David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens

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The story follows the life of David Copperfield from childhood to maturity. David was born in Blunderstone, Suffolk, England, six months after the death of his father. David spends his early years in relative happiness with his loving, childish mother and their kindly housekeeper, Peggotty. When he is seven years old his mother marries Edward Murdstone. During the marriage, partly to get him out of the way and partly because he strongly objects to the whole proceeding, David is sent to lodge with Peggotty's family in Yarmouth. Her brother, fisherman Mr. Peggotty, lives in a house built in an upturned boat on the beach, with his adopted relatives Emily and Ham, and an elderly widow, Mrs. Gummidge. "Little Em'ly" is somewhat spoiled by her fond foster father, and David is in love with her. On his return, David is given good reason to dislike his stepfather and has similar feelings for Murdstone's sister Jane, who moves into the house soon afterwards. Between them they tyrannise his poor mother, making her and David's lives miserable, and when, in consequence, David falls behind in his studies, Murdstone attempts to thrash him – partly to further pain his mother. David bites him and soon afterwards is sent away to a boarding school, Salem House, under a ruthless headmaster, Mr. Creakle. There he befriends an older boy, James Steerforth, and Tommy Traddles. He develops an impassioned admiration for Steerforth, perceiving him as something noble, who could do great things if he would.

David goes home for the holidays to learn that his mother has given birth to a baby boy. Shortly after David returns to Salem House, his mother and her baby die, and David returns home immediately. Peggotty marries the local carrier, Mr. Barkis. Murdstone sends David to work for a wine merchant in London – a business of which Murdstone is a joint owner. David's landlord, Wilkins Micawber, is arrested for debt and sent to the King's Bench Prison, where he remains for several months, before being released and moving to Plymouth. No one remains to care for David in London, so he decides to run away.

He walks from London to Dover, to his only relative, his eccentric yet kind-hearted great-aunt Betsey Trotwood. She had come to Blunderstone at his birth, only to depart in ire upon learning that he was not a girl. However, she takes pity on him and agrees to raise him, despite Murdstone's attempt to regain custody of David, on condition that he always tries to 'be as like his sister, Betsey Trotwood' as he can be, meaning that he is to endeavour to emulate the prospective namesake she was disappointed of. David's great-aunt renames him "Trotwood Copperfield" and addresses him as "Trot", and it becomes one of several names which David is called by in the course of the novel.

David's aunt sends him to a far better school than the last he attended. It is run by Dr. Strong, whose methods inculcate honour and self-reliance in his pupils. During term, David lodges with the lawyer Mr. Wickfield, and his daughter Agnes, who becomes David's friend and confidante. Wickfield has a secretary, the 15-year-old Uriah Heep.

By devious means, Uriah Heep gradually gains a complete ascendancy over the aging and alcoholic Wickfield, to Agnes's great sorrow. Heep hopes, and maliciously confides to David, that he aspires to marry Agnes. Ultimately with the aid of Micawber, who has been employed by Heep as a secretary, his fraudulent behaviour is revealed. At the end of the book, David meets him in a prison, for attempting to defraud the Bank of England.

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La historia sigue la vida de David Copperfield desde la infancia hasta la madurez. David nació en Bloonderstone, Suffolk, Inglaterra, seis meses después de la muerte de su padre. David pasa sus primeros años en la felicidad relativa con su amante, la madre pueril y su ama de llaves amablemente, Peggotty. Cuando él tiene siete años su madre se casa con Edward Murdstone. Durante el matrimonio, en parte para sacarlo del camino y en parte porque se opone firmemente a todo el procedimiento, David es enviado a presentar con la familia de Peggotty en Yarmouth. Su hermano, pescador míster Peggotty, vive en una casa construida en un barco de vuelta hacia arriba en la playa, con sus parientes adoptados Emily y jamón, y una anciana viuda, la señora Gudmige. "Pequeña Emily" está un poco estropeado por su amo padre adoptivo, y David está enamorado de ella. A su regreso, David se da una buena razón que no les gusta su padrastro y tiene sentimientos similares para la hermana de Murdstone- Jane, que se muda a la casa poco después. Entre los dos tiranizar su pobre madre, por lo que su vida y la de David desgraciado, y cuando, en consecuencia, David se queda atrás en sus estudios, Murdstone- intenta golpearlo - en parte, a más dolor a su madre. David lo muerde y poco después se despidió a un internado, Salem House, bajo un implacable director, el Sr. Creakle. Allí se hace amigo de un niño mayor, James Steerforth, y Tommy Traddles. Se desarrolla una admiración apasionada por Steerforth, percibirlo como algo noble, que podía hacer grandes cosas si lo haría.

David se va a casa para las vacaciones para aprender que su madre ha dado a luz a un bebé. Poco después de que David vuelve a Salem House, su madre y su bebé mueren, y David vuelve a casa inmediatamente. Peggotty se casa con el operador local, Barkis. Murdstone- envía David a trabajar para un comerciante de vinos en Londres - una empresa de la que Murdstone- es un copropietario. arrendador de David, Wilkins Micawber, es arrestado por la deuda y enviado a la prisión de banco del Rey, donde permanece durante varios meses, antes de ser puesto en libertad y se mueve a Plymouth. No queda nadie para cuidar de David en Londres, por lo que decide huir.

Camina de Londres a Dover, a su único pariente, su excéntrica todavía de buen corazón tía Betsey Trotwood. Había llegado a Bloonderstone en su nacimiento, sólo para salir de la ira al enterarse de que no era una niña. Sin embargo, ella se apiada de él y está de acuerdo para elevar él, a pesar del intento de Murdstone- recuperar la custodia de David, a condición de que siempre trata de 'ser tan igual que su hermana, Betsey Trotwood' como puede ser, lo que significa que es la de tratar emular el homónimo prospectivo que estaba decepcionada de. la tía abuela de David cambia el nombre de él "Trotwood Copperfield" y se dirige a él como "trote", y se convierte en uno de los varios nombres, que David es llamado por a lo largo de la novela.

La tía de David le envía a una escuela mucho mejor que la última vez que asistió. Está dirigido por el Dr. Strong, cuyos métodos inculcar el honor y la autosuficiencia en sus pupilas. Durante el mandato, David Lodge con el abogado Sr. Wickfield, y su hija Inés, que se convierte en amigo y confidente de David. Wickfield tiene una secretaria, de 15 años de edad, Uriah Heep.

Por medios tortuosos, Uriah Heep gradualmente gana un ascenso completo sobre el envejecimiento y Wickfield alcohólica, a gran dolor de Agnes. Heep espera, y maliciosamente confía a David, que aspira a casarse con Agnes. En última instancia, con la ayuda de Micawber, que ha sido empleado por Heep como secretaria, su conducta fraudulenta se revela. Al final del libro, David se encuentra con él en una prisión, por intentar defraudar al Banco de Inglaterra.