Chapters 1 - 8
The adult David Copperfield tells the story of his life from childhood to maturity. David's father dies before he is born, and David spends his early years with his mother Clara and their housekeeper, Peggotty. One evening, Peggotty asks David to accompany her on a two-week visit to her brother's at Yarmouth. He agrees and spends a wonderful time at the Peggotty home. As a consequence, he regrets having to leave, but looks forward to see his mother again. On arriving home, Peggotty informs him that his mother has married Mr. Murdstone while they were away. David finds his familiar childhood home greatly changed with the appearance of Mr. Murdstone. Mr. Murdstone presents himself as a strict stepfather and makes it clear that David must obey him or be punished. After a while, Mr. Murdstone's sister comes to stay with them and to run the house instead of Clara’s objections. Besides, Mr. Murdstone and his sister start to control and criticize David’s lessons with his mother. As a result, David, who has always been able to do his lessons easily, becomes so nervous that he cannot remember them. One day, when David is being particularly slow in remembering his lessons, Mr. Murdstone beats him which results in David biting his stepfather’s hand. As a punishment, Mr. Murdstone sends David away to a boarding school in London. Having arrived to school (Salem House) David is forced to wear a placard on his back as a punishment for biting Mr. Murdstone with these words written on it: “Take care of him. He bites”.
The school semester begins with the headmaster, Mr. Creakle, making many threats of violence against both David and schoolboys. David also makes new friends like James Steerforth, a good-looking boy who has the reputation of being a leader. They establish a ritual in which David tells Steerforth stories from the books that he has read. Steerforth, in his turn, helps David with difficult lessons. One day, Mr. Peggotty visits David at the school. Steerforth arrives, and David proudly introduces him to his visitor. Steerforth charms him, and Mr. Peggotty makes an invitation to him and David to visit him in Yarmouth.
On his vacations, David returns home, and is delighted to find his mother with a new baby boy. She has also fallen into bad health and does not seem to recover. David asks Mr. Murdstone's forgiveness for biting him. Miss Murdstone only asks how long the school vacation is and counts the days until David leaves again. Moreover, Mr. Murdstone forbids David to touch the new baby boy. David tries to avoid conflict by staying out of their way but Mr. Murdstone and his sister order him to stay in the public rooms of the house where they can monitor him. Finally, David returns to Salem House, feeling both sorry to leave his mother again and relieved to see his new friends.
The school semester begins with the headmaster, Mr. Creakle, making many threats of violence against both David and schoolboys. David also makes new friends like James Steerforth, a good-looking boy who has the reputation of being a leader. They establish a ritual in which David tells Steerforth stories from the books that he has read. Steerforth, in his turn, helps David with difficult lessons. One day, Mr. Peggotty visits David at the school. Steerforth arrives, and David proudly introduces him to his visitor. Steerforth charms him, and Mr. Peggotty makes an invitation to him and David to visit him in Yarmouth.
On his vacations, David returns home, and is delighted to find his mother with a new baby boy. She has also fallen into bad health and does not seem to recover. David asks Mr. Murdstone's forgiveness for biting him. Miss Murdstone only asks how long the school vacation is and counts the days until David leaves again. Moreover, Mr. Murdstone forbids David to touch the new baby boy. David tries to avoid conflict by staying out of their way but Mr. Murdstone and his sister order him to stay in the public rooms of the house where they can monitor him. Finally, David returns to Salem House, feeling both sorry to leave his mother again and relieved to see his new friends.
