After reading Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' a little while ago, I turned my attentions to a work which, I was assured, had similarities in its approach and atmosphere.
My initial conclusions, whilst navigating the opening chapters of "David Copperfield", were that this was a more substantial novel than "Expectations", complex and linear but incorporating a multiplicity of strands and characters.
In a similar vein to the other book, "David Copperfield" serves as a window on 19th century societal conditions and mores, but in this regard it is relatively "undemonstrative", with the words being left to speak for themselves, by and large. More overt and direct commentary might have spoiled the effect.
Maybe this is simply symptomatic of my failing capacity for memory, but I found it difficult to keep track of the various characters, locations and story sub-plots.
Early on I detected a generation gap as a central issue in the story, but later on I revised my impressions in this area, as older figures exhibited progressive, reasonable and humane approaches and behaviour, and younger people displayed rigid and reactionary attitudes. The message being, perhaps, that we can all change, be influenced by our environment and our social circle, but also that we have it within our power to transcend the limitations and conventions of social stratification and "expectations".
The length of time encompassed by the narrative permits the reader to "root" for certain characters, groups of characters or "factions" and their aspirations. The titular character certainly had his hands full, but this perception may be slightly distorted by the "compression" of the timelines in the novel.
A theme which comes and goes within this work is the detachment of certain sectors of society from any consciousness of social issues and social concerns. But, perhaps significantly, Dickens appears keen to point out, via characters such as David's aunt, that these attitudes were not uniform amongst certain social groups and age-groups. This care ensures that we are not always looking at caricatures and stereotypes.
The Uriah Heep character is a compelling creation and Dickens' descriptions of him, as seem through the eyes of David, are deliciously pungent. The dryness of the narrator's (i.e. David's) humour is quite infectious, but close scrutiny is advisable in order to derive the most from this aspect of the text.
One element of this novel which mildly surprised me was the "Romantic" flavour of the passages concerning David's love life. Even if this is not your cup of tea, stay with it, because there is a pay-off later on.
Going back to the social commentary, a picture is painted of a murky morass of protectionism and exclusion; institutions which are opaque and impenetrable. It is a world of deference and reverence, and even a dynamic young man such as David is often obliged to conform in order to "get on".
The obstructions put in place by the rarefied, and the stench of rottenness in some quarters and corners of society, emanate strongly from these pages. The tendency of people to "pull the ladder up" when they have ascended also emerges as a recurring trend here. The fear of people reverting to their former status led them to behave unnaturally and haughtily.
I'm unsure whether I could really recommend this novel as a starting point for those wishing to explore the world of Charles Dickens, especially for younger people. The sheer length of the story, and the range of characters and sub-texts, ensures that this one turns out as a demanding journey.
A number of "coincidences" and "serendipities" serve to knit the story together, and I can understand how this might put some readers off, no matter how dramatic and affecting the individual instances might appear.
Without wishing to give things away unduly, I found the ending convincingly brought out and poetically rendered., even if it was not entirely unpredictable. I can see, though, why some might deem the "resolution" to be excessively neat and tidy.
I would say that the "narrator"'s aunt is the most rounded and plausible character, and in some respects the most likeable. Her presence, in a sense, is the backbone of much that occurs.
As I observed when reading "Great Expectations", I quite admire the author's tendency to let major, even pivotal, incidents pass by almost without explicit or concrete description. This gives us readers something to do.
So, I would estimate that this novel has more depth and emotional gravitas than "Great Expectations", the characters being evoked and developed more vividly and stridently. It is worth persevering even when things seem to meander or consolidate. The autobiographical flavour adds additional intrigue and interest.
