So many excellent observations, especially that Emily & Martha don't die! That is radical! I've read it 4 or 5 times, too, and I tried to pay attention to Dora this time. I noticed that as soon as Dora meets Agnes, she expresses to David that maybe she (Dora) is not the best match for David, and says so several times throughout the book, but he always dismisses it. In this way Dora shows wisdom (more than David) to see that they were not best suited for each other. Re: marriage--even though they have struggles, Mr & Mrs Micawber are a faithful couple and supportive of each other, along with Tommy & Sophie. I think Betsy Trotwood is a character that shows true development and change from the beginning of the novel to the end, and a great female character. She is capable and no-nonsense in the beginning, but becomes wiser and kinder by the end. She goes from being a somewhat flat stereotype to a rounded character, for me. Although I love Tommy, Aunt Betsy is my hero(ine).
It shows that you know the novel thoroughly. I just finished it and your comment has helped me understand certain feelings that reading had conveyed to me. My favorite characters are Betsey Trotwood ("Janet! Donkeys!") and Wilkins Micawber, who reminds me of the wonderful comic characters from Dombey and Son.
What a superb in depth review Katie. Given your thoughts on Tommy Traddles don’t you think it very sad that in the wonderful film (in my opinion) The Personal History of David Copperfield the writer and director Lanucci decides to cut his character completely! I have to say though, after seeing the film it really added to my enjoyment of the book that all the way through I envisaged the characters as their film cast - especially Tilda Swinton as Betsy Trotwood.
Yes, poor Tommy Traddles always gets missed out of adaptations! They put his name in as a passing reference in The Personal History of David Copperfield, which was interesting - sort of made me feel like they were sad to cut him!
Love this book and your review. I found David's thoughts on Dora and Agnus so intriguing. In many ways I felt it was appropriate that we largely only know them through David's eyes, such a great representation of what love can be like. I wrestled with Dora's character and in the end felt like she was truly the epitome of mistakes in young love. Kind of how Steerforth can represent mistakes we make in early childhood friendships. He loves both but as a reader you can clearly see what he can't.
In Japanese Literature, even in manga, it is quite usual that the protagonist is just the excuse for all the other characters to exist. It is the character to whom things happen, to which they react, but not necessarily the one that makes things happen. And so, usually one empathises more with the other characters, the best friend, the love interest, and even the villain. Food for thought... Another brilliant analysis of yours!
So far my favourite novels have been Nicholas Nickleby, Barnaby Rudge and David Copperfield, in no particular order. These days I’m reading only for pleasure and I liked David Copperfield (the book) in general, I agree that the hero seems very passive and always has things happen to him or around him, rather than him taking the lead. I must confess that Betsey Trotwood is my favourite female character. She’s badass but helpful and compassionate. As always thank you for this great review.
I adored David Copperfield, and this video makes me want to reread it asap. 😅 You made some excellent points about the exploration of marriage in various ways and criticisms on the roles of women at that time. I want to read it again in that light. For some reason, I wasn't bothered at all by the portrayals of Dora and Agnes because I felt like that was the point, being from David's POV. And when I think of it as sort of a guidebook for young people, it works perfectly. So many of us can relate to falling for the beautiful face or idolizing a charismatic figure that shouldn't be. Spoilers: It was quite groundbreaking that Betsey was a woman who left an abusive marriage and was living unmarried with another man, was it not? One of my favorite aspects of this book was how compassionately these flawed characters are treated by those around them. This was seriously so heart-warming. Even if David is not the hero, I loved it when he slapped Uriah. And, the term "child bride" thoroughly annoyed me...until I came to the realization that he continuously uses the term referring to himself as the child. She was the bride he chose as a child, and he is criticizing his naive immature choice every time he says it. (As opposed to being critical solely of her.) All in all, it must have been pretty radical for the time. I laughed out loud so much and loved it so much. ❤
I liked David Copperfield when I read it and then seven months later I read Demon Copperhead and (in my opinion) Kingsolver butchered so much of what made David Copperfield great, she made Demon a more defined character than David but all the secondary characters who really make the book were sacrificed on that altar. Sad I didn't like Copperhead but I'm glad it made me realize how much I LOVE David Copperfield. I love Tommy, I love Peggotty, Barkis, Betsey Trotwood. I really struggle Dora's representation so thank you for your insight.
A very comprehensive review of a rather brilliant novel. I like to think that Dora's character prefigures what would become cinema's stock creation of the 'dumb blonde' and in that sense she's Victorian England's version of Barbie.😂 Agnes is a wonderful creation and the scene of David's drunken escapade where she gently chides him for his behaviour urging him to go home before he makes a complete fool of himself is wonderfully Dickensian . As to who is the hero of the book, David is like a rich soil that attracts a glorious panoply of blooming magnificence leaving the reader to choose the fragrances and specimens for their own particular delight.
Thank you for this video. I have been participating in the read along. I did like this book. Dora IS kind of annoying. As you said, she was raised for a different kind of life. Perhaps she makes me think of all the things I don't know how to do that I think I should know and I get upset with myself and that’s why I find her annoying. I'm looking forward to my reread of Bleak House. I really enjoyed it the first time I read it.
idk katie, when it comes to DC, Agnes is the one presented as the main heroine & David is simply the narrator of the novel. You could argue it's possibly Dicken's first novel with a woman protagonist.
I’ve seen several adaptations of DC but this is the first time I’ve read it. I couldn’t help noticing how David had such a strong sense of observation and the imagination to create stories about the people he saw from a young age. Dickens must have been the same because he treats it as normal. I was fascinated with Rosa Dartle. She reminded me of Miss Havisham in her bitterness and obsession.
Really enjoyed characterisation in DC but like in Little Dorit, I prefer the first part (setting) than the second part... Hope to reread them once but which Dickens novel next 🤔🥰
Thoroughly thorough 😃 I am so glad you brought up Miss Mowcher as one of the Hero’s in the grand story❣️
Honestly your in-depth reviews are to be admired... Truly amazing and professional ..Merry Christmas from America...:)
My grandfather told me that in the late 1920's every 6th grader in his State (the South in America) had to read David Copperfield.
So many excellent observations, especially that Emily & Martha don't die! That is radical! I've read it 4 or 5 times, too, and I tried to pay attention to Dora this time. I noticed that as soon as Dora meets Agnes, she expresses to David that maybe she (Dora) is not the best match for David, and says so several times throughout the book, but he always dismisses it. In this way Dora shows wisdom (more than David) to see that they were not best suited for each other. Re: marriage--even though they have struggles, Mr & Mrs Micawber are a faithful couple and supportive of each other, along with Tommy & Sophie. I think Betsy Trotwood is a character that shows true development and change from the beginning of the novel to the end, and a great female character. She is capable and no-nonsense in the beginning, but becomes wiser and kinder by the end. She goes from being a somewhat flat stereotype to a rounded character, for me. Although I love Tommy, Aunt Betsy is my hero(ine).
Yes, I love Betsey Trotwood - she's wonderful!
Thank you!
It shows that you know the novel thoroughly. I just finished it and your comment has helped me understand certain feelings that reading had conveyed to me. My favorite characters are Betsey Trotwood ("Janet! Donkeys!") and Wilkins Micawber, who reminds me of the wonderful comic characters from Dombey and Son.
What a superb in depth review Katie. Given your thoughts on Tommy Traddles don’t you think it very sad that in the wonderful film (in my opinion) The Personal History of David Copperfield the writer and director Lanucci decides to cut his character completely! I have to say though, after seeing the film it really added to my enjoyment of the book that all the way through I envisaged the characters as their film cast - especially Tilda Swinton as Betsy Trotwood.
Yes, poor Tommy Traddles always gets missed out of adaptations! They put his name in as a passing reference in The Personal History of David Copperfield, which was interesting - sort of made me feel like they were sad to cut him!
Love this book and your review. I found David's thoughts on Dora and Agnus so intriguing. In many ways I felt it was appropriate that we largely only know them through David's eyes, such a great representation of what love can be like. I wrestled with Dora's character and in the end felt like she was truly the epitome of mistakes in young love. Kind of how Steerforth can represent mistakes we make in early childhood friendships. He loves both but as a reader you can clearly see what he can't.
Good point about the mirroring between those two!
In Japanese Literature, even in manga, it is quite usual that the protagonist is just the excuse for all the other characters to exist. It is the character to whom things happen, to which they react, but not necessarily the one that makes things happen. And so, usually one empathises more with the other characters, the best friend, the love interest, and even the villain. Food for thought... Another brilliant analysis of yours!
So far my favourite novels have been Nicholas Nickleby, Barnaby Rudge and David Copperfield, in no particular order. These days I’m reading only for pleasure and I liked David Copperfield (the book) in general, I agree that the hero seems very passive and always has things happen to him or around him, rather than him taking the lead.
I must confess that Betsey Trotwood is my favourite female character. She’s badass but helpful and compassionate.
As always thank you for this great review.
I adored David Copperfield, and this video makes me want to reread it asap. 😅
You made some excellent points about the exploration of marriage in various ways and criticisms on the roles of women at that time. I want to read it again in that light.
For some reason, I wasn't bothered at all by the portrayals of Dora and Agnes because I felt like that was the point, being from David's POV. And when I think of it as sort of a guidebook for young people, it works perfectly. So many of us can relate to falling for the beautiful face or idolizing a charismatic figure that shouldn't be.
Spoilers:
It was quite groundbreaking that Betsey was a woman who left an abusive marriage and was living unmarried with another man, was it not?
One of my favorite aspects of this book was how compassionately these flawed characters are treated by those around them. This was seriously so heart-warming.
Even if David is not the hero, I loved it when he slapped Uriah.
And, the term "child bride" thoroughly annoyed me...until I came to the realization that he continuously uses the term referring to himself as the child. She was the bride he chose as a child, and he is criticizing his naive immature choice every time he says it. (As opposed to being critical solely of her.)
All in all, it must have been pretty radical for the time. I laughed out loud so much and loved it so much. ❤
SPOILERS
Yes, it is pretty radical and groundbreaking - I feel like I didn't talk about Betsey enough in this video. She is so interesting.
I liked David Copperfield when I read it and then seven months later I read Demon Copperhead and (in my opinion) Kingsolver butchered so much of what made David Copperfield great, she made Demon a more defined character than David but all the secondary characters who really make the book were sacrificed on that altar.
Sad I didn't like Copperhead but I'm glad it made me realize how much I LOVE David Copperfield.
I love Tommy, I love Peggotty, Barkis, Betsey Trotwood.
I really struggle Dora's representation so thank you for your insight.
I'm curious to read Demon Copperhead sometime and see what I make of it . . .
I'm not participating in the read along, because I'm in the middle of Dombey and Son, but I like watching your videos on the Dickens I have read.
A very comprehensive review of a rather brilliant novel. I like to think that Dora's character prefigures what would become cinema's stock creation of the 'dumb blonde' and in that sense she's Victorian England's version of Barbie.😂 Agnes is a wonderful creation and the scene of David's drunken escapade where she gently chides him for his behaviour urging him to go home before he makes a complete fool of himself is wonderfully Dickensian . As to who is the hero of the book, David is like a rich soil that attracts a glorious panoply of blooming magnificence leaving the reader to choose the fragrances and specimens for their own particular delight.
Well said! ❤
My goodness, you sound like you are an author yourself!! Very good writing!
As my mother used to joke "I'm a poet and I know it".😂@@viviennehayes2856
Thank you for this video. I have been participating in the read along. I did like this book. Dora IS kind of annoying. As you said, she was raised for a different kind of life. Perhaps she makes me think of all the things I don't know how to do that I think I should know and I get upset with myself and that’s why I find her annoying. I'm looking forward to my reread of Bleak House. I really enjoyed it the first time I read it.
idk katie, when it comes to DC, Agnes is the one presented as the main heroine & David is simply the narrator of the novel.
You could argue it's possibly Dicken's first novel with a woman protagonist.
I’ve seen several adaptations of DC but this is the first time I’ve read it. I couldn’t help noticing how David had such a strong sense of observation and the imagination to create stories about the people he saw from a young age. Dickens must have been the same because he treats it as normal. I was fascinated with Rosa Dartle. She reminded me of Miss Havisham in her bitterness and obsession.
Yes, she is a bit of an early prototype for Miss Havisham, isn't she? I hadn't thought of that before.
Really enjoyed characterisation in DC but like in Little Dorit, I prefer the first part (setting) than the second part... Hope to reread them once but which Dickens novel next 🤔🥰