The Personal History of David Copperfield

David Copperfield is born to his widowed mother Clara. He begins saving noteworthy quotes from his life on scraps of paper. As a child, he visits Peggotty's family in their upturned-boat house in Yarmouth.

Clara marries Edward Murdstone, a strict and callous factory owner. David is beaten by Murdstone and bullied by his sister Jane. The boy is sent to work in Murdstone's bottling factory in London.

David lodges with the cheerful Micawber family while he works at the factory. The Micawbers are frequently pursued by their creditors and eventually evicted by bailiffs. David's early adult life is dominated by factory labor and financial pressures.

After his mother's funeral, David departs for Dover to find his wealthy Aunt Betsey Trotwood, his only living relative. He meets Betsey's lodger Mr. Dick, who keeps the late King Charles I’s thoughts, and David ties his notes to a kite for Mr. Dick to fly. This marks the start of Betsey's influence in his life.

David meets Betsey Trotwood and Wickfield, and is introduced to Wickfield's daughter Agnes. Betsey's circle includes Mr. Dick, a quirky lodger who shares long thoughts on paper. This marks the start of new family ties that will shape his future.

David is admitted to a school for boys and befriends James Steerforth, who nicknames him Daisy. A butcher's lad mocks the pair, and David stands up to him, losing the fight. Agnes tends his wounds and David then regards her as a sister.

Mr. Micawber briefly becomes a teacher at the school but is exposed by Steerforth as a former convict and fired. Uriah Heep, Wickfield's clerk, tries to blackmail David with knowledge of his past. This marks the rise of Heep's looming threat.

At a farewell party, David meets Steerforth's mother and falls for Dora Spenlow. He is hired as a trainee lawyer with Dora's father's firm in London and begins living as a young gentleman while courting Dora.

Betsey arrives in London with Mr. Dick, having lost her fortune. David moves with them to a slum dwelling offered by Uriah Heep, who has been subverting Wickfield and courting Agnes. Uriah's schemes threaten the household.

David visits Pegotty's boat-house with Steerforth, who then runs away with Pegotty's adopted daughter Emily. Emily's fiancé Ham is left behind, setting in motion a hidden tragedy. This marks the growing distance and danger surrounding Steerforth.

Micawber, now living on the streets with his family, pawns his concertina. Mr. Dick buys back the instrument for him, but ends up stealing it, and the Micawbers move in with David, Betsey, and Mr. Dick. This reunion strengthens David's improvised family.

David, Agnes, Betsey, and Mr. Dick secure a letter from Wickfield exposing Uriah Heep's embezzlement and forged signatures. They confront Uriah, and David punches him after he strikes Betsey. Dora decides to end their engagement, asking David to write her out of his life.

Emily is spotted in London and rescued by David and Pegotty's family. Steerforth's boat is wrecked in a storm off Yarmouth; he refuses rescue and drowns, leaving behind a sense of loss and consequence.

David realises his love for Agnes, and she reciprocates. He publishes his memoir, gives public readings, and uses his success to buy back Betsey's home and support the Micawbers. He marries Agnes, and they have a daughter.