David Copperfield Blog - Ch 2.
In the second chapter, the story develops more as an insight into David's thoughts and personality as being an infant in the first chapter, there isn't much that can be said about him as a person. These developments occur because the novel is now being told from David's point of view. At this point he is a small child but still capable of thinking.
The chapter begins by him discussing what he remembers from his transition from baby to small child. He discusses the appearances of his mother [Clara] and Peggotty [their servant], as well as the layout of their house and mentions for the first time that they have fowls around the property and they scare him due to their size and malicious nature.
QUOTE: "There is nothing half so green that I know anywhere, as the grass of that churchyard; nothing half so shady as its trees; nothing half so quiet as its tombstones. The sheep are feeding there, when I kneel up, early in the morning, in my little bed in a closet within my mother's room, to look out at it; and I see the red light shining on the sun-dial, and think within myself, 'Is the sun-dial glad, I wonder, that it can tell the time again?'"
Quotes like this allow us to play with the idea that David at least partially has the mind of a thinker or more accurately a philisopher. However this idea is merely an idea. As the novel progresses, this idea will either stay an idea or be confirmed as true. However, it could also be said that as a young child, David cant help being curious about everything and anything he see's or hears about.
David then goes on to discuss church and where his family's pew is. It is also noted that Peggotty has a strong loyalty to the Copperfields and as their property is visible from church, she tends to look at it for long periods of time, while there to make sure it's not being broken into. Hypocrisy is also introduced here as though Peggotty does it, she gets extremely offended if David does it and reprimands him at once when he does. David tends to get bored in church easily as Peggotty is always telling him to always look at the clergyman and never to look anywhere else except David doesn't feel comfortable doing that and cant help looking around at times. At this particular service, he falls asleep partially due to the heat inside and slight boredom and judging from what he has said so far, I'm inclined to believe that's not the first time or the last that he falls asleep in church.
QUOTE: I look from Mr. Chillip, in his Sunday neckcloth, to the pulpit; and think what a good place it would be to play in, and what a castle it would make, with another boy coming up the stairs to attack it, and having the velvet cushion with the tassels thrown down on his head. In time my eyes gradually shut up; and, from seeming to hear the clergyman singing a drowsy song in the heat, I hear nothing, until I fall off the seat with a crash, and am taken out, more dead than alive, by Peggotty.
The story then goes on to discuss David's loyalty to his mother through an example. Clara has gone to a neighbours house for the evening and David is waiting up with Peggotty in the parlour, reading a book about crocodiles. He is very tired but states that he would rather die on his post than go to sleep, because he cant wait to see his mother. Out of curiosity, David asks Peggotty whether she was ever married. After the initial shock, Peggotty replied that she never has been married and doesn't expect to be. She asks repeatedly what on earth made David think about marriage at his young age, though David neither answers or explains why.
When Clara does come home, she is escorted home by a man who walked them home from church last week. Though he is pleasant enough, David immediately dislikes him but doesn't know why. After he leaves, Peggotty and Clara get into an argument over the man. Peggotty doesn't like him either and says that Clara is wanting something new in her life, because she's bored with her and David. Clara is visibly offended and then everybody starts crying. Afterwards, they send David to bed though he feels incredibly dejected and cant stop crying. His mother comes to comfort him and all is well.
David quickly learns within a short amount of time that the mans name is Mr Murdstone. Towards the end of the chapter, he takes David out on a horse ride. Though Mr Murdstone is still as pleasant as he was that evening, David still doesn't like him but knows that he feels jealous but doesn't know why. They then stop off at a hotel, where all the people greet Mr Murdstone like a long lost friend. One of them discusses Mr Murdstone's courtship with 'the Copperfield widow' much to the amusement of Mr Murdstone and David's deep uneasyness. When they return, Mr Murdstone spends some time with Clara before leaving and though things seem to be well and normal, David cant help feeling that Mr Murdstone has some unpleasant motive and that his life will take a turn for the worse if he continues to be in it.
After this, Peggotty suggests that David goes to Yarmouth to spend some time with her nephew Ham and his family. David is excited about that and agrees as he likes Ham very much.
And this is where the chapter ends.
The chapter begins by him discussing what he remembers from his transition from baby to small child. He discusses the appearances of his mother [Clara] and Peggotty [their servant], as well as the layout of their house and mentions for the first time that they have fowls around the property and they scare him due to their size and malicious nature.
QUOTE: "There is nothing half so green that I know anywhere, as the grass of that churchyard; nothing half so shady as its trees; nothing half so quiet as its tombstones. The sheep are feeding there, when I kneel up, early in the morning, in my little bed in a closet within my mother's room, to look out at it; and I see the red light shining on the sun-dial, and think within myself, 'Is the sun-dial glad, I wonder, that it can tell the time again?'"
Quotes like this allow us to play with the idea that David at least partially has the mind of a thinker or more accurately a philisopher. However this idea is merely an idea. As the novel progresses, this idea will either stay an idea or be confirmed as true. However, it could also be said that as a young child, David cant help being curious about everything and anything he see's or hears about.
David then goes on to discuss church and where his family's pew is. It is also noted that Peggotty has a strong loyalty to the Copperfields and as their property is visible from church, she tends to look at it for long periods of time, while there to make sure it's not being broken into. Hypocrisy is also introduced here as though Peggotty does it, she gets extremely offended if David does it and reprimands him at once when he does. David tends to get bored in church easily as Peggotty is always telling him to always look at the clergyman and never to look anywhere else except David doesn't feel comfortable doing that and cant help looking around at times. At this particular service, he falls asleep partially due to the heat inside and slight boredom and judging from what he has said so far, I'm inclined to believe that's not the first time or the last that he falls asleep in church.
QUOTE: I look from Mr. Chillip, in his Sunday neckcloth, to the pulpit; and think what a good place it would be to play in, and what a castle it would make, with another boy coming up the stairs to attack it, and having the velvet cushion with the tassels thrown down on his head. In time my eyes gradually shut up; and, from seeming to hear the clergyman singing a drowsy song in the heat, I hear nothing, until I fall off the seat with a crash, and am taken out, more dead than alive, by Peggotty.
The story then goes on to discuss David's loyalty to his mother through an example. Clara has gone to a neighbours house for the evening and David is waiting up with Peggotty in the parlour, reading a book about crocodiles. He is very tired but states that he would rather die on his post than go to sleep, because he cant wait to see his mother. Out of curiosity, David asks Peggotty whether she was ever married. After the initial shock, Peggotty replied that she never has been married and doesn't expect to be. She asks repeatedly what on earth made David think about marriage at his young age, though David neither answers or explains why.
When Clara does come home, she is escorted home by a man who walked them home from church last week. Though he is pleasant enough, David immediately dislikes him but doesn't know why. After he leaves, Peggotty and Clara get into an argument over the man. Peggotty doesn't like him either and says that Clara is wanting something new in her life, because she's bored with her and David. Clara is visibly offended and then everybody starts crying. Afterwards, they send David to bed though he feels incredibly dejected and cant stop crying. His mother comes to comfort him and all is well.
David quickly learns within a short amount of time that the mans name is Mr Murdstone. Towards the end of the chapter, he takes David out on a horse ride. Though Mr Murdstone is still as pleasant as he was that evening, David still doesn't like him but knows that he feels jealous but doesn't know why. They then stop off at a hotel, where all the people greet Mr Murdstone like a long lost friend. One of them discusses Mr Murdstone's courtship with 'the Copperfield widow' much to the amusement of Mr Murdstone and David's deep uneasyness. When they return, Mr Murdstone spends some time with Clara before leaving and though things seem to be well and normal, David cant help feeling that Mr Murdstone has some unpleasant motive and that his life will take a turn for the worse if he continues to be in it.
After this, Peggotty suggests that David goes to Yarmouth to spend some time with her nephew Ham and his family. David is excited about that and agrees as he likes Ham very much.
And this is where the chapter ends.