对于大卫科波菲尔中人物的形象分析

An Analysis of Image in David Copperfield

Chapter1

Introduction

"David Copperfield", the masterpiece of Dickens, was a semi-autobiographical work. In May 1849 to November 1850, the installment was published. In the preface, Dickens said: “It is my favorite child.”

The novel depicted David's experiences which were filled with sufferings and laughters. Dickens portrayed the colorful picture of British society, the typical image of different social classes, especially the endless struggle of David in the face of adversity which left a deep impression on us. David was unable to endure the abuse of his stepfather, biting the fingers of his stepfather, savagely beaten. As a result, he was locked in a boarding school. After his mother died, he was sent to the factory as a child by his stepfather. From then on, he lived a hard life, without enough to eat or wear and suffered all kinds of abuse and torture. However, David did not succumb to the mercy of fate, painstakingly, and finally found his aunt Betsey. The kind-hearted aunt shelter adopted him and let him go to a better school. When he knew that Aunt Betsey was bankrupted, but instead, he studied diligently with perseverance all kinds of abuse and torture. Finally, after making efforts, he became a writer and achieved success. At the same time, other characters were clear and vivid. Peggotty was a nurse who took care of David and David’s mother carefully, she was remarkably loyal. Outwardly, aunt Betsey appeared a severe woman, but she showed that she was kind by loving David and others. In addition, Ham was noble, brave and honest. Mr.Murdstones was fierce and cruel. Steerforth was selfish and arrogant.

1.1 Introduction to the Author

Dickens was the main representative of realism literature in the 19th century. The art of witty words, nuanced psychological analysis and realism were combined together closely in his works. He was particularly famous for his vivid comic characterizations and social criticism. He was the first author who had written of the poor with fidelity and sympathy. His works were famous during novels of the Victorian age and among the great classics in all fiction.

Dickens was born in February, 1812, at Landport, Portsmouth. He was the second of eight children. His father was a clerk, hardworking but imprudent, later caricatured as Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield.In 1822, the family moved to London, where Charles had to leave school to support his impoverished family. In 1824, his father was put into prison for debt. At the age of 12, Dickens was sent to going to work at a factory. He wrapped and labeled for 6 shillings a week. After work, he wandered through the streets of London, enthralled by the sight of the dockyards, the files of convicts, and vast sections of the city inhabited by the poor. These bitter days remained in his memory and later found expression in his works.

Dickens was able to return to school because a small legacy helped release his father from prison. He was an avid reader and spent much time in the reading room of the British Museum. Although he later returned to school for a time, these experiences left a permanent imprint on the soul of Charles Dickens. Even many years later, he had become a successful author, he could not bear to talk about it, or be reminded of his family’s ignominy.

At the age of fifteen, Dickens began working as an office boy for a law firm. He taught himself and he became a reporter for courts of Doctors’ Common in 1828. The dull routine of the legal profession never interested him, so he became a newspaper reporter for the Mirror of parliament, the True Sun, and finally for the Morning Chronicle.(John Forster, were later his closest friend and biographer, was also employed at the True Sun.)By the age of twenty, Dickens was one of the best parliamentary reporters all the England.

By this time, Dickens was enjoying the luxurious life he had dreamed of as a child. In 1850, he published the last installments of David Copperfield, a partly autobiographical novel that was his favorite.

1.2 The Introduction to the Background

1.2.1 Social background

“Like so many parents I hav e a favorite child in my heart,”wrote Charles Dickens. "And his name is David Copperfield." Here, Dickens made good use of his own life experience to expose the social evils that were prevalent in Victorian England and were the miseries of child-labor, the tyranny in schools, the debtors’ prison, as well as the cruelty and immortality and the treachery. Thus the novel was not merely a person al record, but a broad picture of the society of the author’s day.