David Copperfield · Chapter
My First Dissipation explained
David Copperfield revels in the independence of his new lodgings in Buckingham Street, but soon feels lonely and misses Agnes.
What happens
David Copperfield revels in the independence of his new lodgings in Buckingham Street, but soon feels lonely and misses Agnes. After visiting Mrs. Steerforth and Rosa Dartle in Highgate, he joyfully reunites with Steerforth, who brings two friends, Grainger and Markham, for a dinner party. The evening descends into drunken revelry, during which David smokes, drinks excessively, and makes a fool of himself. Later, at the theatre, he encounters Agnes Wickfield, who is mortified by his intoxicated state.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Loyalty
David's deep affection for Steerforth is evident, but the chapter also shows the imbalance in their friendship as Steerforth leads David into dissipation.
Orphanhood and Self-Formation
David's new independence in his lodgings and his attempt to navigate adult social life reflect his ongoing self-formation without parental guidance.
Memory and Nostalgia
David recalls his feelings of loneliness and misses Agnes, contrasting his earlier excitement with the dreariness of solitude.
Characters to notice
- David Copperfield
David revels in his new independence but feels lonely; he gets drunk at his own dinner party and embarrasses himself in front of Agnes at the theatre.
- James Steerforth
Steerforth visits David, brings friends to dinner, and leads the revelry; he remains composed while David becomes intoxicated.
- Agnes Wickfield
Agnes appears at the theatre and is shocked and saddened to see David drunk, urging him to be quiet and look at the stage.
- Mrs. Crupp
David's landlady, who provides weak coffee and is summoned from the basement; she is mentioned in the context of the dinner party.
- Rosa Dartle
Rosa Dartle is present during David's visit to Mrs. Steerforth, asking probing questions about Yarmouth.
- Mrs. Steerforth
Mrs. Steerforth welcomes David to Highgate and talks with him about Steerforth's popularity in Yarmouth.
Key passages
“It was a wonderfully fine thing to have that lofty castle to myself, and to feel, when I shut my outer door, like Robinson Crusoe, when he had got into his fortification, and pulled his ladder up after him.”
David feels a great sense of pride and independence in his new lodgings, comparing himself to Robinson Crusoe in his fortress.
This simile emphasizes David's youthful excitement about his newfound autonomy.
“I found a tremendous blank, in the place of that smiling repository of my confidence.”
David feels a deep emptiness without Agnes, whom he trusted and confided in.
This highlights David's emotional dependence on Agnes and his loneliness.
“I see her face now, better than I did then, I dare say, with its indelible look of regret and wonder turned upon me.”
David recalls Agnes's expression of disappointment and surprise when she saw him drunk at the theatre.
This moment marks a turning point in David's self-awareness and shame.