David Copperfield · Chapter
XV: I Make Another Beginning explained
David begins a new life under the care of his aunt Betsey Trotwood, who arranges for his education at Canterbury.
What happens
David begins a new life under the care of his aunt Betsey Trotwood, who arranges for his education at Canterbury. He meets Mr. Wickfield and his daughter Agnes, and encounters the unsettling Uriah Heep. David forms a close bond with Mr. Dick and prepares to start school.
Themes in this chapter
Orphanhood and Self-Formation
David's new beginning with his aunt represents a fresh start in forming his identity after the loss of his mother.
Domesticity and the Ideal Home
The Wickfield home is portrayed as clean, orderly, and welcoming, with Agnes as the ideal housekeeper, embodying domestic virtue.
Friendship and Loyalty
David's deepening friendship with Mr. Dick and the affectionate bond with his aunt highlight themes of loyalty and support.
Characters to notice
- David Copperfield
David is the narrator and protagonist, starting a new chapter in his life under his aunt's guardianship.
- Betsey Trotwood
Aunt Betsey takes charge of David's education, driving him to Canterbury and arranging his stay with Mr. Wickfield.
- Mr. Dick
Mr. Dick is David's affectionate friend, who flies kites and is deeply saddened by David's departure for school.
- Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep is introduced as a cadaverous, red-haired youth working for Mr. Wickfield, with a unsettling demeanor.
- Mr. Wickfield
Mr. Wickfield is a lawyer in Canterbury who takes David into his home and arranges his schooling.
- Agnes Wickfield
Agnes is Mr. Wickfield's daughter, a calm and gentle girl who becomes David's friend and housekeeper.
Key passages
“Never be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel. Avoid those three vices, Trot, and I can always be hopeful of you.”
Aunt Betsey advises David to avoid meanness, dishonesty, and cruelty, promising that if he does, she will always have hope for him.
This advice encapsulates the moral guidance Aunt Betsey imparts to David as he begins his new life.
“I used to fancy, as I sat by him of an evening, on a green slope, and saw him watch the kite high in the quiet air, that it lifted his mind out of its confusion, and bore it (such was my boyish thought) into the skies.”
David imagines that flying the kite helps Mr. Dick escape his mental confusion, lifting his thoughts to a peaceful place.
This reflects the therapeutic and symbolic role of the kite in Mr. Dick's life, as perceived by young David.