderationintheanalysisofthecharacteristicsofDavidCopperfield.ForDavidCopperfieldwasonesemi-autobiography,anditwouldbeawisewaytoanalyzethecharacteristicsoftheboyherothroughthestudyofthewriterhimself,includinghisbackground,hisexperiences,hisindividualityandhisattitude.Asaresult,DavidCopperfieldwasDickens'DavidCopperfieldandtherewasadegreeofresemblancebetweenDickensandDavid.Firstly,bothofthemhadsufferedadifficulttimewhentheywereonlyachildandtheexperiencesasachild-laborhadagreatimpactontheirlife.Secondly,bothofthemendedupwithgoodresults.EspeciallyDora,whowontheheartofDavidCopperfieldinthisnovel,andhadthesamenamewithoneofDickens'childrenwhodied,AgnesWickfield,theloverofDavidCopperfieldwasmuchlikeoneofDickens'love,Georgina,afriendandhelpertoDickens.Thirdly,bothofthemengagedinliteratureandmadeagreatsuccessintheircareer.Actually,inwritingthisnovel,Dickensmadegooduseofhisownexperiences.Thusthereadersmayhaveafurtherunderstandingaboutthegreatwriterbyreadingthiswork.Atthesametime,whenweareanalyzingthecharacteristicsofDavidCopperfield,itwouldbeusefultorefertothestudyofthewriterhimself.14
Chapter4ConclusionThepaperbeganwithabriefintroductionoftheauthorandthesocialbackground,andthenittriedtoanalyzethenovel.Thestorywastoldalmostentirelyfromthepointofviewofthefirstperson,DavidCopperfield,andwasthefirstDickens’noveltodoso.Dickens’bookswerebasedpartlyonthedifficultiesinhisearlierlife.Thustheauthorpavedthewayforthefollowinganalysis,includingDavid,Dora,Auntbetsey,Mr.Micawber,andSteerforth.TheMr.Murdstones,Heep,SteerforthandDavid.Asformanycharacters,thepaperdividedthemintotwodifferentimagesthathavegreatdifferences.Forexample,thekind-heartedfishermanPeggottyandDavid,fromapoorfamily,theyhadn’treceivededucation,buttheycouldholdanhonestandgoodheart,whilebycontrast,Steerforthwasaninvalidcharacter.Atthesametime,itreflectedDickens'ownmorality:"Whatgoesaroundcomesaround".Forexample,asymbolofevilHeapandSteerforthhasbeendulypunished;kind-heartedpeoplehavefoundapopulardestinationthattheydreamedtogoallthetime.Throughanalyzingtheseimages,wecouldknowtruths,nomatterhowdifficultthesituationwewereinorhowbitterlifewas,weshouldhaveagoodheart,andfightagainstdestinypositively.Finally,theauthorattemptedtoanalyzedifferentpeople’simagesandshowpeople’sdifferentdestinies.Thepaperintendedtotellpeoplethatmaybefatewasunfairtoyou,maybeyouhadbeensufferingfromhumandisasters,youcouldn’tdoanythingwithoutthegoodnessofheartandyoumustfightagainstyourowndestiny,anditstressedthatonlylovecouldgiveuscouragetofacethemiseryandsuffering.Ontheotherhand,despitetheinconstancyofhumanrelationships,lifewasamainbackgroundinthisnovel,andlovewasveryimportantamongpeople.Intheend,Davidgainedgreatsuccess,andthereasonwasthatalotofpeoplegavehimmuchlovewhichgavehimcouragetofacethemiseryandsufferings.Atthesametime,itencouragedpeopletomaintainconfidenceandenthusiasminlife.14
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