Well, we’re back! Part 5 of my reading David Copperfield: chapters 41-50. (We’ve passed the half-way mark!) As usual, be prepared for lots of spoilers and strong emotions.
You can find my other Reading David Copperfield installments here: Chapters 1-10, Chapters 11-20, Chapters 21-30, Chapters 31-40, Chapters 51-60, and Chapters 61-64.
Chapter 41
Dora is cute and all, but one does wonder how David can go straight from hanging out with Agnes to hanging out with Dora and not at all feel that he’s selling himself short. I know, I know he’s infatuated and all…love is strange sometimes.
Chapter 42
Okay, I LOVE the fact that Agnes, a beautiful, talented, attractive woman who could easily be perceived as a rival to David’s affections (and who may well be in love with David herself, I’m not sure), uses her immense influence to do all she can to HELP him and Dora’s relationship and be a real friend to them both. That girl is really something else. She is fast becoming my role model.
Oh, Uriah, you nasty creepy-crawly, why must you ruin everything? It’s absolutely sickening for someone of Uriah’s caliber to have the ability to cause so much pain to someone like Dr. Strong. How could he be so mean?? Hurting Dr. Strong is like – like – stabbing your grandmother or something. (But at least the whole situation opens up the opportunity for Mr. Dick to demonstrate his adorableness. I LOVE THAT MAN.)
Aw, a rift between the Micawbers makes me sad. The Micawbers aren’t supposed to have rifts…or be involved in anything remotely serious.
Chapter 43
OH! I guess I didn’t have as much spoiled for me beforehand as I thought, since I had not the faintest notion that David and Dora would actually get married. Well! That’s rather an issue, though, isn’t it? I mean, isn’t it obvious that David is supposed to marry Agnes? Is Dickens going to kill Dora off now? That seems rather mean.
Chapter 44
I must just quote a bit that made me snort appreciatively from David and Dora’s first attempt to give a dinner (for Traddles, dear boy, fortunately enough):
“They are only opened in both shells,” said I. “Take the top one off, my love.”
“But it won’t come off,” said Dora, trying very hard, and looking very much distressed.
“Do you know, Copperfield,” said Traddles, cheerfully examining the dish, “I think it is in consequence – they are capital oysters, but I think it is in consequence – of their never having been opened.”
They never had been opened; and we had no oyster knives, and couldn’t have used them if we had; so we looked at the oysters, and ate the mutton. At least we ate as much of it as was done, and made up with capers. If I had permitted him, I am satisfied that Traddles would have made a perfect savage of himself, and eaten a plateful of raw meat, to express enjoyment of the repast. But I would hear of no such immolation on the altar of friendship; and we had a course of bacon instead – there happening, by good fortune, to be cold bacon in the larder.
I feel Conflicted about David and Dora’s marriage. Is it an ideal marriage, per se? No. Is it an ideal marriage for David? No. But is it an ideal marriage for Dora? …I think perhaps it is. It is so fortunate for her that she married someone who will on the one hand be kind and patient with her, but on the other hand does have at least some backbone and is principled and such. What would have happened to her if David hadn’t married her? Just imagine if the poor thing had married a Mr. Murdstone…she’d be dead within a week. I’m not sure that I can look on their marriage as a bad thing on the whole, looking at it from Dora’s point of view.
Chapter 45
This chapter. It made me very happy. (And made me cry. Those often go together.) Truth be told, I did not expect the subplot with the Strongs to have a happy ending, so this took me by surprise in the most delightful way. (And I’ve already gushed enough over Mr. Dick throughout this series, so I suppose I should try to restrain myself from doing it again…though the dear man deserves any amount of gushery.)
Chapter 46
Miss Dartle is annoying. Also, is it just me, or does Littimer seem rather like a slimy, unwholesome version of Jeeves?
Chapter 47
A big theme of this book seems to be showing how miserable and unhappy women can become. (Which I guess makes sense? I mean, the ugly side of humanity in general is a big theme in this book, and one of the ugly facts of humanity is that women are especially vulnerable to being made miserable – not to say, of course, that men can’t be made miserable too.)
It seems so wrong that someone like Betsey Trotwood would be bound to that – that – blighter of a husband. As I was reading, I was thinking, “NO, Miss Betsey, don’t give him help! You know he deserves prison…he’s not worthy to be noticed by you, let alone be given aid by you!” But…she knows all that. She knows it full well. And I really can’t blame her, exactly…for not being able to treat him as he deserved, in memory of who she used to think that he was.
But gosh, IT’S SO SAD. POOR MISS BETSEY.
Chapter 48
I am glad that Dickens found a way to simultaneously have David regret his marriage but still love his wife and not be miserable.
And speaking of Dora, Dickens is going to be very cruel to us readers. I can tell.
Chapter 49
Ooh, I am looking forward to Mr. Micawber’s denouncing Uriah Heep! I do hope that comes off. (I’ve already mentioned how much I love Mr. Dick, right? I suppose I should stop myself from mentioning it again, then.)
Also, before I start this next chapter, I must remark that on seeing its name – “Mr. Peggotty’s Dream Comes True” – I have this sort of suspicion that he’s going to see Little Em’ly again and then she’s going to promptly die.
Chapter 50
Whew, okay, she’s not dead. But goodness, was that frustrating…nearly the level of frustrating as that scene where Fantine’s dying in Les Misérables. (Believe me, it’s way worse in the book than in the musical.) I am disappointed that Miss Dartle is the way she is…when we first met her, I hoped for better things from her.
(I must admit, though, although I can see why David didn’t want to barge in, I really don’t see any reason why Martha couldn’t have. I have to sort of think that Dickens didn’t have her interfere just to heighten the drama.)
Well, that’s that for part 5 of reading David Copperfield: Chapters 41-50! What are your thoughts on the whole David and Dora’s thing? If you had to run into either Miss Dartle or Littimer in a dark alley, who would you choose?
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I’ve never read David Copperfield, but I remember watching the 1935 movie several times when I was younger. Probably a two hour movie can’t do justice to such a long book, but it seems to have had many of the main points because much of your synopsis is sounding familiar.
I think I’ve heard good things about the 1935 version! Yes, I’m sure it couldn’t cover even close to everything, since this is Dickens’ longest book and a LOT happens, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be a good adaptation. I should see it at some point…now that I’ve finished reading the book, I’d like to try out a few movie versions!