Storytime for Grownups — David Copperfield: Chapter 5

Host: Faith Moore
Date: January 22, 2026
Episode: David Copperfield — Chapter 5

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Faith Moore continues her engaging exploration of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, focusing on Chapter 5, “I Am Sent Away from Home.” This chapter marks a pivotal moment in David’s life as he is sent off to boarding school, following the harsh treatment he receives after the arrival of Mr. and Miss Murdstone. As always, Faith interweaves her reading with insightful commentary, contextual notes, and reflections on listeners’ responses, providing a cozy and accessible way for adults to rediscover classic literature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Chapter Recap and Listener Letters

[09:20]

• Faith recaps the events of Chapter 4, emphasizing the decline of David’s home life under the influence of Mr. and Miss Murdstone, and the emotional moment when Peggotty assures David of her enduring love before he is sent away.
• She reads three listener letters, each responding emotionally to Clara Copperfield (David’s mother), Mr. Murdstone, and the general sense of dread in David’s situation.
  • Paula Fernandez struggles between pity and anger for Clara:

    “It is a tragedy…that out of fear she is unable to protect her son…”

  • Anne is frustrated by the weakness of female characters:

    “I really feel no sympathy at all for David’s mother. She has relinquished all her power and has failed to stand up for her child.”

  • Tsivia finds Mr. Murdstone terrifying and Miss Murdstone like an “armored truck,” ominously “stringing iron beads almost like she is making armor so she can go battle defenseless children.”

Exploring Blame and Sympathy for David’s Mother

[23:00]

• Faith discusses the polarizing figure of David’s mother, Clara, noting that listener opinion is split between anger and pity.
  • Many blame Clara for marrying Mr. Murdstone and failing to protect David.
  • Others see her as a victim of her own immaturity and societal limitations.
• Faith offers her take, observing that:
  • Clara and Mr. Murdstone do love each other, but their relationship is shaped by control and dependence.
  • Mr. Murdstone isn’t a mere villain seeking money or status; rather, he’s genuinely committed to “firmness” and control as a parenting philosophy.
  • Clara is ultimately a “childish” and “spoilt” woman who desires to be cared for and is not equipped to resist or lead, making Mr. Murdstone’s controlling nature initially attractive to her.

    “There’s a way in which that is a sort of tender moment. And it speaks again of the fact that they actually do love each other. She loves him because he’s going to take control, and he loves her because she’s this pretty, little childish thing who ... can be kind of molded into the wife that maybe he wants.” (26:52)

  • Clara’s inability to protect David is tragic but, given her character, unsurprising.

Dickens’ Social Commentary on Parenting

[29:00]

• Faith highlights how Dickens uses these dynamics to criticize the Victorian “firmness” approach to parenting.
  • Mr. Murdstone’s treatment of David represents a real historical approach to child-rearing, which Dickens clearly disapproves of.
  • Faith reads from the text where David imagines how a kind word could have changed everything, emphasizing the harm of cold discipline:

    “God help me, I might have been improved for my whole life...by a kind word at that season, a word of encouragement and explanation, of pity for my childish ignorance, of welcome home, of reassurance to me that it was home, might have made me dutiful to him in my heart henceforth instead of in my hypocritical outside, and might have made me respect instead of hate him.” (34:30)

  • She underscores that Mr. Murdstone’s awfulness is not cartoonish villainy, but a reflection of genuinely believed philosophies that neglect a child’s inner life.

Peggotty’s Loyalty and Emotional Core

[41:00]

• Faith offers a heartfelt appreciation of Peggotty, celebrating her as the one figure of steadfast love in David’s life.
  • She cites Dickens:

    “From that night, there grew up in my breast a feeling for Peggotty which I cannot very well define...she came into a vacancy in my heart which closed upon her…”

  • This underscores that a child’s need for unconditional affection is central to Dickens’ message.

The Symbolism of David Biting Mr. Murdstone

[44:30]

• Faith explores the symbolism of David biting Mr. Murdstone’s hand:
  • Mr. Murdstone describes disciplining children as similar to dealing with dogs:

    "David, he said...If I have an obstinate horse or a dog to deal with, what do you think I do?...I beat him."

  • By treating David like a dog, Mr. Murdstone provokes animalistic resistance, turning David “into a dog”—highlighting how harsh treatment begets the very behaviors it seeks to eliminate.
  • Despite the harshness, David’s immediate guilt and longing for love show his fundamentally gentle nature.

Chapter 5 — “I Am Sent Away from Home” (Reading with Notes)

[47:00 onward]
Faith reads Chapter 5 aloud, adding clarifications and context throughout. Key events include:

• Peggotty’s Silent Goodbye:

  • An unexpectedly moving moment as Peggotty bursts from a hedge to hug David tightly and silently remedies his needs before he is sent off.

    “Not a single word did Peggotty speak…But not one word did she say after another and a final squeeze with both arms she got down from the cart and ran away.” (48:30)

  • The pain of separation is palpable, with David cherishing even Peggotty’s stray button as a keepsake.

• The Journey and Encounters:

  • The character of Mr. Barkis, the carrier, emerges with humor—his repeated request “Barkis is willin’,” a coded marriage proposal for Peggotty, is relayed through the innocent David, who doesn’t quite understand.

    “Perhaps you might be writin’ to her…p’raps you’d recollect to say that Barkis was willin’, would you?” (52:45)

  • David’s awkward meal at the inn with a comic, slightly exploitational waiter, who tricks him out of food and money but leaves David none the wiser.

  • On the coach, David encounters the jibes and indifference of strangers, furthering his sense of isolation.

    • He is left alone at the London inn, beginning to worry that no one will fetch him.

• Arrival at Salem House:

  • Mr. Mell, a kind but impoverished teacher, finally arrives and shepherds David onward.

    • Faith notes the amusing, yet mournful, scene at the almshouse, including Mr. Mell’s dismal flute playing:

      “My impression is…that there never can have been anybody in the world who played worse. He made the most dismal sounds I have ever heard…”

  • At Salem House, David finds the place deserted for holiday, and is warned:

    • A placard—“Take care of him. He bites.” — is hung on David, enforcing the stigma of his “offense”.
    • Faith explains that being “sent to Coventry” means being ostracized by the other students—a mounting psychological punishment as David awaits the return of his new schoolmates.

  • Despite the bleakness, Mr. Mell is never harsh with David; their silent companionship offers a quiet mercy.

• Childhood Innocence and Loss:

  • David’s deepening homesickness and the symbolic burden of the placard highlight his vulnerability:

    “I recollect that I positively began to have a dread of myself as a kind of wild boy who did bite.” (1:44:50)

Notable Quotes & Moments (by Timestamp)

• On Listener Reception of Clara Copperfield:

  “I got a lot of messages this time about the mother. I would say that the majority of you are angry with her… but some of you feel sorry for her...” (18:30)

• On Dickens’ Parenting Critique:

  “There’s a way in which all of this is social commentary, right? There’s a way in which this is Dickens talking to the parents of his time and telling them that this mode of dealing with children is wrong and bad.” (34:10)

• Peggotty’s Departure:

  “Not a single word did Peggotty speak. Releasing one of her arms, she put it down in her pocket to the elbow and brought out some paper bags of cakes which she crammed into my pockets...” (48:20)

• 'Barkis is Willin'' Proposal:

  "Well, if you was writin’ to her p’raps you’d recollect to say that Barkis was willin’, would you?" (52:40)

• Mr. Mell’s Flute Playing:

  “He made the most dismal sounds I have ever heard produced by any means, natural or artificial... My impression is… there never can have been anybody in the world who played worse.” (1:13:25)

• On the Scarlet Placard:

  "Take care of him. He bites." (1:42:15)

  • David’s shame and internalization of his “dangerousness” drive home the cruelty of his predicament.

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Chapter 4 Recap & Listener Letters: [09:20]
• Analysis of Clara Copperfield & Victorian Motherhood: [18:00–29:00]
• Dickens’ Social Commentary on Parenting: [29:00–36:00]
• Peggotty’s Loyalty & Emotional Impact: [41:00–44:00]
• Symbolism of the “Biting” Incident: [44:30–47:00]
• Chapter 5 Reading Begins: [47:00]
• Peggotty’s Goodbye: [48:20]
• Barkis’s Marriage Proposal: [52:40]
• David at the Inn (Waiter Episode): [54:30–1:02:50]
• Arrival in London and Salem House: [1:21:00–1:34:00]
• The Placard and School Isolation: [1:42:00–1:47:00]

Summary & Takeaways

• Emotional Stakes: Faith expertly brings out the emotional vulnerability of David as he is uprooted from home, emphasizing the psychological impact of both the Murdstones’ cruelty and his mother’s passivity.
• Victorian Context: The host connects Dickens’ critique of “firmness” in child-rearing to larger Victorian social norms, making the story resonate with modern sensibilities and highlighting the dangers of neglectful or authoritarian parenting.
• Listener Engagement: By including listener responses, Faith deepens the discussion, helping various interpretations (sympathy, anger, comedy) emerge organically.
• Memorable Moments: Peggotty’s silent goodbye, Mr. Barkis’s comic proposal, and the biting placard all linger as symbols of love, innocence, and childhood indignity.
• Language and Tone: Faith’s delivery is warm, reflective, and gently humorous, inviting listeners to share in both the comfort and sorrow of Dickens’s world.

Memorable Quotes

• Faith Moore on Victorian Parenting Philosophy:

  “Mr. Murdstone is awful. Not because he’s like some evil villain… but actually, he’s awful because he’s doing what many Victorian fathers probably did and trying to raise Davey the way that he himself was raised.” (36:00)

• On the Power of Kindness:

  “He’s expressing that the way to make children obedient and loyal and everything is not to be cold and firm and brutal, but to be loving and thoughtful and kind, which, of course, I think we can all agree with.” (35:40)

• Listener Anne on Victorian Women:

  “What makes reading these Victorian novels difficult is the absolute stupidity and weakness of some of these women…” (14:00)

Final Thoughts

Faith’s blend of literary analysis, historical context, and heartfelt reading makes this episode a rich and accessible introduction to a pivotal moment in David Copperfield. Whether you’re newly discovering Dickens or revisiting an old favorite, her conversational yet insightful approach brings both comfort and illumination to this classic tale.

For next episode, listeners are encouraged to write in with questions, reactions, or points of confusion—Faith will incorporate more listener feedback as the story continues.