David Copperfield

David Copperfield

by

Charles Dickens

Martha Endell Character Analysis

Martha is a Yarmouth woman who used to go to school with little Em'ly. By the time both women are grown, however, Martha has become an outcast; the strong implication is that she has had a premarital affair. Emily is one of the few people in Yarmouth who continues to treat Martha kindly, much to the frustration of Ham, who views Martha as a potential source of corruption. Emily even goes so far as to loan Martha some money, although it doesn't seem to do her much good in the short term; when David next encounters Martha in London, she hints that she is working as a prostitute. She has not forgotten Emily's kindness, however, and eventually helps reunite Emily with Mr. Peggotty. In fact, Martha even accompanies the Peggottys to Australia, where she starts a new life by marrying a farmworker.

Martha Endell Quotes in David Copperfield

The David Copperfield quotes below are all either spoken by Martha Endell or refer to Martha Endell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age and Personal Development Theme Icon
).
Chapter 47 Quotes

"What shall I ever do!" she said, fighting thus with her despair. "How can I go on as I am, a solitary curse to myself, a living disgrace to every one I come near!" Suddenly she turned to my companion. "Stamp upon me, kill me! When she was you pride, you would have thought I had done her harm if I brushed against her in the street. You can't believe—why should you?—a syllable that comes out of my lips. It would be a burning shame upon you, even now, if she and I exchanged a word."

Related Characters: Martha Endell (speaker), David Copperfield, Little Em'ly (Emily), Mr. Peggotty
Page Number: 570
Explanation and Analysis:
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Martha Endell Quotes in David Copperfield

The David Copperfield quotes below are all either spoken by Martha Endell or refer to Martha Endell. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Coming of Age and Personal Development Theme Icon
).
Chapter 47 Quotes

"What shall I ever do!" she said, fighting thus with her despair. "How can I go on as I am, a solitary curse to myself, a living disgrace to every one I come near!" Suddenly she turned to my companion. "Stamp upon me, kill me! When she was you pride, you would have thought I had done her harm if I brushed against her in the street. You can't believe—why should you?—a syllable that comes out of my lips. It would be a burning shame upon you, even now, if she and I exchanged a word."

Related Characters: Martha Endell (speaker), David Copperfield, Little Em'ly (Emily), Mr. Peggotty
Page Number: 570
Explanation and Analysis: