Essay on the short story "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens
Автор публикации: А. Гуделенкова, студентка 1 курса
Essay on the short story "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens is one of the greatest English writers of the 19th century, a master of realistic prose and social satire. His works, including "David Copperfield", reflect the lives of different strata of society, combining drama, humor and deep humanity. Dickens often addressed the topic of childhood, injustice and the moral development of personality, which makes his novels especially touching and relevant even today.
The main character, David Copperfield, has many positive qualities: he is kind, honest and hardworking. Despite a difficult childhood and abuse by his stepfather, David retains faith in people and the pursuit of justice. His sincerity and dedication to his friends, especially to characters like Agnes and Mr. Pickwick, make him likeable and respected.
However, David has drawbacks. He can sometimes be naive and too trusting, which leads him to make mistakes, for example, in his marriage with Dora. His emotionality and tendency to idealize people prevent him from assessing situations soberly. In addition, he sometimes shows weakness of character, especially in his youth, when he cannot resist the pressure of others.
Personally, I treat David Copperfield with irritation. Despite all the trials he goes through, his constant complaints and passivity at key moments are annoying. Instead of resolutely fighting injustice, he often submits to circumstances, allowing others to control his fate. His marriage to Dora is a vivid example of irresponsibility: he marries out of naive love, without thinking about the consequences, and then suffers because of his own choice. Even his kindness does not seem to be a strength, but a weakness — he forgives too easily those who offended him, for example, Steerforth or even his cruel stepfather. As a result, David gives the impression not so much of a strong hero who has survived difficulties, but of an eternal child who has never learned to make adult decisions.
