Character guide

David Copperfield

major

Also known as David, Master Davy, Davy, Master Copperfield, Copperfield, young Copperfield, Mr. Copperfield, Mr. David Copperfield, Master David, Trot, Doady, Daisy, Mas'r Davy, Mas'r Davy bor, Mas'r Davy bor '

The narrator and protagonist, who recounts his life from childhood to maturity.

Clara Peggotty

major

Also known as Peggotty, old Peggotty, Mr. Peggotty, Both Peggotty, whisper Mr. Peggotty, Clara Peggotty Barkis, Clara

David's devoted nurse and housekeeper, later Mrs. Barkis.

Wilkins Micawber

major

Also known as Mr. Micawber, Master Micawber, Micawber, Consequently Mr. Micawber, I. Mr. Micawber, the immovable Mr. Micawber, LIV Mr. Micawber, Both Mr. Micawber, Wilkins, Wilkins Micawber , Esquire

A charming, improvident gentleman who befriends David and always expects something to turn up.

Agnes Wickfield

major

Also known as Agnes, Miss Agnes, Dear Agnes, Dearest Agnes, little Agnes, Little Agnes

David's beloved friend and moral compass, daughter of Mr. Wickfield.

Dora Spenlow

major

Also known as Dora, little Dora, poor little Dora, Poor little Dora, tender little Dora, Poor Dora, XLI Dora, Little Blossom, Blossom

David's first wife, a pretty but impractical young woman.

Uriah Heep

major

Also known as Uriah, Heep, overlooking Uriah Heep, Ury

A scheming, hypocritical clerk who manipulates Mr. Wickfield.

James Steerforth

major

Also known as Steerforth, Mr. Steerforth, Here Steerforth, J. Steerforth, James, Of Steerforth, O Steerforth

David's charismatic but morally flawed schoolfriend.

Betsey Trotwood

major

Also known as Miss Trotwood, Miss Betsey, Trotwood, Betsey Trotwood, Miss Betsey Trotwood, Betsey, Dear Miss Trotwood, dear Trotwood, Betsey Trotwood Copperfield, this Betsey Trotwood, Trotwood Copperfield

David's eccentric but kind-hearted great-aunt who becomes his guardian.

Tommy Traddles

supporting

Also known as Tom, Traddles, Mr. Traddles, Tommy, Mr. Thomas Traddles, the before - mentioned Mr. Thomas Traddles, Mr. Thomas, old Traddles, Dear Mr. Traddles, Poor Traddles

David's loyal, hardworking schoolfriend who becomes a lawyer.

Ham Peggotty

supporting

Also known as Ham, Poor Ham, Ham Peggotty

A kind-hearted fisherman, nephew of Mr. Peggotty.

Little Em'ly

supporting

Also known as Em'ly, little Em'ly, pretty little Em'ly, merry little Em'ly, Little, Emily, little Emily, Little Emily, pretty little Emily, Poor Emily

Mr. Peggotty's niece, whose tragic story is central to the plot.

Mr. Peggotty

supporting

Also known as Dan'l Peggotty, Dan'l, Daniel, Dan, Uncle Dan

A humble Yarmouth fisherman who raises his orphaned niece and nephew.

Mr. Murdstone

supporting

Also known as Murdstone, Master Murdstone, the Mr. Murdstone, Mr. ¬ÝMurdstone

David's cruel stepfather who sends him to work in a warehouse.

Miss Murdstone

supporting

Also known as Jane Murdstone, Jane

Mr. Murdstone's stern, meddlesome sister.

Mr. Dick

supporting

Also known as Dick, poor harmless Mr. Dick, poor Mr. Dick, XLV Mr. Dick, poor Dick

A gentle, simple-minded man who lives with Betsey Trotwood.

Mr. Wickfield

supporting

Also known as Wickfield

Agnes's father, a lawyer whose weakness for drink is exploited by Heep.

Mr. Barkis

supporting

Also known as Barkis, poor Barkis, the late Mr. Barkis

A wagoner who marries Peggotty and is famously 'willin'.

Mrs. Micawber

supporting

Also known as Poor Mrs. Micawber, the Micawber, poor Mrs. Micawber

Mr. Micawber's devoted wife who never deserts him.

Mr. Spenlow

supporting

Also known as Spenlow, the late Mr. Spenlow

Dora's father, a proctor who employs David.

Rosa Dartle

supporting

Also known as Miss Dartle, Rosa, Miss Rosa Dartle, Rosa Dartle

A bitter, sharp-tongued companion to Mrs. Steerforth.

Mrs. Steerforth

supporting

Also known as Dear Mrs. Steerforth

James Steerforth's proud and doting mother.

Doctor Strong

supporting

Also known as the Doctor, The doctor, The Doctor, Doctor, Strong

A kindly, learned schoolmaster and friend of David's aunt.

Mrs. Strong

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Doctor Strong, Annie, Poor Annie

Doctor Strong's much younger wife, loyal despite gossip.

Miss Mowcher

supporting

Also known as the wary Mowcher, Mowcher, little Mowcher, Little Mowcher, Excellent Miss Mowcher

A sharp-witted dwarf who works as a hairdresser and matchmaker.

Mr. Creakle

supporting

Also known as Creakle, Old Creakle

The harsh headmaster of Salem House school.

Mrs. Gummidge

minor

Also known as this unfortunate Mrs. Gummidge, old one Mrs. Gummidge, Missis Gummidge, Gummidge, wen Missis Gummidge

A widowed, complaining woman who lives with the Peggotty family.

Mr. Chillip

minor

Also known as The mild Mr. Chillip, Little Mr. Chillip

A timid doctor who attends David's birth.

Sophy Traddles

minor

Also known as Sophy, Of Sophy

Traddles's devoted wife, who helps support his large family.

Jip

minor

Also known as little Jip

Dora's small, spoiled pet dog.

Mrs. Crupp

minor

Also known as Next Mrs. Crupp

David's nosy, scheming landlady in London.

Jack Maldon

minor

Also known as Jack, Mr. Jack Maldon, Mr. Maldon, Maldon, Mr. Jack, John Maldon, John

Mrs. Strong's cousin and former suitor, a selfish naval officer.

Littimer

minor

Also known as the respectable Littimer, the staid Littimer, No Littimer, Mr. Littimer

Steerforth's smug, manipulative valet.

Martha Endell

minor

Also known as Martha, Martha Endell⁠—side

A fallen woman from Yarmouth who helps find Little Em'ly.

Miss Mills

minor

Also known as Happy Miss Mills, Julia Mills, Julia

Dora's sentimental friend and confidante.

Mr. Omer

minor

Also known as Omer, I. Mr. Omer

A friendly Yarmouth undertaker and tailor.

Mrs. Heep

minor

Also known as Heep

Uriah Heep's fawning, sycophantic mother.

Mr. Mell

minor

Also known as Doctor Mell

A poor, kind usher at Salem House who is dismissed by Steerforth.

Mr. Quinion

minor

Also known as Quinion, Mr. ¬ÝQuinion

Manager of Murdstone and Grinby's warehouse where David works.

Mr. Jorkins

minor

Also known as Jorkins, demon Jorkins, the implacable Jorkins

Spenlow's silent, feared partner in the proctor firm.

Miss Larkins

minor

Also known as The eldest Miss Larkins, the eldest Miss Larkins, the Larkins, the late Miss Larkins

A beautiful older girl David admires as a youth.

Mr. Waterbrook

minor

Also known as Waterbrook

A pompous London merchant who employs Traddles.

Mr. Sharp

minor

The head usher at Salem House school.

Mr. Tiffey

minor

Also known as old Tiffey, Tiffey, Old Tiffey

Chief clerk at Spenlow and Jorkins's proctor office.

Mrs. Markleham

minor

Mrs. Strong's talkative, manipulative mother.

Clara Copperfield

minor

Also known as Clara, Miss Clarissa, Clarissa

David's gentle, beautiful mother who dies young.

Mr. Heep

minor

Uriah Heep's father, briefly mentioned as a humble man.

Mr. Dolloby

minor

Also known as Mr. Dolloby⁠—Dolloby

A pawnbroker who buys David's waistcoat.