The evil that David experienced as a child on the streets of London sharpened
his wits so that, for example, David is able to catch Uriah staring at him while
pretending to write, on their first encounter. And as a result of David's
experience on the streets, he has the help of Mr. Micawber in defeating Uriah in
his scheme to take over the Wickfield firm, indeed to take over the world of the
novel.
David's first-hand experience with the evil streets of London as a boy gives him
the knowledge and wherewithal to take the measure of evil. His imaginative
creativity, inspired by Agnes, allows him to order his universe. The very powers
that allow David Copperfield to succeed as hero are the powers that allow
Dickens to create David Copperfield . He will extend those powers beyond the
world of the novel to continue to address the evils of a social system that is
oppressive and life denying.
Dickens extended his capacity to address social issues and to provide
entertainment by founding Household Words , a weekly magazine that first
appeared on March 30, 1850, and continued until he replaced it with All the Year
Round , which he founded and edited in 1859.
