David Copperfield

When David returns home, he finds the environment uncannily changed and familiar at the same time. After inquiring about Traddles at the inn (and feeling dismayed that no one has any news about him), David literally stumbles upon his office.

Traddles is delighted to see David. He tells David that he has recently married Sophy. Though Traddles has not had material success, he is happy in life, contented by the simple sound of Sophy’s “musical” laughter.

David experiences a mix of pleasure and sadness as he observes the intimate day-to-day interactions of Traddles and Sophy. After he leaves, he worries that he will never experience this kind of relationship with Agnes. He bitterly muses, “Home, in its best sense, was for me no more. She in whom I might have inspired a dearer love, I had taught to be my sister” (1,934).

At the inn, David runs into Mr. Chillup, his old family doctor. Mr. Chillup now lives next door to Mr. Murdstone. Mr. Murdstone has destroyed the spirit of his second wife, just as he broke the spirit of David’s mother.

Chapter 59 closes with David’s return to Miss Betsey’s, who now lives with Mr. Dick and Peggotty. David is lovingly received.

David converses late into the night with Miss Betsey. They commiserate over their losses in love, and David feels he understands Miss Betsey’s regrets. He asks Miss Betsey about Agnes, and Miss Betsey replies that Agnes is “as good, as beautiful, as earnest, as disinterested, as she has always been” (1,951). When David asks if Agnes has had any suitors, Miss Betsey replies that Agnes could have married any of her great many admirers. She implies that Agnes has refused these admirers because she harbors a secret romantic interest, though she refuses to tell David who this interest might be.

The next day, David goes to visit Agnes. He is delighted to find her home environment unchanged. As Agnes explains, throughout David’s absence, she kept everything as it was when they were children, since they were happy then.

Mr. Wickfield joins them, and David is pleased to see that though he has aged, his calm demeanor has returned. Mr. Wickfield tells David how grateful he is for Agnes’ patient care. He then tells the story of Agnes’ mother, explaining how he became obsessed with his own regrets after she passed away. He explains that the obsessive love he devoted to Agnes was overly restrictive, and that she should pursue other kinds of love.

Moved by Mr. Wickfield’s story, David tells Agnes he plans never to leave England again. He recalls the evening when Dora passed away and Agnes came to him: “I have often thought since, you have ever been to me. Ever pointing upward […] I shall always look to you, and love you, as I do now, and have always done” (1,965). Agnes smiles upon hearing David’s confession of love, but also seems distressed by it. 

David receives a letter from Mr. Creakle, who is now a prison magistrate. In this letter, Mr. Creakle asks David to visit his prison.

Traddles accompanies David to the prison, where they meet two prisoners Mr. Creakle has been rehabilitating—Uriah Heap and Littimer. Miss Mowcher apprehended Littimer in the midst of an attempted theft.

Mr. Creakle is gentler and more patient with his prisoners than he ever was with his students. David reflects that perhaps “an unsound Hobby ridden hard” is sooner “ridden to death” (1,995)—Mr. Creakle worked a certain lust for punitive violence out of his system during his years as headmaster.

David asks Miss Betsey what she knows about Agnes’s secret love. Miss Betsey evasively replies that she thinks Agnes still loves this mystery person, and that she thinks Agnes will soon be married to him. In desperation, David approaches Agnes, demanding to know the identity of her secret love. She tearfully replies, “If I have any secret, it is—no new one” (2,007). David realizes that the secret love is David himself.

Understanding that Agnes has kept her love a secret in honor of Dora’s memory, David explains, “When I loved [Dora]—even then, my love would have been incomplete, without your sympathy” (2,009). He could never have felt complete after Dora’s death if Agnes had not comforted him. True to Miss Betsey’s prediction, they are married within two weeks.

At the opening of Chapter 63, David has been married to Agnes for ten happy years, and they have three children. One evening, Mr. Peggotty visits David and expresses great pleasure at seeing him so happy with his family.

Mr. Peggotty explains that he and Little Em’ly have been getting by as sheep and stock farmers. He tells David that Em’ly was initially shocked to learn of Ham’s death in an old newspaper. Though Mr. Peggotty feels Em’ly has benefitted from the solitude and simplicity of her life in Australia, he remarks that she has greatly changed. She is now quiet, timid, and “kiender worn,” (2,022), in Mr. Peggotty’s words. Though Em’ly has had numerous admirers, she has turned down all marriage offers, avowing that this part of her life is over. Martha, however, is happily married to a young farmer. Mr. Micawber has also prospered in Australia, and is now a Magistrate.

Before Mr. Peggotty leaves, he and David visit Ham’s grave. Mr. Peggotty gathers a handful of grass to take back to Australia “for Em’ly” (2,033).

David takes a last look at the major figures in his life. Miss Betsey is now over 80 years old, but is still lively and vivacious, walking six miles a day. Peggotty is Miss Betsey’s constant companion. Though Peggotty is now shriveled and old, she continues her old habits, toiling over needlework late into the night. Mr. Dick still amuses himself with his giant kite and insists that one day, he will finish his Memorial.

Mrs. Steerforth and Rosa Dartle still mourn Steerforth’s death. Julia Mills, meanwhile, returns from India with a wealthy husband. Stylish and well off, Julia talks of nothing but money.

Doctor Strong and Traddles both love their wives more than ever. Traddles and Sophy look after Sophy’s father and sisters. Sophy lovingly insists that someday, Traddles will become a great judge and fondly tell the story of his early struggles.

David closes his novel with an outpouring of adoration for Agnes: “O Agnes, O my soul, so may thy face be by me when I close my life indeed; so may I, when realities are melting from me, like the shadows which I now dismiss, still find thee near me, pointing upward!” (2,043-2,044).