The pursuit of survival in exchange for happiness in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens:In David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, many lower-class citizens are treated with disdain and even disinterest of all the social classes above them. Although the novel is clearly a social commentary on the treatment of the poor in 19th-century London, the characters in the novel do very little to escape their oppressed lives until they are forced to change. I will argue in this article that the majority of David Copperfield's characters only change when change is forced upon them. I agree with these 12 reviews that the majority of David Copperfield's characters do not change without being motivated to pursue change in their lives. For example, when Micawber writes his letters of woe expressing his desire to pay his creditors, he is very eloquent. , but his actions speak louder than his words. In her critical article "The Long History of 'In Brief': Mr. Micawber, Letter Writers, and Literary Men," Laura Rotunno argues that "Micawber... accentuates what letter writers promise: wealth, wisdom and security if one believes and obeys the rules of society. The result... is that his letters show how far... social success is removed from the lives of Victorian workers and debtors” (Rotunno, 426). In other words, Micawber tells the recipient of his cry for help whatever he feels is necessary to open his wallet and help him out of his current financial difficulties. He promises that he will always become a new man, but continues to waste every opportunity for success that comes his way. However, the fact that social classes struggle against each other for survival provides ...... middle of paper ...e, simply accepting it as it is, with love” (Hornback, 662 ). Thus, it is David Copperfield's ability to see enemies as fantasies and Traddle's ability to let his mind wander when faced with problems that help them cope with reality. But, by facing reality, they can continue their lives on their own terms and at their own pace. In conclusion, while the narrator had each character in David Copperfield deal with their past, except for Mr. Dick, who did not remember his past, it is this resolution of his past actions and misdeeds which helped the reader close each character in their mind. It must also be said that a majority of the characters did not change without being motivated to pursue change in their lives. It is this last minute change that resolves all the moral dilemmas that the characters have left unresolved..