David Copperfield · Chapter
The Beginning of a Long Journey explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Peggotty decides to leave the old boat but insists it be kept as a beacon for Little Em'ly's possible return. Ham is haunted by a foreboding sense of doom. Mrs. Gummidge undergoes a remarkable transformation, becoming devoted and selfless in her support of Mr. Peggotty. David visits the Omer family, where Mrs. Joram expresses grief and anger over Em'ly's fall. Later, Miss Mowcher arrives in distress, revealing her own guilt and sorrow over the events.
Themes in this chapter
Redemption and Forgiveness
Mr. Peggotty's unwavering hope for Em'ly's return and his preparation of the old boat as a welcoming symbol embody a redemptive love that seeks forgiveness and restoration.
Domesticity and the Ideal Home
The old boat is preserved as a domestic beacon, and Mrs. Gummidge's transformation into a devoted homemaker underscores the ideal of home as a place of constancy and care.
Friendship and Loyalty
Mrs. Gummidge's selfless devotion to Mr. Peggotty and the community's support for him highlight the bonds of loyalty in times of crisis.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Peggotty
Resolves to leave the old boat but keeps it as a symbol of hope for Em'ly's return; prepares for a long journey.
- Ham Peggotty
Haunted by a premonition of doom, staring out to sea with a determined yet confused expression.
- Mrs. Gummidge
Transforms from querulous to devoted, selflessly caring for Mr. Peggotty and managing the household.
- David Copperfield
Observes the grief and changes in those around him, reflecting on the lessons of Mrs. Gummidge's transformation.
- Miss Mowcher
Arrives in distress, expressing guilt and sorrow over her role in the events, and lamenting being treated as a plaything.
- Little Em'ly
Referenced as the fallen child; her absence and the hope of her return drive the actions of others.
Key passages
“My wishes is, sir, as it shall look, day and night, winter and summer, as it has always looked, since she fust know'd it. If ever she should come a wandering back, I wouldn't have the old place seem to cast her off, you understand, but seem to tempt her to draw nigher to 't, and to peep in, maybe, like a ghost, out of the wind and rain, through the old winder, at the old seat by the fire.”
Mr. Peggotty wants the old boat to remain unchanged so that if Em'ly ever returns, it will welcome her rather than drive her away.
Mr. Peggotty's hope for Em'ly's return and his desire to keep the home as a symbol of forgiveness.
“What a change in Mrs. Gummidge in a little time! She was another woman. She was so devoted, she had such a quick perception of what it would be well to say, and what it would be well to leave unsaid; she was so forgetful of herself, and so regardful of the sorrow about her, that I held her in a sort of veneration.”
Mrs. Gummidge transformed remarkably, becoming selfless and sensitive to others' grief, earning David's deep respect.
David observes Mrs. Gummidge's unexpected and profound change in character.
“They make a plaything of me, use me for their amusement, throw me away when they are tired, and wonder that I feel more than a toy horse or a wooden soldier!”
Miss Mowcher laments that people treat her as a mere amusement and are surprised when she shows genuine emotion.
Miss Mowcher expresses her pain at being objectified and dismissed.