Bihar Board Class 12th English Important Questions Character Sketch of Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield are the best resource for students which helps in revision.
Character Sketch of Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield
Write down a character sketch of Mr. Micawber.
David Copperfield met Mr. Micawber when he was working at Murdstone and Grinby’s warehouse. As he needed a house he was introduced to Mr. Micawber by Mr. Quinion, another employee of the firm. When he started living with Mr. Micawber’s family as a tenant there started a friendship between the two.
Mr. Micawber, David soon learned, was a Rice-friendly person. But his family liabilities were of such a nature that he was in debt over head and ears. Although Mr. Micawber kept a cheerful countenance he was moving towards a crisis. David was just managing to keep his body and soul together at that time. The sight of Mr. Micawber being surrounded by creditors distressed him further. He tried to case Mr. Micawber’s position by lending him whatever he could spare.
But this was of no avail. At last Mr. Micawber was sent to prison by his creditors. In his absence, David tried to take care of his family-Mrs. Micawber and a number of children. The imprisonment could not change the attitude of Mr. Micawber. As he could not increase his income he continued to be in trouble. These were one characteristic that further distinguished Mr. Micawber. Although he did not have any superior education he had cultivated a style of lofty composition and he generally communicated to David in long letters written in an ornate style. They are suggestive of a comic contradiction in the personality of a man who was leading a miserable life but they at least suggest a higher state of mind. Which proves to be very favourable to David later on.
A change is noticeable in Mr. Micawber when he enters into the service of Uriah Heep. At the time when David tries to hint at the diabolic nature of Uriah Heep, Mr. Micawber unhesitatingly tells David that there should be drawn a line between the two old friends on this issue. It is only David’s devotion that allows their friendship to continue at this juncture.
Mr. Micawber works with great loyalty at Uriah Heep’s firm. But when something fishy comes to his notice he maintains a quiet vigil and systematically collects such evidence against Uriah Heep that can stand in a court of law. At David’s aunt’s house Mr. Micawber bursts out against Uriah Heep for the first time; what is the matter gentlemen? What is not the matter? Villainy is the matter, fastness is the matter; deception, frand,’ conspiracy are the matter and the name of the whole atrocious mass is -HEEP! finally, it is Mr. Micawber’s piling up of facts and documents that put Uriah Heep into the trap. He then cannot deny that it is he who is behind the financial ruin of Mr. Wickfield. Mr. Micawber proves to be a big help in resolving Mr. Wickfield’s problem and it brings great relief to David Copperfield. Though Mr. Micawber never saw good days he remained devoted to principles of honesty and hard work. Moreover, he had immense trust in David, great personal regard for him, and a sense of gratitude also for helping him in difficult times. He had forbidden David from saying anything against Uriah Heep. But when he traced violation of law in Heep’s transaction with Mr. Wickfield, he very quietly obtained perfect proof and only then did he open his mouth.
Mr. Micawber’s oddities are completely forgotten in this new avatar of him as a saviour and an investigator. The fusion of sentimentalism and realism that Charles Dickens had attempted is best revealed in the character of Mr. Micawber.