Mr. Barkis is a cart driver who frequently takes David back and forth from the Rookery to Yarmouth. He rarely speaks (and then only in very short sentences), but he develops a lasting admiration for Peggotty, in part because he likes her cooking. He therefore has David act as a go-between, asking him to inform Peggotty that "Barkis is willing [to be married]." The two eventually do marry, with David's blessing, and have what seems to be a comfortable marriage overall. Although Peggotty remarks more than once that Barkis can be "near" (stingy), even this turns out to be a mark of his affection for his wife; after Barkis's death, it emerges that he has saved up a small fortune, which he divides between his wife, Mr. Peggotty, little Em'ly, and David himself.
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Mr. Barkis Character Timeline in David Copperfield
The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Barkis appears in David Copperfield. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3: I Have a Change
...Yarmouth in a cart driven by a silent man David will later learn is named Barkis. Ham is waiting for them when they arrive and greets David as an old friend...
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Chapter 4: I Fall Into Disgrace
...the objections of Miss Murdstone. David is then taken away in a cart driven by Barkis.
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Chapter 5: I Am Sent Away From Home
Barkis and David are soon intercepted by Peggotty, who embraces David and gives him a bag...
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David and Barkis arrive at an inn in Yarmouth. David is nervous and overwhelmed as he sits down...
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Chapter 8: My Holidays, Especially One Happy Afternoon
The coach deposits David at an inn in Yarmouth, and the next morning, Mr. Barkis arrives to bring him the rest of the way home. David tells Barkis that he...
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...out, so David, Clara, and Peggotty spend a happy afternoon together. Over dinner, he relays Barkis's message to Peggotty, who laughs and grows flustered as she denies having any intention of...
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...who accuses Peggotty of being jealous of the baby, and suggests that she should marry Barkis after all. Peggotty retorts that that would make Miss Murdstone happy, and the two women...
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...school, though it pains him to say goodbye to his mother and new brother. As Barkis and David drive away, Clara calls out to her son one more time and holds...
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Chapter 10: I Become Neglected, and Am Provided For
...sad to say goodbye to her home. She is soon distracted, however, by the attention Barkis pays to her as she and David ride in his cart: he asks repeatedly whether...
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Meanwhile, Mr. Barkis pays daily visits to Mr. Peggotty's house, always wordlessly leaving behind some kind of gift...
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David is sad when Peggotty and Barkis drive off after depositing him and little Em'ly at Mr. Peggotty's, but he perks up...
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Chapter 21: Little Em'ly
David leaves to visit Peggotty, with plans for Steerforth to meet him at Mr. Barkis's in a couple of hours. He is in a good mood, although he is surprised...
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...Peggotty, and they pretend to be very formal with one another: David asks whether Mr. Barkis (who now suffers from rheumatics) ever goes to Blunderstone, and whether Peggotty happens to know...
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Peggotty goes to tell Barkis that David is there, which she says will do him good. David finds that Barkis...
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...his kindness to David, and partly because of Steerforth's own charisma. Steerforth also charms Mr. Barkis, and makes no objection to the inconvenience of having to stay at an inn while...
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Chapter 22: Some Old Scenes, and Some New People
Later that night, David returns to Mr. Barkis's house only to find Ham waiting outside. Ham explains that Emily is inside, talking to...
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Chapter 23: I Corroborate Mr. Dick, and Choose a Profession
...In any case, David and Steerforth are busy saying their goodbyes to the Peggottys, Mr. Barkis, and even Mr. Omer. They also part with Littimer, who is remaining behind—ostensibly to oversee...
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Chapter 28: Mr. Micawber's Gauntlet
...that Emily isn't married yet. He also gives David a letter from Peggotty, saying that Barkis is close to death. Steerforth is philosophical about Barkis's impending death, remarking that everyone dies...
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Chapter 30: A Loss
...is inside and lets David in. David says he was sorry to learn of Mr. Barkis's condition and asks Mr. Omer what he knows about it. Omer, however, says he doesn't...
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Omer explains that little Em'ly has been keeping them up to date on Barkis's condition, and David asks how she is. Mr. Omer replies that he is anxious to...
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Minnie enters and reports that Barkis's condition has worsened, and that Mr. Peggotty is currently at Barkis's house. David hurries there...
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...him for coming. She then asks David to come upstairs, saying his presence will cheer Barkis if he happens to wake.
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Once upstairs, David finds Barkis unconscious, but clinging to the box he keeps beside his bed. Peggotty attempts to wake...
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Chapter 31: A Greater Loss
David agrees to stay until Mr. Barkis is buried (in the same cemetery as Clara Copperfield). He also helps Peggotty and exercises...
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Chapter 32: The Beginning of a Long Journey
David returns to Peggotty's house and thinks about everything that has happened since Barkis's death. Suddenly, he hears a knock at the door and opens it to find Miss...
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...this idea, David simply reminds him that Mr. Peggotty now has an inheritance from Mr. Barkis. David, Mr. Peggotty, and Peggotty then leave for London.
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Since Peggotty will be staying in London for some time to deal with Barkis's affairs, David and Mr. Peggotty help her find a room to rent. They then have...
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Chapter 33: Blissful
Far from distracting David from Dora, Barkis's death and Emily's disappearance just make her seem even "purer" and more loveable in comparison....
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...Murdstone is with him. A tense exchange follows in which Murdstone expresses his condolences over Barkis's death and Peggotty pointedly says that she can take comfort in the fact that no...
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