David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, a semi-autobiographical novel first published in serial form between 1849 and 1850. Below is a detailed summary of Chapter 3- I Have a Change
Chapter III – “I Have a Change”
- David meets Ham Peggotty, who carries him on his back.
- Ham is tall, strong, and sheepish-looking, wears stiff trousers and a canvas jacket.
- The house is actually an old boat, beached and converted into a home.
- It has a door cut in the side, little windows, and an iron funnel for a chimney.
- David is enchanted by the idea of living in a boat.
- Inside, the house is clean and tidy:
- A Dutch clock
- A chest of drawers with a Bible and a tea-tray
- Religious pictures (e.g., Abraham and Isaac, Daniel in the lion’s den)
- A picture of the ‘Sarah Jane’ lugger
- Hooks on the ceiling are used to hang hammocks.
- David’s bedroom is in the stern of the boat, with:
- A mirror framed in oyster-shells
- A patchwork counterpane
- A mug of seaweed
- The house smells strongly of fish.
- Peggotty’s brother deals in lobsters, crabs, and crawfish.
- David meets:
- Mrs Gummidge – a widow of Peggotty’s boat partner.
- Little Em’ly – described as very beautiful with blue beads.
- Mr Peggotty – Peggotty’s bachelor brother, good-hearted, fisherman.
- Mr Peggotty has adopted:
- Ham – nephew (son of his brother Joe, who drowned).
- Em’ly – niece (daughter of his brother-in-law Tom, also drowned).
- Mrs Gummidge is a boarder and often complains and cries, saying she is a “lone lorn creetur’.”
- When sad, Mr Peggotty always says “She’s been thinking of the old ‘un.”
- Mr Peggotty sometimes visits a public-house called “The Willing Mind.”
- David quickly falls in love with Em’ly.
- They spend hours together walking on the beach.
- David and Em’ly exchange an innocent kiss under the lobster outhouse.
- Em’ly dreams of becoming a lady, and of giving her uncle rich clothes and money.
- Em’ly says she’s afraid of the sea, despite her boldness.
- She never saw her father, who was lost at sea.
- David never saw his father either – his grave is under a tree in a churchyard.
- David once thinks about whether it would have been better for Em’ly to die that day, reflecting on future hardships she might face.
- The family:
- Eats boiled dabs, melted butter, potatoes, and chops.
- Plays cards, reads, and chats by the fire.
- Sleeps in cramped quarters: David in a cabin, Ham and Mr Peggotty in hammocks.
- David is deeply happy during the fortnight stay.
- Mrs Gummidge is moody, often cries and complains about cold, food, and life.
- The fire smoked, and she says “everythink goes contrary with me.”
- David is deeply distressed to leave little Em’ly.
- They part at the public-house where the carrier is waiting.
- David promises to write to Em’ly (and later writes in huge letters).
- On the way home, David becomes excited to see his mother again.
- But Peggotty looks uneasy.
- At Blunderstone Rookery, David finds:
- A new servant opens the door.
- His mother has remarried – to Mr Murdstone.
- Peggotty reveals: “You have got a Pa – a new one.”
- David is shocked and doesn’t want to see Mr Murdstone.
- Inside the house:
- His mother acts nervous and restrained.
- Mr Murdstone says: “Control yourself, always control yourself!”
- David’s old bedroom is changed, and the house feels unfamiliar.
- There is now a large, angry black dog in the kennel – like Mr Murdstone.
