Australia and David Copperfield - Book Report/Review Example

Because no exact dates are given in this story it is interesting to place this story at around the beginning of the 19th century and follow it through to the middle and end of that century. Initially, England looked to Australia as a possible solution to its overcrowded prisons. The colonies of the United States had been lost to England by this time so were no longer a viable solution to England. Australia had been little explored by this time and was viewed as a viable option as a penal colony.

In 1770 James Cook claimed the eastern coast for Great Britain. About eighteen years later the first penal colony was set up at Sydney Cove. By the 1800's Australia had been circumnavigated and other sites settled. These settlements consisted mostly of young men and former convicts that had finished their sentences. Some women joined their husbands in their journey to Australia. Continued exploration took place and Australia continued to grow people wise. Appendix A shows a map of the Burke and Wills Expedition of 1860-1861.

The map indicates early exploration on the eastern portion of the Australian continent. Young David, born on a Friday at the stroke of midnight, was born at a time when children led rather bleak lives in 19th century England. The industrial revolution was in full force and many children could look forward to long days spent at cotton mills around England. Until the Factory Acts were passed in 1844 children were worked from early morning until late in the evening. Education for children during this timeframe was limited to the well to do who could forgo the wages brought in from child labor.

In David's case, his very young years were spent as a happy young boy living with his mother and hid nurse (Peggotty). David's father was not a factor in his young life because he had passed away before the boys birth.As David grew his Mother married Mr. Murdstone who, for the most part, was a mean violent man. Mr. Murdstone had his sister move into the home. She was strict and both Murdstones treat David horribly. David does what most children at that would have liked to do: he goes to school at Salem house.

School in the 19th century was nothing like it is today. Students were regularly corrected with beatings as happened at Salem house. Beatings or no beatings, getting an education was much better than ending up in a factory during the industrial revolution.David Grows UpAt this point it is necessary to fast forward to the adult David where David's story is more relevant to the exodus to Australia. In chapter 47 David marries Dora and they begin their lives as husband and wife. After Dora fails miserably at housekeeping David begins to doubt that their marriage was a good idea.

Dora loses a child and also loses the use of her legs. David has become more of a caretaker than a husband. Dora eventually dies but not before confiding in David that she felt she was too young to marry when they did.At this point in the story the first hint of Australia is given. Mr. Micawber thinks that a move to Australia may be what his family needs. Problems with Little Em'ly surface as she relates to Mr. Pegotty what had happened to her. She believes that if she went home her family would reject her. Mr. Pegotty believes that a move to A