Holy Cow Moments

There are times when I stop and say “Holy Cow!” when I read. Today was one such time.

I knew when I got about a quarter of the way through David Copperfield that I was highlighting so many passages that I would have to break this book up into several reviews and posts, so I’m not surprised that this post it coming out today. I just didn’t know till last night . . . the Holy Cow incident . . . that I knew that this passage(s) would speak so soundly to me and I would want to post them.

First though, I should mention that I find the most infuriating aspect of this book to be the relationship between Trot and his wife Dora. Even worse is this than Uriah Heep’s mechanization  or Steerforth’s making off with Little Emily underneath the nose of Ham, so this is probably why this passage affected me. I just don’t like this woman! I find it hard reading the chapters that include Dora. Just irritating.

The old unhappy feeling pervaded my life. It was deepened, if it were changed at all; but it was as undefined as ever, and addressed me like a strain of sorrowful music faintly heard in the night. I loved my wife dearly, and I was happy; but the happiness I had vaguely anticipated, once, was not the happiness I enjoyed, and there was always something wanting.

Then later he writes:



'There can be no disparity in marriage, like unsuitability of mind and purpose.' Those words I remembered too. I had endeavoured to adapt Dora to myself, and found it impracticable. It remained for me to adapt myself to Dora; to share with her what I could, and be happy; to bear on my own shoulders what I must, and be happy still. This was the discipline to which I tried to bring my heart, when I began to think. It made my second year much happier than my first; and, what was better still, made Dora's life all sunshine.

Dickens, Charles- David Copperfield

Now, anyone reading this cold will probably wonder "Why do I care?" or "Why am I reading this silly person's silly post on his silly blog" and had I not been in the midst of reading the novel I'd agree. However, in toto, this sucker is stark and pseudo-life changing not just for Trot but for the reader as well.