The Pursuit of Survivial in Exchange for Happiness in Charles Dicken´s David Copperfield

The Pursuit of Survival in Exchange For Happiness in Charles Dickens's David Copperfield:

In Charles Dickens's David Copperfield, there are many lower class citizens who are treated with disdain and even disinterest by every social class that is above them. While the novel is clearly a social commentary on the treatment of the poor in 19th century London, the characters in the novel do very little to remove themselves from their downtrodden lives until they are forced to change. I will argue in this paper that a majority of the characters in David Copperfield change only when change is forced upon them. I agree with these 12 critics that a majority of the characters in David Copperfield do not change without being motivated to pursue change in their lives.

For instance, when Micawber writes his letters of woe expressing his desire to pay his creditors, he is most eloquent, but his actions speak louder than his words do. In her critical paper “The Long History of “In Short”: Mr. Micawber, Letter-Writers, and Literary Men, “ Laura Rotunno argues that, “Micawber...accentuates what the letter-writers promise: wealth, wisdom, and security if one believes in and obeys society's rules. The result...is that his letters capture just how far removed...social success is from the life of Victorian laborers and debtors” (Rotunno, 426). In other words, Micawber tells the recipient of his appeal for help whatever he feels is necessary to open their wallet to assist him out of his present financial difficulty. He promises that he will become a new man over and over, but continues to waste every opportunity of success that crosses his path.

However, the fact that the social classes are fighting for survival against one another provides for ...

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...e, by simply accepting it as it is, with love” (Hornback, 662). Thus, it is David Copperfield's ability to see enemies as fantasies and Traddles ability to let his mind wander when he is faced with trouble that help them deal with reality. But, by dealing with reality, they can move on with their lives on their own terms and at their own sppeds.

In conclusion, while the narrator had each character in David Copperfield, deal with their past, with the exception of Mr. Dick, who did not remember his past, it was this resolution of their past actions and misdeeds that helped the reader close out each character in their mind. It must also be said that a majority of the characters did not change without being motivated to pursue change in their lives. It is this last minute change that resolves any moral dilemmas that the characters have left unresolved.