1B
05/19/14
David Copperfield Character sketch: Mr. Murdstone Mr. Murdstone is one of the most evil characters in the novel. He is firm, reprimanding, and cruel. He is in his mid twenties. He is older than Ms. Copperfield, and it shows by how he pushes her around. He is a handsome man, with a closely shaved face and square jaw. David describes him to have, “ that kind of shallow black eye-I want a better word to express an eye that has no depth in it to be looked into.” He had dark thick her and a “rich white, and black, and brown,” complexion.
In the beginning of the novel when he is flattering to Clara he seems much more nice and caring. He generously takes David on a horseback ride and visits Miss Copperfield regularly. However his friendliness is completely proved a falsehood when he and Clara get married. He becomes harsh and controlling, and he is very abusive to David. He is extremely cruel, and he only looks out for himself.
Mr. Murdstone and his sister work as a team. They look out for each other and only each other. To everyone else he is rude and abusive. He constantly is yelling at David and Clara. Along with yelling at David he beats him, and when David bites him in a form of self-defense, he convinces Clara that David needed to be sent away to be reformed. Mr. Murdstone is always extremely rude to Peggotty. He tries to get her to leave their household, and refuses David to visit her.
The majority of the characters in the novel dislike Mr. Murdstone other than his sister and Ms. Copperfield. People are very afraid of him and do not appreciate his cruelty. A sign of worry from Mr.Quinion is shown when David states, “I remarked that, once or twice, when Mr. Quinion was talking, he looked at Mr. Murdstone sideways, as if to make sure of his not being displeased.” David notices signs of Mr. Murdstone’s harsh behavior from the beginning of the novel. “I observed all day that Mr. Murdstone was graver and steadier than the two gentlemen;