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Buddy Reads
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Buddy read of David Copperfield May 2021 onwards with Cozy_Pug, Sue, Bridget, Fiona and Jenny
I wasn't expecting Aunt Betsy to have made a poor investment either. That's actually better than the mysterious man taking it from her. Maybe there is still hope for a recovery at some point, if those bank shares bounce back. I am thinking of Uncle Sol in Dombey and Son (view spoiler)Fiona, thank you for the wonderful Aunt Betsy quote! Uriah Heep is such an poisonous snake, he reminds me of Voldemort. Its like he's cast a spell on Mr. Wickfield. Did you notice how when he leaves Mr. Wickfield perks up a bit. How is it that Agnes manages to stay unaffected by that? Is it because of her goodness?
Lori, brilliant description of love with Dora as "mist". I love that!! When Aunt Betsey said to Trot/David "earnestness is what Somebody [David] must look for, to sustain him and improve him, Trot. Deep, downright, faithful earnestness" I wanted to shout at David "Agnes, she means Agnes you fool!!"
I'm glad to see Dr. Strong coming back into the story. The place he's staying is called Highgate, and David remembers it, but I don't. Can someone remind me what Highgate was?
Bridget,Highgate is also where Steerforth's mother lives and it's north of London. I think it's a pretty posh area of the city then and now.
If Dr. Strong is staying here(I don't remember that detail) he must have a friend there he's staying with or has the money to rent a room.
Agnes isn't under Uriah's spell as her father is, that's right. Remember when she told David all about Uriah's weaseling into the business, she was aware of Uriah's scheme even then I believe. I think she's just smart, aware and has always looked out for her father for so long that she probably knows how to watch out for his well being in many different ways.
Lori wrote: "Bridget,Highgate is also where Steerforth's mother lives and it's north of London. I think it's a pretty posh area of the city then and now.
If Dr. Strong is staying here(I don't remember that d..."
Thanks, Lori. I knew Highgate sounded familiar, I just couldn't place it.
Another thanks Lori. I knew David had been to Highgate but apparently that last visit wiped it from my mind!I loved Aunt Betsey I this chapter. And her putting into words what everyone probably thinks of Uriah Heep was priceless.
Mod
"Highgate Cemetery" is famous, as so many prominent people, (eg. Karl Marx) including many authors are buried there. Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book was actually inspired by Highgate Cemetery!
Don't miss the information and illustrations for this section, all linked to comment 1 so there are no spoilers :) LINK HERE
Also, please read this LINK HERE.
This buddy read will be over by then and it would be great to have a new host :)
I did not know that about The Graveyard Book and Highgate Cemetery, that's so interesting, thanks Jean.I liked the link to the illustrations. Especially the one where David is having breakfast with Dr. and Mrs. Strong and Jack Mauldon. You can tell Jack is so uninterested in everything. He reminds me a bit of Steerforth.
I shall think a bit about the short story summer read. I know we need another leader, but I'm not sure I'm up to the task just yet. Petra and Connie have been so amazing.
Chapter 36 Thanks to a Times crossword spoiler a few weeks ago, I knew that Micawber would be employed as Heep’s clerk but what is it about? One is as slippery as the other. The suggestion is that Heep answered Micawber’s newspaper advertisement but why would he?When David told the Micawbers of his aunt’s difficulties, he says I cannot express how extremely delighted they both were, by the idea of my aunt’s being in difficulties; and how comfortable and friendly it made them. Again, what is that about?
Mrs Micawber is much more vocal than previously. I can’t decide if she’s serious about Micawber’s future potential or not. There are more questions than answers!
Mod
I didn't know either, until I'd read the book and was reseaching for my review!
Thank you - l've messaged you, Bridget :)
Fiona, that's a shame about the crossword spoiler. Something similar happened to me spoiling the Steerforth and Emily relationship. Its so hard to avoid!All great questions you pose. My guess (and I could be totally wrong) with Heep hiring Micawber is that he wants someone who he can use to spy on David - though I'm sure Mr. Micawber isn't aware of this ulterior motive. I've had the feeling before that Uriah Heep is a little afraid of David.
I enjoyed the part of this chapter where Traddles finds a way for Mr. Dick to make some money. And now David is taking on yet another job reporting on Parliament. He is certainly making progress in his quest to "cut down the trees in the forest of difficulty".
All this industriousness by Mr. Dick and David made me think, couldn't Mr. Micawber have done some copy work or reporting as well? I'm so upset with Mr. Micawber not ever doing anything to make money and just leeching off others. The idea that he thinks an IOU to Traddles is as good as money really makes me not like Mr. Micawber.
Boy, the Micawbers just don't get it do they? I am really having a difficult time liking this couple. Micawber's IOU to Traddles is never going to be paid by him. It's just a sad situation that he's gotten young, gullible Traddles into and it's just selfish. Mrs. Traddles was certainly vocal today and now it sounds as if she thinks a judge or councilor position could be in her husband's future. But wouldn't the training take money that they don't have? I think she really believes all the hype she creates about her husband.I remember that Uriah met Mr. Micawber when David was in Canterbury and they struck it up very well then and it was all very odd at the time. Maybe Uriah decided then that Micawber would be someone he needed to know better. But what his motives are can't be positive.
I do like how David is becoming more independent now that he has to think about what to do with his life in order to make a living and warn money. It seems to be his focus in order to keep his sights set on Dora.
Mr. Dick in this chapter is just so wonderful. I love him! He is so tenderhearted and the coins he presented to Aunt Betsey in the shape of the heart was just special. I'd love to see a drawing of that!
Bridget, I loved that imagery in the quote you posted - "cutting down trees in the forest of difficulty." David was not keen to Jack Maldon either and couldn't see him cutting any trees down. I thought it was interesting how Dr. Strong is so oblivious to Annie and Jack but Annie is avoiding Jack. I'm not sure what Dickens has in store for these characters but he's definitely not finished with them.
Bridget - now you have me wondering why Heep would want to spy on David. Could it be because he has plans for Agnes?Lori - I’d forgotten that Uriah had met Mr Micawber. It makes a little more sense to me now. The scene with Mr Dick was very touching. I’m glad you reminded me of it.
Annie and Jack - I still can’t figure out what this is about or where it’s going and what it has to do with David’s story.
I agree Annie and Jack is a curious relationship. I do think Annie loved Jack at some point in the past. But like Lori said, she also is always trying to avoid him - so maybe she wants to be faithful to Dr. Strong. In the previous chapter I thought it was interesting that David said of Annie "she did not look very happy, I thought; but it was a good face, or a very false one". No wonder we don't know what to make of Annie.About Uriah Heep, I do think his fear of David centers around Agnes. If David wised up and realized he should marry Agnes (which some of us hope) wouldn't that be a big problem for Uriah Heep's plans to lift himself out of his "humble" beginnings and become a proper gentleman. He can certainly become very rich by taking over the business, but marrying Agnes is what will truly give him legitimacy, I think.
Bridget wrote: "I agree Annie and Jack is a curious relationship. I do think Annie loved Jack at some point in the past. But like Lori said, she also is always trying to avoid him - so maybe she wants to be faithf..."Now there’s a scary thought!
Chapter 37 luckily it’s shortDora is definitely the stupidest, most irritating Dickens character!
I did enjoy the image of Mrs Crupp with only her petticoats visible hiding from Aunt Betsey in the early part of the chapter.
Chapter 37 Oh dear, David! Empty headed Dora is never going to accept you as her husband if you’re poor. Doesn’t he question why Dora’s father and Miss Mills’ father are to be kept in the dark about their relationship? For someone so earnest and so willing to please, he’s also very gullible and naive.Interesting fact learned from this chapter: navvy is short for navigator. I didn’t know that.
Peggotty has gone back to Yarmouth now too. I wondered where she and Bestey were sleeping in that small apartment. I do love that these ladies have made friends and it’s all because they share a love for David. It’s very sweet.Oh, and if David actually thought asking Dora to learn something about housekeeping and cooking would be a good idea, he’s really got his head stuck in the ground! Well, it will be interesting to see how this plays out!
Fiona, if David was thinking with his head and not his heart, he might question the secrecy.
Oh Lori you are so right. He isn’t thinking at all. And she wants him to spend extra time with her and the silly dog and is put out when he says he must work. She has no concept of the idea and will never accept him. Any woman/girl who wails or screams when this topic is raised will never deal with it. Maybe some of this behavior will begin to get through to him.I loved how Dora said Aunt Betsey really should not live so close by them.
Janelle, I liked that image of Mrs. Crupp's petticoats too! I also liked hearing that Aunt Betsey threw one of the "pitchers planted on the stairs" out the window. High time someone set Mrs. Crupp straight!Can you image what effect Aunt Betsey will have on Dora, that is if she ever gets to meet her. David may think a hard earned crust of bread is sweeter than an inherited feast, but I'm sure Dora will opt for the feast every time. "I don't want to hear anymore about crusts!"
Lori wrote: "Peggotty has gone back to Yarmouth now too. I wondered where she and Bestey were sleeping in that small apartment. I do love that these ladies have made friends and it’s all because they share a lo..."Too true, Lori! Also, can you imagine if your future husband said to you that you should learn about cooking and housekeeping? Especially when you’ve never lifted a finger to do anything for yourself your whole life? Heaven forfend!!
Chapter 38 A long chapter, wasn’t it? And so eventful.I loved the description of David trying to learn shorthand as it reminded me of my own attempts many, many moons ago. I didn’t have David’s tenacity, however!
I don’t know who is the worst romanticist - David or Julia Mills. For David, Dora is the stay and anchor of my tempest-driven bark when he is learning shorthand and Julia’s diary is just hilarious! I do love his honesty, however. He knows when he is making a fool of himself, usually when his emotions are running away with him, and he also knows he shouldn’t feel so edged out by Dora when she is grieving her father. He is honest enough to admit it though.
What awful childhood did the Murdstones have to turn them into such bitter adults, driven only by their pleasure at bringing misery to other people? It’s not a surprise that Jane M has made it her business to come between David and Dora. I loved the scene with the letter. Poor Jip still gripping it between his teeth while hanging in the air! Even with David in utter dejection, Dickens can still find time for fun. I also enjoyed this - Miss Murdstone’s heavy eyebrows followed me to the door - I saw her eyebrows rather than her eyes, because they were much more important in her face...!
I had thought the conversation between Mr Spenlow and David regarding his will rather odd. I wasn’t sure what the point of it was and now it appears that he didn’t have one in the first place. So Dora has found herself with not much money and no home to live in. I wonder if this will help David’s case or not?
David is learning as Dickens himself learned shorthand for the same purpose. And Dora's character is a combination of his first love (Maria, I think) and his wife Kate because they were silly, pretty girls like Dora. Jean's comments and discussion on the original thread about this is perfect to get the background on Dickens own life and how he put it into this work. Sadly, Jean said that Dickens/David was attracted to the silly girl and not to the smart and practical girl - the Agnes. I found all of that very intriguing.I do think now that Dora is on the same playing field as David, it opens up to their marrying without any issues. The death of Mr. Spenlow is quite shocking but Dickens must have wanted to stir things up at this point. Well he has. Dora's life is going to be turned upside down. She most likely has never met these aunts that she will be living with.
Fiona, I loved the eyebrow quote the best! And now Miss Murdstone is unemployed!!
Mod
As Lori said this is from Charles Dickens's own life. Not only that, but he actually invented a new form of shorthand! More on the original thread, plus a photo of an example.
Glad you're following the extra info there, Lori :)
Well that was unexpected! I wonder how the original Victorian readers reacted to Mr. Spenlow dying. I bet they loved it (well not that he died, more that it shook things up as Lori said). Very nice summary Fiona. I especially liked you wondering who was the more hopeless romantic, Julia Mills or David. And I liked how you pointed out that David was being honest, and that he sees his faults too. I think that's really true, especially in this chapter.
Lori, I'm glad you think this puts David and Dora on a more even playfield, because that was my thought as well. It will be interesting now to see how this plays out.
I thought it was very nice of Aunt Betsey to let David write a letter in her name to Dora. She may not agree with this marriage, but she's being very supportive of David.
It will be interesting too to meet Dora's Aunts. What did Dora say about Aunt Betsey "I hope she's not a scolding old thing!". I hope the same now for Dora's estranged aunts.
Chapter 39 is another long chapter.Lots of the awfulness of Uriah Heep. I was getting Gollum vibes reading it!
Lori wrote: "David is learning as Dickens himself learned shorthand for the same purpose. And Dora's character is a combination of his first love (Maria, I think) and his wife Kate because they were silly, pret..."Yes, Lori! JM is unemployed. Every cloud.....!
Chapter 39 Uriah Heep is the single most creepy, noxious character I have ever read about. I’ve tried to think of another but can’t think of anyone who even comes close. Dickens’ description of him and his mother is brilliant: like two great bats hanging over the whole house, and darkening it with their ugly forms. I have only read a few Dickens’ novels but to create a character like this is so masterly, I don’t know why I haven’t read more.Mrs Heep sitting endlessly knitting by the fire so that she could keep an eye on David and Agnes made me think of the tricoteuses, the women who sat patiently by the guillotine waiting for heads to roll!
I found the description of the dodgy business undertaken by the proctors at the beginning of the chapter very entertaining. It was clearly a bugbear for Dickens and appears to be an early form of ambulance chasing. Plus ca change etc!
I notice that every time Uriah Heep is described it is in some slimy manner from David's point of view. He really grates on my nerves. He is a "heap" of trouble every time he enters the scene.
Uriah Heep is definitely cringe-worthy. Everything he does is for himself and no one else. I just despise how he's turned Mr. Wickfield into a subservient man who must ask permission to make a decision. So sad. And Uriah doesn't love Agnes, she's just something that he can conquer. I so hope that she can get out of this somehow! We got to see into Uriah's background and learn that his parents are the product of a charity school which might lead us to want to feel sorry for him, but I don't think it's enough for me.
I can't imagine how David must have felt listening to Mr. Wickfield give his testimony about life with the Heeps. How emotional and David held his own in how he handled trying to soothe Mr. Wickfield.
The only other thing that stood out was how even Mr. Micawber thought Agnes was David's type and not Dora. Interesting though that now there's a chasm between them now that Micawber works for Uriah. I still leaning toward not liking him much any more.
Mr Wickfield’s explosion of emotion when Uriah spoke of his intentions regarding Agnes was horrible to even read about. The man has been utterly humiliated by the Heeps and now his daughter is at risk because of his failings. Uriah Heep is made physically repulsive by Dickens’ descriptions of how he looks and moves and morally repulsive by the way he acts. Dickens has written a truly awful creature who hardly seems human. (I can’t stop seeing the Grinch!)
Sue wrote: "Mr Wickfield’s explosion of emotion when Uriah spoke of his intentions regarding Agnes was horrible to even read about. The man has been utterly humiliated by the Heeps and now his daughter is at r..."Sue - my comment about the brilliance of Dickens’ writing is exemplified by that scene too. So heart-rendingly pitiful.
Yes, Fiona. Dickens continues to outdo himself from one chapter to another. He really does know how to personify evil, doesn’t he.
I am lost again. Is today Chapter 40? Sorry everyone.
Angela, yes it's 40. You're right on time!
Chapter 40 - Dan Peggotty is tireless in his pursuit of Emily who doesn't sound too happy with her lot. I'm mystified why Martha appears simultaneously and why she listens in. I know Dan P disapproves of her but I would have thought David would acknowledge her. Dickens must have plans for her or she wouldn't be making an appearance.
Yes, Martha is mysterious and she must know something or have knowledge of Emily - just speculating. But, totally she has a purpose in Dickens plans. I also thought Emily sounded sad and disparaged with her life. And Dan is such an upstanding man, that if he isn't able to get Emily back, the one thing he must make right is to return the money to Steerforth. I imagine he believes it to be bad money and he wants nothing to do with it.
I loved the imagery of Dan buying a country dress for Emily to put off her finery that he is imagining her to be wearing. This made me think of a reverse fairy tale, for lack of a better description, Cinderella going back to her previous life and state but Emily would be so happy in the country dress.
I bought a country dress to put upon her; and I know'd that, once found, she would walk beside me over them stony roads, go where I would, and never, never, leave me more. To put that dress upon her, and to cast off what she wore - to take her on my arm again, and wander towards home - to stop sometimes upon the road, and heal her bruised feet and her worse-bruised heart - was all that I thowt of now.
I wonder what Martha might know. It seemed that she was following Daniel given the way David saw them both. I’m also curious about the postmark from the Upper Rhine and whether that really reflects Emily’s whereabouts.
Lori wrote: "Yes, Martha is mysterious and she must know something or have knowledge of Emily - just speculating. But, totally she has a purpose in Dickens plans. I also thought Emily sounded sad and disparag..."
A beautiful quote, Lori.
Chapter 41David with Traddles visits Dora’s aunts. I loved the description of Traddles hair being like “a fretful porcupine” !
This is a light chapter but I felt quite annoyed reading it as I’m not interested in Dora at all and I want the story to move on from her.
I wonder if Victorians were as annoyed with this silly girl as I am. Theres a huge contrast with Traddles’ Sophy who sounds like she’s hardworking and totally indispensable to her family, Dora is just a pet or a toy.
Janelle - I am also annoyed with Dora. I cannot abide women who behave like children. Nor can I abide men who find it attractive! It seems to me that both David and Traddles are being led a merry dance in one way or another. At least Dora’s aunts are engaging with him and seem to be taking him seriously, however.The highlight of the chapter for me is the image of Jip with a towel wrapped around his head in the plate warmer!
I agree with the comments about Dora, she is such a silly girl. But then so was David's mother, so perhaps that is the attraction for him. These silly girl characters make me wonder about Charles Dickens own life. I haven't read the biographies (yet) but I think that while he had intelligent, hard working female friends, he tended to be attracted to silly, frivolous girls. Is that right?? One of my favorite parts of this chapter was when David is chastising Dora for letting everyone treat her like a child and she says back to him "if I [David] didn't like her, why had I ever wanted so much to be engaged to her" and I thought she's right!! For all her silliness that was a really smart thing to say.
I got a little behind the last couple days. Love everyone's comments about Uriah Heep and Martha in Chapters 39 and 40.I still can't decide who is more evil, Uriah Heep or James Carker (from Dombey and Son). For now I'm leaning towards Carker as he was so calculating, and ruthless. But Heep is a close second. As Frank said, he's a "heap" of trouble (loved that!) and like Lori said, the backstory about his father isn't enough to make him sympathetic to me.
I really liked Mr. Wickfield's acknowledgement of the destructiveness of his obsession with his deceased wife "I thought it possible that I could truly love one creature in the world, and not love the rest; I thought it possible that I could truly mourn for one creature...and not have some part in the grief of all who mourned" I hoped David would take those words to heart, because he seems likely to walk the same path with his love of Dora.
And in Chapter 40, it was interesting to see Martha come back, and I thought it spoke highly of David's character that he doesn't try to chase her away. When she beckons from the doorway that he please let her eavesdrop without calling Mr. Peggotty's attention to her he does just that. And then he looks for her after Mr. Peggotty leaves. I mean I already like David but that just made me like him more.
Dickens most definitely was attracted to the silly girl and had the smart level-headed ones as friends. Jean explained in the original thread about the two women in Dickens life that he mirrored Dora after. I don’t know how to add links here to tell you which one to read and take you there. His first love and his wife are Dora character traits.
I would have thought Betsy and the two aunts to clash but they seemed to get along. I think that would be a hoot to sit in a room with those three headstrong women. Very much like Mrs. Chick in Dombey and Son, the sisters couldn’t get over not being invited to the wedding dinner. I can’t imagine holding a grudge for 20+ years but they were scorned because of it and could have known their niece better. I laughed at the comment from David(his inner thought) when one on the sisters claimed she was just like Dora when she was young!
I do wonder if David is beginning to see the cost of his adoration of Dora in terms of not financial expenses but amount of emotional expense by everyone he knows. And Dora really is the same little girl. One thing that troubled me much...was, that Dora seemed ...
to be regarded like a pretty toy or plaything. My aunt...always
called her Little Blossom; and the pleasure of Miss Lavinia’s life
was to wait upon her, curl her hair, make ornaments for her, and
treat her like a pet child.... It was very odd to me; but they all
seemed to treat Dora...much as Dora treated Jip...
He is also beginning to see that Dora is not treated as a normal young woman.
Chapter 42 A very sad chapter, I felt. Although David is delighted with Agnes and Dora’s meeting, I’m sure Agnes is in love with David and must be heartbroken inside. Dora continues to irritate and if David can’t see that Agnes is worth 20 of her, more fool him! I would have cheered David slapping Heep except that the damage to Dr and Mrs Strong had already been done.
What hold does Heep have on Micawber that it’s turning him against his wife and family? Or is Micawber too ashamed of doing Uriah’s bidding to look his family in the face?
Dickens continues to tug at our heartstrings very successfully!
I’m hopeful Micawber is ashamed of whatever’s happening and that’s why he’s not talking to his wife.It’s hard to look at the Strong marriage without having sympathy for the young wife. I know marriage between old men and young women was much more common back then. It seems in this case she was forced into it by her mother and probably Jack Maldon so they can profit from it.
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
David Copperfield (other topics)A Message from the Sea (other topics)
Bleak House (other topics)
Little Dorrit (other topics)
A Message from the Sea (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
John Forster (other topics)
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That was the best line of all from Aunt Betsey to Uriah Heep! He has pushed so far into this family now as a partner with Mr. Wickfield and living with he and Agn..."
Lori - David does love Agnes, as you say, but I think it’s in a platonic way. There’s no spark, although maybe that will come. She is a wonderful girl, as you also say; loving and caring.