Commentary: Chapter two:

1. ” Clara, My love! … Remember! Be firm! You’re making the boy’s character

worse by helping him like that!” … Mr. Murdstone to Clara.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Mr. Murdstone to Clara
while she was teaching David in a very encouraging and sympathetic way. His
words reveal his belief that firmness is the best way to bring up obedient children.
Mr. Murdstone was strict, firm, cruel and dictatorial. He attempts to teach Clara
firmness, supposedly for her own good, but more likely because he enjoys bending
people to his will. He is even nastier to David whom he uses as a means of
manipulating Clara. This extract reflects two themes. The first theme is the plight of
the weak where the powerful abuse the weak and the helpless. Dickens focuses on
orphans and women to show that exploitation is the rule that controls that industrial
society. The second theme is the inequality in marriage. Marriages succeed when
husband and wife attain equality in their relationship. Dickens believes that a strong
kind of marriage is when each of the two spouses do not try to be superior over the
other. Mr. Murdstone’s attempts to improve David’s mother’s character are by
crushing her spirit and leaving her meek and voiceless. This reflects how their
marriage is characterized by inequality and doomed to failure.

2. “Oh Edward, I’m sorry” … Clara to Mr. Murdstone

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Clara to Mr. Murdstone in
Clara’s home when he ordered her to be firm with David. This shows that Clara was
negative irresponsible mother with weak personality. She was always apologizing.
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This reflects themes. The first theme is that womanhood and the place of woman in
society. Clara is an example of women who do not hold much power and so they do
not fare very well in any relationship. The second theme is the inequality in
marriage. Marriages succeed when husband and wife attain equality in their
relationship. Dickens believes that a strong kind of marriage is when each of the
two spouses do not try to be superior over the other. Mr. Murdstone’s attempts to
improve David’s mother’s character are by crushing her spirit and leaving her meek
and voiceless. This reflects how their marriage is characterized by inequality and
doomed to failure.

3. “You must be very careful today, David … Well David … I think you have
worried your mother enough today. We’ll go upstairs, boy. Come” … Mr.
Murdstone to David.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Mr. Murdstone to David in
their house after he married his mother and he was threatening him while he was
studying. He believed that firmness is the best way to bring up obedient children.
Mr. Murdstone was strict, firm, cruel and dictatorial. He attempts to teach Clara
firmness, supposedly for her own good, but more likely because he enjoys bending
people to his will. David was the tool he used to achieve his goal. That’s why; he is
nastier to David, whom he uses as a means of manipulating Clara. This extract
reflects the theme of child abuse. It reflects the plight of the weak where the
powerful abuse the weak and the helpless. Dickens focuses on orphans to show that
exploitation—not pity or compassion—is the rule that controls that industrial
society.

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 4. “Please, Mr. Murdstone! … Don’t beat me! I’ve tried to, really, I have sir” …
David to Mr. Murdstone.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by David to Mr. Murdstone
when Mr. Murdstone decided to beat David because he could not study his lessons.
This shows that he was really scared. This extract reflects the theme of child abuse
through the plenty of suffering and abuse David was exposed to. David lives an
unbearable life as he is constantly dealing with child abuse at the hands of Mr.
Murdstone who was strict, firm, cruel and dictatorial. The weak in “David
Copperfield” never escape the domination of the powerful by challenging them
directly. David, for example, doesn’t stand up to Mr. Murdstone and challenge his
authority. All what he could do is to plead for forgiveness.

5. “Mater David, my dear … they’re going to send you to a boarding school …

No my love, but don’t forget. I will take care of your mother. She needs her
cross old Peggotty. I will stay with her, although I hate these Murdstones. And
remember, David, I love you as much as I love your mother, and more. And I
will write to you.” ….. Peggotty to David.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Peggotty to David in their
home when he was locked and she talked to him through the door to tell him that
they will send him to the boarding school. This extract reflects the theme of
faithfulness. Peggotty really cares a lot about David’s feeling. Although, Peggotty is
David's old nurse and his mother's housekeeper, her primary characteristic
is loyalty, faithfulness and wisdom. She loves looking after David. She acts as
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David’s real mother, although she belongs to the working-class females which is a
lower social class that of David. That’s why; this extract sheds light on the theme of
faithfulness.

6. “Oh Peggotty! … Then I won’t see you and mother very often … Thank you
dear Peggotty … will you write to your brother too, and Ham and Little
Emily, and tell them, I’m not as bad as the Murdstones think and send my
love to them especially little Emily.” David to Peggotty.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by David to Peggotty in their
home when he was locked and she talked to him through the door to tell him that
they will send him to the boarding school. This extract reflects how David is
innocent even though he suffers abuse as a child. He is idealistic and remains honest
and loving. David’s troubled childhood renders him sympathetic and attracted him
toward the lower classes. Those classes are represented by Peggotty who belongs to
the working-class females which is a lower social class that of David. This extract
reflects the theme of child abuse through the plenty of suffering and abuse David
was exposed to. The weak in “David Copperfield” never escape the domination of
the powerful by challenging them directly. All what he could do is to plead for
forgiveness and ask others not to think bad of him.

7. “Here, Master David … A little present from me and your dear mother.” ….
Peggotty to David

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Peggotty to David when Mr.
Barkis was taking him to the boarding school in Yarmouth. This extract reflects the
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theme of faithfulness. Peggotty really cares a lot about David’s feeling. Although,
Peggotty is David's old nurse and his mother's housekeeper, her primary
characteristic is loyalty, faithfulness and wisdom. She loves looking after David.
She acts as David’s real mother, although she belongs to the working-class females
which is a lower social class that of David. That’s why; this extract sheds light on
the theme of faithfulness.

8. “Did she make those cakes … Does she have a young man? … You know,
someone who wants to marry her? Ah… Well! Perhaps if you write to her –
will you be writing to her? You could give her a message from me. You could
say “Barkis is willing” … no you just give her the message. Remember Barkis
is willing.” … Barkis to David

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Mr. Barkis to David when he
was taking him to the boarding school in Yarmouth. Mr. Barkis develops marital
designs on Peggotty because he knows that she makes amazing apple pastries. So
he makes David carry the message of marriage proposal to Peggotty. It is important
to note that both of them belong to the working class and this somehow
foreshadows that he and Peggotty will have a strong marriage on equal footing.

9. “My dear Peggotty, I have arrived safely in Yarmouth. Barkis is willing.

Please give my love to mother. Yours, David. P.S. He says it’s important –
Barkis is willing.” … David’s letter to Peggotty.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. It is the letter that David sent to Peggotty informing her
about his safe arrival and Barkis’ marriage proposal. This extract reflects how
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David is innocent even though he suffers abuse as a child. He is idealistic and
remains honest and loving. David’s troubled childhood renders him sympathetic
and attracted him toward the lower classes. Those classes are represented by
Peggotty who belongs to the working-class females which is a lower social class
that of David. She is the one whom he chose to send letters to.

10. “Be Careful! He bites!”

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. This the placard that David was forced to wear at
Salem House. During the early phase, David’s emotional growth is blocked by
further punishment. This extract reflects the theme of child abuse through the plenty
of suffering and abuse David was exposed to. David lives an unbearable life as he is
constantly dealing with child abuse at the hands of Mr. Murdstone and then at the
hands of the cruel Mr. Creakle. The weak in “David Copperfield” never escape the
domination of the powerful by challenging them directly. David, for example,
doesn’t stand up to Mr. Creakle and challenge his authority. All what he could do is
to plead for forgiveness and ask him to remove the sign before the other boys see it.

11. “So, this is the boy who bites, is it? I know your stepfather, boy. He is a
man of a strong character, he is. He knows m, and I know him. Do you know
me? Answer me, boy!... Ah, but you soon will! Oh yes, I have a strong
character too, you’ll see.” … Mr. Creakle to David.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Mr. Creakle to David when
he met him for the first time in Salem House. He was threatening him. He
humiliated him as he was Mr. Murdstone’s friend. Like Mr. Murdstone, he believed
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that firmness is the best way to bring up obedient children. This extract reflects the
theme of child abuse through the plenty of suffering and abuse David was exposed
to at the hands of Mr. Creakle who was vicious, cruel and dictatorial. It also reflects
the plight of the weak where the powerful abuse the weak and the helpless. Dickens
focuses on orphans to show that exploitation—not pity or compassion—is the rule
that controls that industrial society.

12. “Not yet, sir … Please, sir, I am very sorry for what I did to Mr.
Murdstone. Could – could I take that sign off, before the other boys see it …”
David to Mr. Creakle

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by David to Mr. Creakle when
he met him for the first time in Salem House after threatening and humiliating him,
as he was Mr. Murdstone’s friend. This shows that he was really scared. This
extract reflects the theme of child abuse through the plenty of suffering and abuse
David was exposed to. David lives an unbearable life as he is constantly dealing with
child abuse at the hands of Mr. Creakle who was vicious, cruel and dictatorial. It
also reflects the plight of the weak where the powerful abuse the weak and the
helpless. The weak in “David Copperfield” never escape the domination of the
powerful by challenging them directly. David, for example, doesn’t stand up to Mr.
Creakle and challenge his authority. All what he could do is to plead for forgiveness
and ask him to remove the sign before the other boys see it.

13. “How much money have you got, Copperfield? … You’d better give it
to me. I’ll take care of it for you. Perhaps you’d like to spend some of it now?
… A bottle of wine, a tin of biscuits, a few cakes, that sort of thing? … Good
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 night young Copperfield … I’ll take care of you” … You haven’t got a sister,
have you … what a pity! If you had on. I am sure she’d be a pretty, bright-
eyed little girl.” Steerforth to David.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by Steerforth to David at Salem
House after the children came back to school after their holiday. There, Steerforth
befriended David at Salem House trying to take advantage of him. Steerforth liked
David only because David worships him. This extract reflects the theme of
appearance versus reality.

14. “Eight shillings Steerforth … It is very kind of you … No, I haven’t” …

David to Steerforth.

This extract is taken from “David Copperfield” which is an autobiography

written by Charles Dickens. These words were said by David to Steerforth at Salem
House after the children came back to school after their holiday. David takes
Steerforth’s kindness for granted without analyzing his motives or detecting his
duplicity. When Steerforth befriended David at Salem House, David did not suspect
Steerforth’s real intentions. Though Steerforth belittles David from the moment
they meet, David is incapable of conceiving that his new friend might be taking
advantage of him. Because Steerforth’s duplicity is so clear to us, David’s lack of
insight into Steerforth’s true intentions emphasizes his youthful innocence. This
extract reflects the theme of appearance versus reality due to being deceived easily
by Steerforth.