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David Copperfield Chapter Summary - Part 1
(Jump to chapters 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18, 19-21, 22-24, 25-27, 28-30, 31-32, Jump to the second part)

    By Poppy Edmunds

IN PRINT

 

Page 4

CHAPTER 10 – I BECOME NEGLECTED, AND AM PROVIDED FOR

Peggotty is given a month’s notice, and so she decides to stay with Mr Peggotty, Emily and Ham once this time is up. Peggotty says that whatever happens to Copperfield, she will be there for him.

Peggotty and Mr Barkis (coach driver) get married. Copperfield is told that he is to go to work in London.

 

CHAPTER 11 – I BEGIN LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT, AND I DON’T LIKE IT

Copperfield has to work at Murdstone and Grinby’s warehouse by the waterside. The warehouse is ‘literally overrun by rats’.

The business is the supply of wines and spirits to certain packet ships. Copperfield has to wash bottles and then glue the labels on, for 6 shillings a week.

Mr Micawber tells Copperfield that he is to stay with them as a lodger (because they owe a lot of money).

Copperfield writes to Peggotty many times but doesn’t want her to know the truth about his job.

Micawber is arrested and sent to King’s Bench (debtors) Prison. Copperfield visits him. Captain Hopkins complains about debtor’s prisons and this allows Micawber and some others to be freed.

 

CHAPTER 12 – LIKING LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT NO BETTER, I FORM A GREAT RESOLUTION

After Micawber is set free, they decide to start a new life in Plymouth.

Copperfield goes to live with Tipp (work mate), but later decides that he wants to find and live with Betsey Trotwood in Dover.

Copperfield asks someone to move his trunk to a coach, but he steals it, and his money, threatening to go to the police and report a runaway.

 

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